Make an Emergency Family Plan that Covers:
*Where to meet, both outside your home and outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.
*Who is responsible for what actions that need to take place (shut off valves, pick up children, etc.)?
Make an Evacuation Plan:
*How to evacuate - exits from your home, road routes to and from home.
*Where to meet - listen to radio and follow instructions, know the locations of American Red Cross shelters.
*What to take - make a list of what to take in time frames: i.e. 5 minutes: limit to lives of family, pets, emergency bag, and documents. 30 plus minutes: include the above items, as well as, photos or negatives, clothes, and/or whatever else is important to your family.
Storage of Emergency Supplies:
*Keep supplies in an area that will always be accessible.
*See list of possible kit contents (to follow); keep a smaller version for your car or at least an extra pair of sturdy shoes.
Prepare Your Home:
*Install smoke detectors.
*Keep a non-powered phone (one that does not require electric power)
*Make copies of important documents, deeds, prescriptions, etc. and store in fire safe box or safe deposit box.
*Learn where shut off valves are located and learn how to shut them off.
Teach other family members. Pay special attention to your propane tank!
*Secure heavy/tall furniture to walls.
*Ask your children to look around for dangers at home/school.
*Practice drills.
*Post phone numbers by the telephone.
Get to Know Your Neighbors:
*Know who may need assistance.
*Know who can give assistance-utility workers, medically trained, etc.
*Unofficial neighborhood watch-know who does not belong.
Educate Yourself and Your Family:
*Know what to do.
*Teach your children about emergency supplies, where they are, how and when to use them, not to play with them.
*Take classes: CPR/First Aid, Living on the Fault Line, are given through the American Red Cross
*Visit your local fire station; get information on fire prevention, wildfire prevention classes, and other vital information.
Resources:
*Know where to find disaster information on radio and TV stations.
*Know the location of nearest fire and police
*Know how to find family and friends at Red Cross shelters.
*Get your community to make a Community Disaster Plan to include an emergency phone tree.
*Create a local phone tree on your road to alert neighbors of road conditions and hazards.
For more details and assistance in organizing a community disaster plan or for community education for homeowner associations, churches or other organizations, contact Jaci Viskochil at 353-4078. Check the Loma Prieta Recreation schedule for disaster preparedness classes.
An emergency kit should contain:
*A supply of canned foods your family likes - if you don't eat SPAM, don't include it! Don't forget food for your pets and a manual can opener.
*Boxed juices and water: There should be a minimum of five gallons of water per person per day. Water needs to be changed about every six months.
*Clothes and an extra pair of sturdy shoes per person.
*Flashlight and batteries
*Shovel, ax or crowbar
*Children's toys
*First aid kit (easily purchased at stores or Red Cross), including your
prescriptions or a copy to give to emergency personnel.
*Blankets or sleeping bags
*Special items for infants or elderly
*Tarps
**Special Note: when calling 911, you will get service from the county in which you reside. If you want an ambulance to Good Samaritan and you live in Santa Cruz County, you need to ask dispatch to transfer to Santa Clara County 911.
IN CASE OF CHEMICAL ATTACK
*Strictly follow EBS instructions (radio station listed on Family Plan sheet). If told to shelter-in-place, close all windows, turn off fans, close fireplace damper, go to an above-ground room with the fewest windows and doors, wet towels or tape around doors/windows/exhaust fans. Use plastic garbage bags to cover windows/outlets and heat registers. If danger of explosion - close window shades and stay away from windows.
Continue to listen to officials for instruction.
ALWAYS:
*Continue to listen to the radio for instructions/information.
*Take your emergency kit with you.
*Call PG&E to report downed power lines.
Do not move them yourself.
IN CASE OF EARTHQUAKE
*Learn duck & cover - this must be so familiar that it is instinctive.
*Stay out of damaged areas - structures may look safe but may actually be on the verge of collapse.
*Find safety spots indoors - away from windows, in a corner, under a desk.
*Find safety spots outdoors - away from buildings, power lines, and trees.
IN CASE OF FIRE
Leave your home, then call 911.If evacuation threatens, prepare to:
*Confine pets to one room until evacuation.
*Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
*Have a DRY handkerchief to protect your face; a wet one could damage your lungs
*Lock your home and tell someone where you've gone.
Prevention is the real key
*Make sure fire vehicles can get to your home. Clearly mark all driveway entrances and clearly display your address.
*Install smoke detectors; test and replace batteries two times a year.
*Teach children about fire safety (stop/drop/roll) and not to play with
matches.
*Regularly clean gutters.
*Inspect chimneys-keep equipment in working order.
*Purchase and learn to use fire extinguishers.
*Keep a ladder that will reach the roof.
*Make a defensible space around your home: rake leaves from under decks, remove branches that overhang the roof, clear 10" around the propane tank and the tops of chimneys. CalFire can assist you with more specific information including fire-safe landscaping. |