Stay safe if you are staying at home

If you can remain in your home — you are outside an evacuation area and do not live in manufactured housing — do so. Take these precautions:

• Protect your windows with shutters or plywood.

• Prepare clean containers for drinking water. Plan on 3 gallons per person per day for drinking and washing.

• Fill your bathtub and use the water for washing and flushing.

• Plan to take care of yourself and your family without outside assistance for a minimum of seven days.

• Don't plan to ride out the storm in a room with sliding glass doors. That can be the most dangerous place in the house. Instead, stay in an interior room such as a bathroom or walk-in closet. Stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors.

• If you have double-entry doors, protect them as you would a window with shutters or plywood, or nail 2 by 4s across them on the inside on storm day to prevent them from blowing in.

• Wait for official word that the danger is over. Don't be fooled when the storm's calm eye passes over.

• If the power goes out, turn off the stove and appliances. That will avoid a fire hazard when the power comes back on.

• Know where to shut off power and water.

• Don't use candles or other open flames inside the house.

Times Staff Writer