Tips for preparing in Hawaii as Hone approaches

HONOLULU (KHON2) — A trio of weather systems including Tropical Storm Hone continue brewing in the Pacific east of our islands. It is a good reminder to always be prepared for a potential natural disaster.

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Matthew Wells, the communications director for the Hawaii Red Cross stopped by Wake Up 2Day Friday morning to share some tips.

“Three major points: Get a kit, make a plan, and stay informed,” Wells said.

There are common items to pack in a kit, and there are some things you might not think of.

“Common items would certainly be food, water, medicine and charging devices,” Wells said. “Often, people don’t consider things like important legal documents and items that will keep your family as calm and comfortable as possible. If you haven’t refreshed your kit in a while, today is the best time to do so.”

Once you’ve prepared your family and pets, there are steps to take at your home and property.

“It’s really the basics,” Wells said. “Bring items inside that may be blown away by the wind, cover your windows, make sure your car has a full gas tank or charged battery, and be ready to quickly evacuate if told to do so.”

The Red Cross is looking for volunteers to help, and Wells thinks that can help people stay calm in a crisis.

“A powerful form of preparedness is to be trained in how to respond and be able to use those skills to help others. That’s what being a Red Cross volunteer is all about and we invite people to learn more and sign up at www.redcross.org/volunteer.”

All this information can be found on the Red Cross Emergency app, which is available on all smartphones.