PREPARING YOUR MOBILE HOME

http://www.storm99.com

If you live in a mobile home, you will be ordered to evacuate. Over-the-top straps, secured by anchors on either side, and frame ties merely keep them from tipping over.

If your home was built before 1976, the home and tie-downs were designed for winds up to about 80 mph; a storm becomes a hurricane at 74 mph. If it was built after 1976, it's supposed to hold, with tie-downs, in winds up to 110 mph.

Organize your mobile home community to plan for the storm. Select a captain. Make a list of where residents will go and telephone numbers of friends or relatives. Set up a "buddy system" and assign able-bodied people to make sure others get out OK. Make sure everyone has made arrangements for transportation. Close and lock shutters and secure other items attached to the home before leaving. Turn off and disconnect water lines, gas lines and bottles, electricity and sewer lines. Go door to door to make sure everyone's out.

Go to the Emergency Preparedness Information page, on to How Much Is Too Much?, or back to Check Local Codes.