Nearly all persons, regardless of where they live, are likely to face some type of natural or man-made disaster or weather-related emergency. The likelihood that you, your family, and even your pet animals will survive an emergency depends largely on the planning you do today. The Milwaukie Police Department urges residents to protect themselves and their families by preparing a Family Emergency Plan and creating and maintaining an Emergency Supply Kit. You will be better prepared to survive a disaster and to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance. Gleaned from information provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), your Milwaukie Police Department suggests all citizens be generally prepared for natural or manmade disasters/emergencies. FEMA provides in-depth information in thorough detail on its website, www.ready.gov . Be it a flood, earthquake, tornado, volcanic eruption, landslide, Tsunami, ice storm, or any number of other widespread emergency situations, we all have a responsibility to be self-sufficient and capable of surviving a natural or manmade disaster for at least three days and nights. Depending on how widespread the disaster, it may be days before emergency rescue personnel can reach your location. BASIC EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT: THE BARE ESSENTIALS A portable, basic emergency supply kit should include these items: WATER: One gallon of water per person per day. Three days worth for one person equals three gallons. This will be used for drinking and sanitation. In addition, your emergency supply kit should contain the chemicals or equipment necessary to make potable (suitable for drinking) water. There are chemical products available that can be added to questionable water; iodine tablets kill bacteria and other organisms in the water that would otherwise cause extreme illness. Mechanical devices are also available to filter dirty water, making water safer to drink. These items can be found in most outdoor or military surplus stores. These items can also be purchased through on-line Internet sites. FOOD: Each person will need at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking. The food should require little or no water to prepare. Avoid salty foods, as they will make you thirsty. Pack a manual can opener!
MANUAL CAN OPENER: Can’t stress enough the need for a manual CAN OPENER! BASIC FIRST-AID KIT: A basic first aid kit is a necessary tool needed in an emergency. During an emergency someone may suffer cuts, abrasions, burns or sustain other injuries that could become life-threatening if left untreated. Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference in an emergency. The following items can help you stop bleeding, prevent infection, and assist in decontamination:
FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES - OR FLASHLIGHT CHARGED MANUALLY [shake or hand crank] MATCHES: Carry matches in a water-proof, airtight container. Additional items under this listing can include fire/heat starter devices easily acquired and purchased in any camping/outdoor store or military surplus store. WHISTLE TO SIGNAL FOR HELP BATTERY-POWERED OR HAND CRANK RADIO DUCT TAPE AND PLASTIC SHEETING: Duct tape has many creative uses. Plastic sheeting along with duct tape can be used to quickly build a makeshift shelter from wind, rain, or extreme heat and solar radiation. WRENCH, PLIERS, HAMMER (and nails): These items can be used to turn off utilities, construct a makeshift shelter, or fix damaged mechanical devices or other implements. DUST MASK: A dust mask helps to filter contaminated air (particles present in the air, such as airborne dust, dirt, dry chemicals or powders, volcanic ash). Wearing a mask can also minimize the chance of contracting contagious, airborne viruses, diseases, or bacterial infections. Please consider how these important items are going to be stored. Should they be carried in one or more backpacks? Should the emergency supplies be stored in an air-tight plastic container, like a picnic cooler? Should they be stored in the trunk or storage compartment of a vehicle? Where will the emergency supplies be stored when not in use, yet easily accessible when quickly needed? Each resident or family needs to prepare its own emergency supply strategy. OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS TO CONSIDER ADDING TO YOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT:
The information provided here is a suggested list of essential emergency items. This list is not all-inclusive. You may choose to pack additional items you consider necessary for your survival or comfort. FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN When disaster strikes family members often become separated. One family member may be at work, another at home, and still others might be in school, participating in sports activities, or visiting friends. It is important to plan in advance how members will contact one another; where everyone will eventually meet; and what each will do based on the type and severity of an emergency situation. Preparing a basic Family Emergency Plan can help minimize the worry and feeling of helplessness experienced in a natural disaster or other emergency situation. Knowing everyone in your family will be following the same game plan can greatly improve the odds of eventually arriving at the same, safer destination. Information provided here is excerpted from more detailed plans available through Ready America from the FEMA website www.ready.gov .
When preparing a Family Emergency Plan, make sure the directions are easy to follow and simple to remember. Assemble a quick reference list of contact information for your family, and a meeting place for emergency situations.
You may also want to inquire about what emergency plans are in place where your children attend school or daycare. What emergency plans are in place where you work? If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. PETS Prepare Your Pets for Emergencies. Pets can be considered important members of your family. About 59 percent of American families care for pets in/at their households. Your family and pets are more likely to survive a man-made emergency or environmental disaster if you made advanced preparations. Prepare for the unexpected by maintaining an animal emergency supply kit. Develop a pet care buddy system. Have available at a moment’s notice sufficient food and water for your pet. (Be prepared to feed and water your pets for a minimum of three days away from home.) These items must be packaged in a manner that is easy to transport. The pet should have a carrier for transportation and shelter, leashes and collars, any needed medications, immunization records, pet licenses (if applicable), blankets as bedding, or used to cover carriers. If your family has to evacuate, you will likely need to make plans in advance for your pets. If the emergency forces your family to stay at a public shelter, is it important to understand your pets may not be allowed inside. If you cannot care for your animals, have a back-up emergency plan in place. Develop a buddy system with neighbors, friends and relatives to ensure someone is able to care for your pets if you are unable to do so. In the aftermath of the New Orleans hurricane and flood disaster, rescuers and animal shelter volunteers recognized a serious problem. It was difficult for pets and their owners to be reunited because ‘anyone’ could claim to be the pet’s owner. There were reports of pets having been stolen by thieves claiming to be the owners. Shelter workers had no way to verify claims of ownership. It is now recommended that pet owners carry family photos that include not only the pet’s image, but also include family member’s images in the same photo. Providing photo images of the pet with its owner helps reunite them, and could prevent the pet from being released to a stranger. For more information, access www.ready.gov . Know the methods of broadcast of local emergency information: When your family meets to discuss its Family Emergency Plan, find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area. Find out how your local emergency management system notifies citizens about potential or imminent catastrophes. Methods of notification vary from community to community. Common methods include broadcasts via emergency radio and television broadcasts. Milwaukie’s emergency service dispatch center (LOCOM) utilizes a program enabling mass notification to citizens in our community via residential telephones. A voice message details the kind of emergency and what information citizens need to know to remain safe. Depending on the type and severity of an emergency or disaster, LOCOM’s CODE RED emergency telephone information system is a beneficial tool. One recent example of the CODE RED notification system was activated in response to an industrial accident in Milwaukie. A liquid ammonia leak required the emergency closure of McLoughlin Blvd and surrounding roadways. There was a fear prevailing winds could push a cloud of invisible ammonia gas into nearby neighborhoods. A CODE RED phone message was sent to all residential and business telephone numbers within the threat radius. Residents were advised to close all windows and doors, and remain inside until the ammonia had dissipated. WHEN IMMEDIATE EVACUATION IS NECESSARY If an impending natural disaster or man-made emergency forces you to evacuate, or if for safety reasons emergency personnel order you to leave, follow a prepared evacuation plan. Plan how you will assemble your family. Anticipate where you will go. Choose a number of destinations in different directions so there are options in an emergency. CREATE AN EVACUATION PLAN:
IF TIME ALLOWS:
EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST Sometimes a natural disaster, such as impending weather emergencies, can be predicted hours and sometimes days in advance. Respond to such an advanced notice by packing survival and comfort items well before an anticipated evacuation. In the event the evacuation means staying days (or more) away from home, having sufficient supplies lessens the inconvenience and can relieve stress. The checklist below is an example of what items to bring with you. The information provided here is a suggested list of essential emergency items. This list is not all-inclusive. You may choose to pack additional items you consider necessary for your survival or comfort. You may choose to omit some comfort items. Checklist for Evacuation (Excerpted from FEMA and Prepare for the Worst: How CILs Can Assist INDIVIDUALS in Preparation - - IL NET Newsletter - - Updated June 2006) GENERAL ITEMS:
PERSONAL ITEMS:
COPIES OF THE FOLLOWING: (Keep in a portable container)
PET SUPPLIES:
Another great temporary, inexpensive, heat source recommended for pets or people is to keep several packages of instant heat packets in your family’s first-aid kit. When the packets are opened and exposed to air, a chemical reaction causes the contents of the packets to produce heat. The packets are designed to be put inside a person’s pockets, gloves, or socks. The packets will remain warm to the touch for up to 8 hours. When used as an external heat source for animals, place the heat packets inside a sock or wrap inside a washcloth. Place the ‘heat pad’ inside the pet’s travel crate. This enables the pet to warm itself by lying on the pad. The information provided here was excerpted from the FEMA website www.ready.gov . This government website provides a plethora of additional information in a detailed and easy-to-use format. Through this website FEMA provides statistical data on a variety of natural environmental disasters, including hurricanes, tornados, thunderstorms, wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. In additional, this site also explains safety procedures to follow in the event of human-caused emergencies, including safety precautions related to biological or chemical contamination.
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