Preparedness

See how Ready or Not you are now.
Go on a Home Hazard Hunt to make your house safer.

Knowing what to do reduces stress and emotional impact.

Take time NOW to get informed and prepared for ANY kind of emergency

Being Ready is as easy as 1-2-3

1. Make a Plan for what you will do in an emergency.

2. Make a Kit of Emergency Supplies.

3. Be Informed and know how to Shelter-in-Place or Evacuate.

When Disaster Strikes

Following a Major Disaster, like an earthquake, tornado, or flooding; fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for the emergency services we have come to expect at a moment's notice through calling 911.

Factors such as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent these emergency services from operating normally and could leave many individuals and neighborhoods cut off from outside support.

For the initial period immediately following a disaster -up to 72 hrs. (3 days) or longer - individuals, households, and neighborhoods may need to rely on each other for help to meet immediate life saving needs and daily needs of:

FOOD - WATER - FIRST AID - SHELTER - SANITATION

How To Prepare:

Disasters can happen any time day or night. Where will your family be when disaster strikes? They could be anywhere - at work, at school or in a car.

1. Make a Plan - Have a Family Disaster Plan** in place so each member knows where to go and what to do in case of fire, earthquake, flood or tornado.

2. Make a Kit - Create a Family Disaster Supplies Kit** with
Water and Food** - a 3 day supply of water, 1 gallon per person per day (NEVER store water in a milk container, the plastic holds bacteria even after washing) and food that won't spoil;
(For information on Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's) go to the links page).

First Aid Supplies - that includes your family's prescription medications;

Clothing/Bedding - 1 change of clothing and shoes,
1 blanket/sleeping bag per person;

Tools - Emergency Supplies - Special Items - A battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries. An extra set of car keys, extra eye glasses, a credit card, cash or traveler's checks.

Utilities: Locate the main electric fuse box, water service main and natural gas main (located at the meter). Learn how and when to turn these utilities off. Keep necessary tool near gas and water shut-off valves.

If you turn the gas off, you will need a professional to turn it back on.

** Pamphlet available - go to "Contact Us" to request a copy.

Most often it is safer to stay where you are, providing your building is safely intact. Trust your common sense and your five senses: smelling, hearing, tasting, seeing, and "feeling".

Shelter-in-Place:

One of the basic instructions you may be given in a chemical emergency is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed to keep you and your family safe while remaining in your home.

If you are told to shelter-in-place, go inside, close all windows and vents and turn off all fans, heating or cooling systems. Take family members and pets to a safe above-ground room (not the basement) with the fewest windows and doors. (Some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements, even if the windows are closed.)

Seal windows and doors with wet towels or plastic sheeting and duct tape; listen to local radio (television) or a NOAA Weather Radio for instructions. DO NOT GO OUTSIDE to see what happened.

Take your Disaster Supplies Kit with you. These items may make you more comfortable while you are waiting for further instructions.

Stay in the room and listen to your radio or television until you are told all is safe, or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community. Following the advice of local authorities is your safest choice.

Evacuate:

At certain times the threats of danger could call for evacuation. You may decide for yourself to GO or responders could ask you to evacuate.

Follow directions from officials - no wandering about.

Emotional Impact:

Disasters may strike quickly and without warning. These events can be frightening for adults, but they are traumatic for children if they don't know what to do.

In a disaster children look to you and other adults for help. How you react to an emergency gives them clues on how to act. If you react with alarm, a child may become more scared. They see our fear as proof that the danger is real. If you seem overcome with a sense of loss, a child may feel their losses more strongly.

Children's fears also may stem from their imagination, and you should take these feelings seriously. A child who feels afraid is afraid. Your words and actions can provide reassurance.

When talking with your child, be sure to present a realistic picture that is both honest and manageable. Having them participate in the family's recovery activities will help them feel that their life will return to "normal".