Huricane season officially starts June 1 and lasts through November 30. If you live along the coast, keep your gas tank full and ensure you have evacuation plans and maps.
When you find yourself in a hurricane or other crisis situation you should:
- Follow instructions from your local authorities.
- Turn on your TV and radio, and follow the advice with respect to what to aquire, where to go and how to prepare.
- Let your immediate family and friends know where and how you can be reached, and where you plan to evacuate to, if need be.
- If you are a Norwegian citizen in need of assistance, contact the Consulate General.
To prepare yourself for a hurricane or another crisis you should:
- Make a plan of action. Know your home's vulnerability to threats.
- Obtain information from neighbors and friends who have experience from past hurricanes in the area where you live
- Make a Hurricane supply kit. Make sure you have enough food and water for at least 48-72 hours, flashlights, batteries, and any necessary medicines and other items you would need.
- Make a list of important phone numbers and numbers to friends and relatives.
- Make sure that you have all your necessary and important documents in one place, so that you can easily take these with you in case you need to evacuate.
Additional preparations in case of a flood:
- Standard property insurance usually does not cover flood damage, however flood insurance can be bought from amongst others National Flood Insurance Program.
- In the event of a flood warning, and if time is sufficient, relocate furniture and other belongings to a higher elevation in your home. Safely store important documents, and preserve drinking water and non-perishable food.
- Take your family and pets to a safe location, preferably higher ground.
- Do not use electric appliances that have become wet, and stay away from power lines and electric wires.
- Stay away from flood water - a prime carrier of germs and sicknesses that threaten public health.
- Do not attempt to drive through flood water. Ten inches of rapidly flowing flood water can easily carry away most cars and small trucks.
This list is not exhaustive, and to find information on what to include in a hurricane supply kit as well as additional information on how you can prepare and how you should act in a crisis situation, please use the attached internet links.
If you are a Norwegian citizen living in the Gulf Coast States we urge you to notify us of your location and contact numbers. You may notify us via mail, phone, fax or e-mail.
Royal Norwegian Consulate General
2777 Allen Parkway
Suite 1185
Houston, TX 77019-2123
Telephone: (713) 521 2900
Fax: (713) 521 9648
E-mail: cg.houston@mfa.no
Consulate General Houston