Family
Emergency Preparation
For current
river and flood information see the Flood
Information page or visit National Weather Service Pendleton
website.
The next time disaster
strikes, you may not have much time to act. Prepare
If you have special needs in an emergency, the Disaster Preparation Handbook
has useful information on preparedness for people with mobility or visual
disabilities, hearing impairment and other special medical needs.
CREATE AN
EMERGENCY PLAN
Discuss with children the dangers of fire, severe
weather, earthquakes, and other emergencies.
Discuss how to respond to each disaster that could occur.
Discuss what to do about power outages and personal
injuries.
Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes
from each room.
Learn how to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at
main switches.
Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones.
Teach children how and
when to call 9-1-1.
Keep family records in water- and fire-proof containers.
Instruct household members to turn on the radio (In
Benton County, the primary Emergency Alert System (
Pick an out-of-state and one local friend or relative for
family members to call if separated by disaster (It is often easier to call
out-of-state than within the affected area).
Pick two meeting
places:
-
A place near your home, in case of a fire.
-
A place outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home after a disaster.
PREPARE
A DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT
Assemble supplies you might
need for a quick evacuation. Store them in an easy-to-carry container, such as
a backpack or duffle bag.
A supply of water (one gallon per person per day). Store
water in sealed, unbreakable containers. Replace every six months.
A supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food and a
non-electric can opener.
A change of clothing, rain gear, and sturdy shoes
Blankets or sleeping bags
A first aid kit and prescription medications
An extra pair of glasses
A battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra
batteries
Credit cards and cash
An extra set of car keys
A list of family physicians
A list of important family information; the style and
serial number of medical devices, such as pacemakers
Special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family
members
PREPARE AN
EMERGENCY CAR KIT
Include:
Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
Flashlight and extra batteries
Blanket
Booster cables
Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
First aid kit and manual
Bottled water and non-perishable high-energy foods
Maps
Shovel
Tire repair kit, pump and flares
If You Need to
Evacuate . . .
Listen to a battery-powered radio for the location of
emergency shelters.
Follow instructions of local officials.
Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
Take your Disaster Supplies Kit.
Lock your home.
Use travel routes specified by local officials.
If You Are Sure You Have Time . . .
Shut off water, gas, and electricity, if instructed to do
so.
Let others know when you left and where you are going.
Make arrangements for pets. Animals cannot stay with you
at a shelter. Arrangements may be made with the local humane society to keep
pets during the emergency.
FIRE SAFETY AT HOME
Plan two escape routes out of each room.
Teach family members to stay low to the ground when
escaping from a fire.
Teach family members never to open doors that are hot,
rather feel the bottom of the door with your hand. If it is hot, do not open
the door. Find another way out.
Install smoke detectors. Clean and test smoke detectors
once a month.
Change batteries at least once a year.
Keep a whistle in each bedroom to
awaken household members.
Check electrical outlets. Do not overload outlets.
Purchase a fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type).
Have a collapsible ladder on each upper floor of your
house.
Consider installing home sprinklers.
Escape Plan
In a
fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate your home on a moment's
notice. You should be ready to get out fast.
Develop an escape
plan by drawing a floor plan of your residence. Show the location of doors,
windows, stairways, and large furniture as well as indicating the location of
emergency supplies (Disaster Supplies Kit), fire extinguishers, smoke
detectors, collapsible ladders, first aid kits, and utility shut off points.
Next, chart at least two escape routes from each room.
Finally, identify a place outside of the home where household
members should meet in case of fire. If your home has more than two
floors, use an additional sheet of paper.
Practice emergency
evacuation drills with all household members at least two times each year.
Home Hazard Hunt
In a
disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause injury and damage. Anything that
can move, fall, break, or cause a fire is a potential hazard.
Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas
connections
Fasten shelves securely
Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves
Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds
Brace overhead light fixtures
Secure water heater
Repair cracks in ceilings or foundations
Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products away
from heat sources
Place oily polishing rags or waste in covered metal cans
Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors
and gas vents
Want a copy of Disaster Preparedness Handbook? Send an e-mail request to the BCES
Public Information Officer: Steve
Sautter or call us at (509) 628-2600.