AMERICAN RED CROSS DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Prepare Now For A Sudden Emergency
Learn how to protect yourself and cope with disaster by planning ahead. Even if you have physical limitations, you can still protect yourself. Disaster can strike quickly and without warning! Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. Take responsibility - Save your life! Keep in touch with your neighbors and look out for each other. Knowing What To Do Is Your Best Protection And Your Responsibility.
Every day some part of the country is affected by one or more of the following emergencies: Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Thunder Storms, Flooding, Toxic Spills, and Fires. Preparing for a disaster that is most likely to happen in your area will help you be prepared for any disaster. Remember, anything can happen at any time.
How You May Be Notified Of A Possible Emergency
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NOAA Weather Radio. These special radios provide the earliest warning with an alarm that will alert you in case of anticipated bad weather. To learn more, call your local Office of Emergency Preparedness
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Commercial radio and television stations.
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Door to door warning from local emergency officials. Strictly follow their instructions!
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Be aware of anyone in your neighborhood who may need special help. If available, take advantage of advance registration systems in your area for those who need special help.
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Plan Ahead!!!
The next time disaster strikes, you may not have much time to act. Prepare now for a sudden emergency. By planning ahead, you can avoid waiting in long lines for critical supplies, such as food, water and medicine. Remember to review your plan regularly. Use the following checklist to get started:
Your Disaster Checklist
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Assemble disaster supplies.
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If you live alone, arrange for someone to check on you.
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Plan and practice the best escape routes from your home.
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Plan for transportation if you need to evacuate to a Red Cross shelter.
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Find the safe spots in your home for each type of emergency.
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Have a plan to signal the need for help.
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Post emergency phone numbers near the phone.
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If you have home health care service, plan ahead with your agency for emergency procedures.
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Teach those who may need to assist you in an emergency how to operate necessary equipment. Be sure they will be able to reach you.
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For your safety and comfort, you need to have emergency supplies packed and ready in one place before disaster hits. You should assemble enough supplies to last for at least three days.
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Assemble the supplies you would need in an evacuation, both medical and general supplies.
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Store them in an easy-to-carry container such as a backpack or duffel bag.
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Be sure your bag has an ID tag.
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Label any equipment, such as wheelchairs, canes or walkers that you would need. For Your Medical Needs
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First-aid Kit.
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Prescription medicines, list of medications including dosage, list of any allergies.
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Extra eyeglasses and hearing aid batteries.
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Extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen.
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List of the style and serial numbers of medical devices such as pacemakers.
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Medical insurance and Medicare cards.
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List of doctors and relative or friend who should be notified if you are injured
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Any other items you may need: _____________________________________
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General Emergency Supplies
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Battery powered radio and flashlight with extra batteries for each.
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Change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.
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Blanket or sleeping bag.
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Extra set of keys
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Cash, credit cards, change for the pay phone.
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Personal hygiene supplies.
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Phone numbers of local and non-local relatives or friends.
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Insurance agent's name and number.
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Other items you want to include: __________________________________________
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It may not be necessary to evacuate or you may be ordered to stay in your home. If this happens, you will need in addition to the above items:
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Water supply - one gallon per day per person. Remember, plan for at least 3 days. Store water in sealed, unbreakable containers that you are able to handle. Identify the storage date and replace every six months. ·
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Nonperishable food supply - including any special foods required. Choose foods that are easy to store and carry, nutritious and ready-to-eat, rotate regularly.
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Manual can-opener.
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Nonperishable food for any pets.
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Shelter In Place
In a chemical emergency, you may be told to shelter in place. This means staying where you are and making yourself as safe as possible until the emergency passes or you are told to evacuate. In this situation, it is safer to remain indoors than to go outside where the air is unsafe to breathe. If You Are Told To Shelter In Place
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Close all windows in your home.
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Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.
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Close the fireplace damper.
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Go to an above ground room (not the basement) with the fewest windows and doors.
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Take your Disaster Supplies with you.
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Wet some towels and jam them in the crack under the doors. Tape around doors, windows, exhaust fans or vents. Use plastic garbage bags to cover windows, outlets and heat registers.
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If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds or curtains. To avoid injury, stay away from the windows.
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Stay in the room and listen to your radio until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate.
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Going To A Shelter May Be Necessary
Red Cross shelters may be opened if:
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A disaster affects a large number of people.
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The emergency is expected to last several days.
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Be prepared to go to a shelter if:
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Your area is without electrical power.
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There is a chemical emergency affecting your area.
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Floodwater is rising.
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Your home has been severely damaged.
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Police or other local officials tell you to evacuate.
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Services provided at a Red Cross shelter:
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Food.
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Temporary shelter.
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Basic First Aid.
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To learn about Red Cross shelters serving your area:
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Listen to your battery powered radio.
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Check with your local Red Cross Chapter.
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All American Red Cross emergency services are provided free of charge.
If You Need To Evacuate ·
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If you have a home care provider, coordinate evacuation procedures with them in advance.
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Try to car pool if possible.
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If you must have assistance for special transportation, call the American Red Cross or your local officials.
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Wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes.
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Take your Disaster Supplies Kit.
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Lock your home.
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Use the travel routes specified or special assistance provided by local officials. Do not take any short cuts, they may be unsafe.
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Notify shelter authorities of any special need you may have. They will do their best to accommodate you and make you comfortable.
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If you are sure you have enough time...
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Shut off water, gas, and electricity if instructed to do so and if you know how. Gas must be turned back on by a professional
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Let others know when you left and where you are going.
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Make arrangements for pets. Animals other than working animals may not be allowed in public shelters.
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Residential Fires
One emergency we could all face at any time is a home fire. A home fire could be a special challenge for one with physical limitations. However, there are some things we can do to improve our safety: Before A Fire
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Plan two escape routes out of each room. If you cannot use stairways, make special arrangements for help in advance. Never use elevators.
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Sleep with the bedroom door closed. This gives you extra minutes of protection from toxic fumes and fire. ·
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Test your smoke detector battery regularly, and as a reminder, change batteries on the same day each year. Vacuum it occasionally to remove dust.
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In Case Of Fire
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Remain calm.
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Drop to the floor and crawl. Most fire fatalities are due to breathing toxic fumes and smoke. The cleanest air is near the floor. Breathing toxic fumes and smoke is more dangerous than the risk of injury in getting to the floor quickly.
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Feel any door before you open it. If it is hot, find another way out.
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If your smoke detector goes off, never waste time to get dressed or collect valuables or pets. Get out of the house immediately.
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Do not try to fight the fire! Call for help from a neighbor's phone.
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Never go back into a burning building for any reason.
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If your clothes catch on fire, drop to the floor and roll to suffocate the fire. Keep rolling (running from the fire only "fans" the flames and makes it worse).
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If you are in a wheelchair or can not get out of your house, stay by the window near the floor. If you are able, signal the need for help.
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If you would like more information on disaster planning, contact your local American Red Cross Chapter or log on at www.redcross.org.