Earthquake 

What to do during an Earthquake:

·         Drop, cover and hold on.  Crouch in a safe place (under a sturdy table or sturdy interior wall).

·         Cover your head until the earthquake stops.

·         If you are inside: stay inside; if you are outside: stay outside.

·         Move away from buildings, street lights, and utility wires.

·         Crowded place: Take cover, do not rush for doorway.

·         Tall buildings: Stay on your floor, do not use elevator.

·         Driving:  Pull over, but not under a bridge, overpass, or power lines. Stay in car.

·         If you are in the mountains be alert for falling rocks, trees, or landslides.

 

After the Earthquake:

·         Be prepared for aftershocks.

·         Check for injuries.

·         Check for hazards such as fires, gas leaks, or downed utilities.

·         Clean up any potentially harmful materials spills.

Fires

General Fire Safety Guidelines

What to do in the event of a House Fire

• If indoors, get out and stay out; follow your family escape plan.
• Get as low to the ground as possible and crawl to the nearest exit.
• Always check doors before opening.  If the door, door knob, or crack is hot, do not open it – find another way out.  If the door is cool, pass through quickly and close the door behind you.
• If unable to get out, hang a white t-shirt, towel or sheet out of the window to let firefighters know someone is trapped inside.
• Once out of the building go to your pre-designated meeting spot from your family plan.

What to do in the event of a Wildfire

• Evacuate immediately if asked to do so, and cooperate with public safety personnel.
• Move down slope if fire is burning in a hilly or mountainous area.
• Cover nose and mouth with clothing or other piece of cloth to protect from smoke and ash.

Floods

• Do not go near, walk, swim or drive through flood waters.
• Do not travel unless necessary to do so.
• Be aware that trees could fall as a result of saturated soils.
• Do not go near or around downed power lines.  Call your local utility to report any downed power lines.
• Check on elderly people, children at home alone and any special needs family, friends or neighbors to see if they need assistance.
• Before an area is flooded, turn off water and electricity in any flood prone structures.  Unplug appliances and do not touch if wet.
• If you have areas of deep water, let it flow to the basement to limit or avoid structural damage.
• Elevate valuables onto tables or to upper floors.
• Understanding that power outages are often widespread, if safe to do so, please check on others who may be without power and in need of assistance.

Please be aware that property owners are responsible for protecting their own property. 

 

Health Emergency/Epidemic

• Periodically check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home.
• Have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.
• Get copies and maintain electronic versions of health records from doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other sources and store them, for personal reference.
• Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.

Limit the Spread of Germs and Prevent Infection

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

 

Power Outage

First, check to make sure you have not blown a circuit. Check the circuit breakers in your home’s electrical panel. If power is out in your entire neighborhood, call your local utility company to report the outage. If power is out over a widespread area, it may take a longer time to restore power everywhere.

• If there are power lines down in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 and call your utility company. DO NOT GO NEAR DOWNED POWER LINES.
• Listen to your battery-powered radio or TV, especially for news at the top of each hour, to find out when the power might be restored.
• Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer as much as possible. Food inside should stay cold for hours if the door is left closed.
• Unplug some of your major appliances. When the power comes back on, all of those appliances can create a drain or power surge. This can harm sensitive equipment. To avoid a power surge when the electricity returns, turn off computers, TVs, stereos and other unnecessary electronic equipment at the power source. Leave a light on so you’ll know when the power is restored.
• If you have a generator, do not connect it to your home’s power system unless it has been properly installed and disconnects you from the main power grid when it is operating. If you do not disconnect from the power grid, you can be sending electricity back down the lines; not just to your home. That could be deadly for power company workers.
• If you have a regular wood stove or fireplace, you can use it for heat. However, DO NOT USE kerosene heaters, BBQs, or any outdoor type heater inside. Such devices create poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas given off by combustion and could kill.
• Check on your elderly neighbors or those who may have medical conditions or use medical machinery that operates on electricity. Make sure they are dressed appropriately warm. If someone needs to have machinery that operates on electricity, move them to a place where electricity is working.
• If you have to go out, drive carefully. Remember that traffic signals may be out during a power outage. Consider each intersection to be a four-way stop and drive defensively.

Thunderstorms

• Remember if you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately!
• Move to a sturdy building or car. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, or in convertible automobiles.
• If lightning is occurring and a sturdy shelter isn’t available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep the windows up.
• Get out of boats and away from water.
• Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. Use phones ONLY in an emergency.
• Don’t take a bath or shower.
• Turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressors.

If Caught Outdoors and No Shelter is Nearby:

• Find a low spot away from trees, fences and poles. Make sure the place you pick isn’t subject to flooding.
• If you’re in the woods, take shelter under shorter trees.
• If you feel your skin tingle or you hair stands on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees with you head between them. Make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize your contact with the ground.
• If you’re boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter immediately.

 

Winter Storms

• Make sure your emergency kit is stocked for winter conditions.
• Dress appropriately with warm clothing, and use blankets for added warmth.
• Buy rock salt to melt ice on walkways and sand to improve traction.
• Make sure you have sufficient heating fuel.
• Keep emergency heating equipment and fuel to keep at least one room of your house warm.
• Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure your family knows how to use them.
• Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.

Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.