CableOrganizer.com Issues Free 'Hurricane Safety Checklist' Detailing Essentials Needed to Weather a Storm in Support of National Preparedness Month

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwire - September 1, 2009) - In support of National Preparedness Month (NPM) this September, CableOrganizer.com has partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to inform Americans about the importance of disaster preparation and generally create a culture of hurricane emergency preparedness in the United States. As a 2009 NPM Coalition Member, CableOrganizer.com is doing its part to raise awareness by issuing a free "Hurricane Safety Checklist" detailing essentials needed to weather a storm, which is now available online at http://cableorganizer.com/articles/hurricane-safety-checklist.html.

CableOrganizer.com joins thousands of other NPM Coalition Members across the country that, as part of the organization's "Ready" campaign, have pledged to help educate the public about the importance of hurricane emergency preparedness. NPM 2009 and its Coalition Members will focus changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and help Americans understand what it truly means to be "Ready." The initiative will illustrate how preparedness goes beyond fire alarms, smoke detectors, dead-bolt locks and extra food in the pantry, and will help Americans communicate important preparedness messages to their families, businesses and communities.

Because a key element of Hurricane Season preparation is getting equipped in advance with the appropriate supplies, CableOrganizer.com offers this checklist to guide Americans you through pre-storm stock-up.

Food and Water

At the beginning of Hurricane Season, stockpile a closet or cabinet in you kitchen or garage with at least 3 days' worth of nonperishable food items and bottled water for you and your family. Figure on each person requiring 1 gallon of water per day, and opt for foods that require no refrigeration or cooking. Granola bars, power bars, peanut butter, crackers, and canned goods (like fruits, vegetables, and meat) are smart choices because they'll provide you with a little variety, but won't run the risk of spoiling. Keeping disposable cups, dishes and utensils on hand is also a good idea, so you'll always have clean eating utensils, even if you're unable to wash dishes.

Sanitation Supplies

Before the storm hits, make sure that you're more than adequately stocked up on both personal and household sanitation supplies, like alcohol-based hand sanitizer, soaps and liquid detergents, toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, disinfectant, chlorine bleach, and plenty of heavy-duty garbage bags.

Clean Laundry

You never know what post-hurricane conditions may be, and if you're without power or your water supply is contaminated, washing clothes may not be an option. If it's at all possible, take some time during the pre-hurricane craziness to do as much laundry as possible, so that you have plenty of clean clothing, towels and bedding to last you at least several days.

First Aid Kit

Be ready for everything from cuts and scrapes to sprains and insect bites by having a fully-loaded first aid kit on hand. Must-have items include adhesive bandages, gauze, medical tape, tweezers, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, burn gel, hydrocortisone cream, and even wrap-style bandages to provide support for injured ankles or wrists.

Prescription Medicines

If you or a family member is living with a health condition that requires daily prescription medication, make sure that you have enough doses on hand to last you through the storm and up to a week of possible pharmacy downtime afterward. Also, remember to check your supply of occasional-use medicines like asthma inhalers, antihistamines and pain relievers/fever reducers; having an adequate supply of these can help prevent minor medical issues from flaring into full-blown emergencies when a trip to the doctor may not be an option.

Severe Weather Alert Radio

Whether a storm is drawing near, in progress, or has recently passed by, severe weather updates are a great way to track what's going on. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a U.S. agency that monitors climate and issues daily weather forecasts and severe storm warnings via NWR, a nationwide network of radio stations that relay warnings, hazards, and other critical storm-related information to the public. Staying on top of the latest information is essential to storm safety, so equip your home with an Emergency Alert Radio, which receives warning messages and updates from all 7 NOAA broadcast channels 24/7.

Flashlights

As soon as the power goes out, the first thing you'll be reaching for is a flashlight, so make sure to have several on hand to cover all (or at least most) of the members of your household. One that we particularly like is the Spin-Charge LED flashlight -- instead of using batteries, you charge it by cranking its handle, which is perfect for those times when you don't have electricity of spare batteries. We're also fans of Pelican's SabreLite™ 2000, a heavy-duty flashlight that's completely submersible, a feature that makes it an ideal choice for anyone living in a flood zone.

Waterproof Storage

Because delicate personal belongings like family heirlooms, photos, documents and expensive electronics can easily be destroyed by moisture, they require extra consideration when you're preparing for storm season. Protect irreplaceable items in watertight, impact-resistant cases, like those by Pelican® and B&W®, which can withstand just about anything a hurricane can dish out. They're available in briefcase, trunk, and even backpack styles, so you can find the perfect case whether you plan on evacuating with it or leaving it behind in your home.

Emergency Chargers

It doesn't matter if both electricity and land-based phone lines are down -- communication is one thing you can't do without during and after a hurricane. While most people these days have the luxury of just picking up their cell phones, you need to make sure that your phone battery remains strong even when you can't recharge it from a wall outlet. Battery-powered universal chargers like the Turbo Charge TC400 can be lifesavers during power outages, thanks to their ability to deliver up to 2 hours of talk time from a single AA battery.

To learn more about National Preparedness Month 2009, visit http://www.ready.gov/america/npm09/index.html. To learn more about the types of natural disasters that affect the United States and what you can do to prepare for them, please visit FEMA's Disaster Information web site located at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/index.shtm, which provides maps, severe weather information, and links to a variety of helpful safety tips.

Consumers may order a wide selection of hurricane preparedness solutions online at http://CableOrganizer.com or via toll-free telephone at 1-866-222-0030.

About CableOrganizer.com

Founded in February 2002 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, CableOrganizer.com is a premier cable and wire management-related product vendor. The company provides companies, organizations and individuals around the globe with 24/7/365 access to an extensive array of high-quality products and information resources through its convenient online storefront. In addition to http://CableOrganizer.com, the company also owns and operates http://CableOrganizer.fr, which is operated out of Rennes, France. CableOrganizer.com also publishes "On the Wire," a free monthly electronic newsletter with a considerable multi-national opt-in circulation base. Among other honors, CableOrganizer.com is continually named among Inc. Magazine's Inc. 500 and 5,000 and Internet Retailer magazine's "Top 500." CableOrganizer.com also ranked on DiversityBusiness.com's list of "Top 500 Women Owned Businesses in the U.S." and was named among the South Florida Business Journal's "Best Places to Work."

Note to Editors: High resolution artwork and select product review samples available by request. Contact Merilee Kern, Kern Communications, merilee@kerncommunications.com, 858-577-0206.

CableOrganizer is a trademark of CableOrganizer.com, Inc. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Copyright 2009 CableOrganizer.com, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Merilee Kern Kern Communications 858-577-0206