As the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins, Tropical Shipping wants to help our U.S., Canadian, Caribbean and Bahamian customers stay safe by being prepared throughout the season, which runs from June 1 through November 30.

Your safety is paramount and our Hurricane Central will display updates, alerts and advisories for the areas we serve throughout the season. For your convenience, a Hurricane Central button will be prominent on the Tropical Shipping homepage throughout the season as well.

Being prepared can help reduce the personal and financial losses that often accompany disasters. Preparation plans should include information about local evacuation routes and procedures, as well as emergency telephone numbers.

In addition to your plan, a Disaster Supply Kit will be invaluable in the event that local responders are unable to reach you immediately after an event.

Store your kit in an area convenient to everyone in your home or office. You may also want to assemble a smaller, portable version to keep in the trunk of your car in the event of evacuation.

Home and office kits include, but are not limited to:

Bottled Water (Local water may not be drinkable after a disaster)
One gallon of water per person per day	A three-day supply of water for each person
Food (Power outages and loss of refrigeration will cause perishable items to spoil)
Ready-to-eat foods (canned and bagged)	Sugar, salt, pepper and other staple items
Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)	Foods for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets
High energy foods (peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars)	Comfort/stress foods (cookies, instant coffee, tea bags, candy)
Tools and Supplies (Individual items may vary by location)
Candles and matches (keep matches in waterproof container)	Non-electric can-opener, utility knife, tape
Flashlights, battery-operated radio (and extra batteries)	Plastic garbage bags and bucket
Personal hygiene items and paper products	Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen
Paper cups, plates and utensils	Hand sanitizer, soap
Rain gear, blankets	Local maps and signal flare
Cash and coin currency	Storage cooler and plastic storage containers
Important Documents
Bank account numbers	Credit card account numbers and companies
Inventory of valuable possessions, telephone numbers	Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
Wills, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds	Passports, social security cards, immunization records
First Aid Kit

Plastic sheeting is also beneficial for home or office as it can be used to wrap and protect electronic items, such as computers and televisions.

During the month of June, please take some time to stock your Disaster Supply Kit and review home and office preparation plans.

Preparation and planning will make the difference.

Tropical Shipping