Preparedness
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.
DO NOT
call 911 for information.
Listen to
your radio or television for information and instructions.
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) and food that
won't spoil;
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.
3. Be
Informed - on what
may happen.
You may be faced with whether to STAY or GO.
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.
-
Be ready
to get away promptly if told to do so by officials.
-
Know your
destination and how to get there.
-
Take your
Disaster Supplies Kit with you.
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".
Be aware
that after a disaster, children are most afraid that:
To lessen the emotional
impact to yourself and children you should:
- Develop and practice a Family
Disaster Plan**.
Decide what you would do, as a group, in each situation (Fire, Earthquake,
Tornado, etc.) Where would you meet? Select an out-of-state family
contact to call. Put together Disaster
Supplies Kits**
for each member. Don't forget to plan for your pets too.
- Learn to recognize danger signals
and sounds. Know what the
community warning system's horn and siren sounds mean, as well as
the sound of your smoke detectors.
- Know how and when to call for help.
Most areas have a 9-1-1 emergency system, if not post the local
emergency phone numbers for fire and ambulance by the phone.
- Children should memorize their
family name, address and phone number. They should also know where
to meet in case of an emergency.
Carbon
Monoxide:
Carbon
Monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, colorless, ordorless gas that is produced
by burning fuel, like natural gas, propane, wood, and kerosene.
If your home is totally electric there is no CO produce.
How
can CO harm me?
- The
oxygen we breathe attaches itself to the red blood cells in our blood
stream blocking the oxygen we need to live.
- CO
will form a bond with the blood that is 200 times as strong as with
oxygen.
- When
this happens, less oxygen is available to the body. CO can cause headaches,
dizziness, and sleepiness. As more CO is absorbed, nausea and vomiting
can occur.
- High
amounts of CO can quickly cause unconsciousness and even death, depending
on the length of exposure, your physical condition and activity.
For
More Information click on the link below.
Carbon
Monoxide Brochure
Remember
- "Knowledge
is Power"
Knowing
what to do will
help you COPE with disaster.
,
elderly
or
disabled family members 
and your pets 
.
