It’s always good to be prepared.

Even if Hurricane Sandy doesn’t take direct aim at northeasternNorth Carolinaand southsideVirginia, the storm’s broad area will impact those areas. There is a possibility of isolated power outages, so local residents are urged to take action now.

If a severe storm is approaching:

Develop an emergency plan that addresses any special medical needs you or your family members have. Call your local emergency management office to discuss necessary arrangements.

Know all evacuation routes if you live close to the coast.

Have your Emergency Outage Kit stocked and readily available.

Pay attention to local weather reports on the radio, television, or Internet.

Stock up on groceries, water, medications, and any other necessities to avoid the need for travel during the storm. If called to evacuate, do so immediately.

If a severe storm does hit your area:

Stay in a secure room and away from windows. Remain indoors.

Monitor weather bulletins on a battery-powered radio.

If your power goes out, report your outage immediately to your local electric company. Don’t rely on your neighbors to report your outage.

Here in the Roanoke-Chowan area, electrical outages can be reported to Dominion NC Power (1-866-DOM-HELP) or Roanoke Electric Cooperative (1-800-433-2236. Both lines are toll-free.