Louisiana Ready

Extreme weather is simply part of Louisiana life. Hurricanes and sweltering heat. Tornadoes and devastating floods. Even the occasional ice storm.

Life here requires a constant state of readiness. As the trend of more frequent and intense climate disasters persists, so does the urgency to prepare.

Being ready for a disaster can save your life, so we want to make that information easier to find. This page will serve as a hub for American Red Cross safety tips specific to Louisiana’s seasonal hazards. No matter the time of year, check in to this page to find useful information.

1.

Find Sheltering Locations from High Winds in Your Home.

Find a safe room built to withstand high winds. The next best protection is a small room with no windows on the lowest level of a sturdy building. Mobile, manufactured, trailer homes and recreational vehicles (RVs) are not safe in high wind events. Plan ahead by finding a sturdy building to shelter in before a tornado watch or warning.

2.

Practice Tornado Drills.

With your entire household, practice moving quickly to the safe locations that you identified. Create a personal support team of people you may assist and who can assist you. If you live in a mobile home, practice going to a safe place.

3.

Gather Emergency Supplies.

Gather food, water and medicine. Stores and pharmacies might be closed. Organize supplies into a Go-Kit and a Stay-at-Home Kit.

Go-Kit: at least three days of supplies that you can carry with you. Include backup batteries and chargers for your devices (cell phone,CPAP, wheelchair, etc.)
Stay-at-Home Kit: at least two weeks of supplies. Have a 1-month supply of medication in a child-proof container and medical supplies or equipment. Keep personal, financial, and medical records safe and easy to access (hard copies or securely backed up).

4.

Protect Your Home.

Make a list of items outside your home you will need to tie down or put away so that they don’t blow away or fly through a window during high winds. When a High Wind, Severe Thunderstorm, or Tornado Watch, is issued, immediately secure these items to avoid damage or injury once the wind starts picking up. Secure objects that would be unsafe to bring inside, such as gas grills and propane tanks. Trim or remove trees close enough to fall on your home.

5.

Plan to Stay Connected.

Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government. Plan to monitor local weather and news. Have a backup battery or a way to charge your cell phone. Have a battery-powered radio during a power outage. Know the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning.

Tornado Watch: Be Prepared! Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Be ready to act fast!
Tornado Warning: Take Action! A tornado is near. There is danger. Move to safe location right away.

6.

Know and Plan for your Personal Electrical Needs.

Take an inventory of your essential electrical needs. Then consider how you would live without them when the power goes out. Make a plan for the essentials.

How will I stay warm or cool?
How will I make food or have clean water?
How will I communicate with others?
How will I run any needed medical equipment? If you need to keep medications cool or have medical devices that need power, discuss a backup plan with your doctor.

It may not be safe to stay home, have a plan to evacuate safely.

trees covered in snow and ice from an snow storm

It’s winter in Louisiana. Here’s what you can do to stay safe during severe winter weather events.

Severe winter weather in Louisiana means freezing temperatures and heavy precipitation, usually in the form of rain and sleet, but sometimes in the form of snow and ice.

1.

Plan to stay warm safely.

Before the winter season begins, make sure you can heat your home safely. Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping.
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage or partially enclosed area. Locate unit away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
All heaters need space. Keep children, pets and things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets, and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment. If you must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs, carpets or near bedding or drapes. Plug power cords directly into outlets - never into an extension cord.
Ensure you have enough warm clothing, such as hats and blankets, for everyone in your household.
Know where you will go if your home becomes too cold. You could go to a friend’s house, a public library, or a warming center.

2.

Travel with care.

During severe weather, stay off the road if possible. If you must drive, take the following precautions.

Be alert for icy roads and check for interstate and highway closures. Remember: ramps, bridges and overpasses freeze before roadways.
Slow down. Never use cruise control when driving in winter weather.
Don't follow other vehicles too closely. Sudden stops are difficult on icy roadways.
If travelling with others, make sure everyone has their seat belts on and give your full attention to the road.
Consider having emergency supplies in your vehicle, such as a blanket, warm clothing, a first aid kit and boots.

3.

Protect your pipes from freezing.

When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children. Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a "pipe sleeve" or installing UL-listed "heat tape," "heat cable," or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes – even ¼” of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing.

1.

Stay hydrated and cool off.

An average person needs to drink about ¾ of a gallon of water per day.
Avoid sugary, caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
Check that you are getting enough water by noting your urine color. Dark yellow may indicate you’re not drinking enough.
If you are sweating a lot, combine water with snacks or a sports drink.
Wear loose, lightweight clothing.
Do not rely on electric fans, which may not help prevent illness when temperatures are in the high 90s.
Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible and take a cool shower or bath.
If your home does not have air conditioning, go to a predesignated place, such as a public library, shopping mall or public cooling center.

2.

Act fast if you notice someone suffering heat illness.

Heat cramps are muscle spasms caused by a large loss of salt and water in the body.
- Move to a cool space and drink water.
- Seek medical help if cramps last for more than an hour.
Heat exhaustion is severe and may require medical treatment.
- Watch for heavy sweating, clammy skin and a fast but weak pulse.
- Loosen tight clothing. Sip water slowly. Cool the body using wet cloths, misting or fanning.
- Get medical help if vomiting occurs, symptoms last longer than 1 hour or if confusion develops.
Heat stroke is deadly and requires immediate emergency treatment.
- Watch for high body temperature (104°F or higher), confusion and a fast, strong pulse.
- Call 911 right away, then move to a cool place and cool the body with wet cloths, misting or fanning.
- Do NOT give the person anything to drink.

red cross volunteer surveying hurricane damage and flooded street

It’s hurricane season. Here’s how to prepare before a storm enters the Gulf.

1.

Gather emergency supplies. Here’s a checklist. Build a Go Kit and a Stay-at-Home Kit.

A Go Kit is what you take with you when you evacuate. It should include three days of supplies, including back-up batteries and chargers for all your devices.
A Stay-at-Home Kit should include two weeks of supplies, given that stores and pharmacies may be closed.

2.

Get infromed. Download the free Red Cross Emergency app, and sign up for emergency alerts from your local government:

Alexandria: Sign up here
Baton Rouge: Sign up here
Lafayette: Sign up here
Lake Charles: Sign up here
Monroe: Learn more here
New Orleans: Sign up here
Shreveport: Sign up here
Statewide: Sign up here

3.

Make a plan and review tips for the entire family:

Plan to evacuate. Know where you will go, how you will get there and where you will stay.
Plan to shelter safely. Practice going to a designated shelter for high winds.
Plan for your entire family:

Click here for more American Red Cross hurricane preparedness safety tips.

Louisiana Ready

It’s spring in Louisiana.

Prepare for Thunderstorms, Floods, Tornadoes and Power Outages.