Disaster Preparedness

Arcata Fire has only two staffed two-person engine companies on duty each day.  Arcata Mad River Ambulance provides paramedic transport service to everyone from Indianola to the Humboldt County line.  If a major disaster occurs multiple requests for service are typically received simultaneously, calls are screened by trained dispatchers for medical priority…  it may be hours or even days before help can reach you.

Disasters usually occur quickly and without warning. You could awaken in the night to find your home on fire. You could be forced to evacuate your home (hazardous material leak or earthquake) or you could be confined to your to home without water, electricity, and/or phone for days.

There is nothing we can do to prevent disasters, but we can put ourselves in the best position to cope by being as prepared as possible.

The telephone book has an excellent First Aid and Survival Guide. In addition, following are documents and links to websites that will help you and your family prepare for and respond to a disaster.  Be a survivor.

   DisasterSafety.org

    www.72hours.org

   Structure Fire

  Wildland Fire Preparedness

• Defensible Space Guidelines from Cal Fire
• Wildfire Information

  Disaster Supplies Checklist

  Earthquake Preparedness

         Tsunami Awareness and Preparedness

• Tsunami Ready
• West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
• Hazard Maps
• Everything about Tsunamis
• Living on Shaky Ground

       Flood Safety Information

   Humboldt State Emergency Status

WHAT TO DO BEFORE AND AFTER DISASTER STRIKES 

Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services—water, gas, electricity, or telephones—were cut off?  Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away.  Families can—and do—cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together as a team. Follow the steps listed below to create your family’s disaster plan.  Knowing what to do is your best protection. 

FOUR STEPS TO SAFETY 

1. Find Out What Could Happen to You —
   Contact your local Red Cross chapter or Office of Emergency Services; be prepared to take notes:
   • Ask what types of disasters are most likely to happen.
   • Request information on how to prepare for each.
   • Learn about your community’s warning signals, what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them.
   • Ask about animal care after a disaster. Animals are not allowed inside emergency shelters because of health regulations.
   • Find out how to help elderly or disabled persons, if needed.
   • Find out about the disaster plans at your workplace, your children’s school or day care center, and other places where your family spends time.
2. Create a Disaster Plan
   
   • Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster.
   • Explain the dangers of fire, severe weather, and earthquakes to children.
   • Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team.
   • Discuss the types of disasters most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case.
     Pick two places to meet:
     1. Right outside your home, in case of a sudden emergency like a fire.
     2. Outside your neighborhood, in case you can’t return home. Everyone must know the address and phone number.
   • Ask an out-of-state friend to be your “family contact”.  After a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance.  All family members should call this person to report their whereabouts.  Each family member must know your family contact’s phone number.
   • Discuss what to do in an evacuation.  Plan how to take care of your pets.
3. Complete This Checklist.
   
   • Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1 for emergency help.
   • Make sure your telephone number appears on each telephone in your home.
   • Show each family member how and when to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at the main switches.
   • Confirm that you have adequate insurance coverage.
   • Get training from the fire department for each family member on how to use the fire extinguisher (ABC type) and show them where it’s kept.
   • Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, the hall leading to bedrooms and inside bedrooms.
   • Conduct a home hazard hunt (see below).
   • Stock emergency supplies and assemble a disaster supplies kit.
   • Take first aid and CPR classes.
   • Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room.
   • Find the safe places in your home for each type of disaster.
4. Practice and Maintain Your Plan
   
   • Quiz your kids every six months.
   • Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills.
   • Replace stored water and stored food every six months.
   • Check and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer’s instructions.
   • Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least twice a year (an easy way to remember is to change the batteries when the time changes.)

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Working with neighbors can save lives and property.  Meet with your neighbors to plan how the neighborhood will work together after a disaster.  If you’re a member of a neighborhood organization, such as a homeowners association or crime watch group, introduce disaster preparedness as a new activity.  Know your neighbors’ special skills (e.g., medical, technical) and consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as disabled and elderly persons.  Make plans for childcare in case parents can’t get home.

Home Hazard Hunt

During a disaster, ordinary objects in your home can cause injury or damage. Anything that can move, fall, break, or cause fire is a home hazard.  For example, a hot water heater or bookshelf can fall.  Inspect your home at least once a year and fix potential hazards.

Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.

Evacuation

• Evacuate immediately if told to do so.
• Listen to your battery-powered radio and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.
• Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
• Take your Disaster Supply Kit.
• Use travel routes specified by local authorities—don’t use shortcuts because certain areas may be impassible or dangerous.

If you’re sure you have time:

• Shut off water, gas, and electricity before leaving, if instructed to do so.
• Make arrangements for your pets.

Emergency Supplies

Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three (3) days. Assemble a disaster supplies kit with items you may need in an evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, duffle bags, or covered trash containers.

Your disaster supplies kit should include the following:

• A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won’t spoil.
• One change of clothing and footwear per person, and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.
• A first aid kit that includes your family’s prescription medications.
• Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries.
• An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash, or traveler’s checks.  
• Sanitation supplies.
• Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members and pets.
• An extra pair of glasses.

Keep a smaller kit in the trunk of your car.

Keep important family documents in a waterproof container.

UTILITIES

Locate the main electric fuse box, water service main and natural gas main. Learn how and when to turn these utilities off.  Teach all responsible family members.  Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves.  Remember to turn off the utilities only if you suspect the lines are damaged or if you are instructed to do so.  If you turn the gas off, you will need a professional to turn it back on.

If Disaster Strikes

• Remain calm and patient.  Put your plan into action.
• Check for injuries.  Give first aid and get help for seriously injured people.
• Listen to your battery-powered radio for news and instructions.  Evacuate if advised to do so.  Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
• Check for damage in your home
• Use flashlights.  Do not light matches or turn on electrical switches if you suspect damage.
• Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows, and get everyone outside quickly.
• Shut off any other damaged utilities. (You will need a professional to turn gas back on.)
• Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline and other flammable liquids immediately.

Remember to...

• Confine or secure your pets.
• Call your family contact. Do not use the telephone again unless there is a life-threatening emergency.
• Check on your neighbors, especially elderly or disabled persons.
• Make sure you have an adequate water supply in case service is cut off.
• Stay away from downed power lines.
  

DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT

Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere.  And when disaster strikes, you may not have much time to respond.  A fire or hazardous material leak could mean evacuation.  A winter storm could confine your family at home. An earthquake, flood, or any other disaster could cut water, electricity, and telephone for days.

After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately.  You could get help in hours, or it may take days. Would your family be prepared to cope with an emergency until help arrives?  Your family will cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. An essential component of any family's disaster preparedness plan is a disaster supplies kit.

Prepare Your Kit

• Review the checklist below.
• Gather the supplies that are listed.
• Place the supplies you'd most likely need for an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container (such as a backpack, duffel bag, covered trash container). These supplies are listed below with an asterisk(*).
• There are six basics you should stock for your home: water, food, first aid supplies, clothing, and bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items.
• Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members.
• Keep a smaller version of your disaster supplies kit in the trunk of your car.
• Keep items in airtight plastic bags.
• Change your stored water and food supply every six months.
• Reevaluate your kit and family needs at least once a year: replace batteries, update clothes, etc.
• Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.

Water

• Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts (a half-gallon) of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more.
• Store at least three gallons of water (a three-day supply) per person. *

Food

• Store at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food. Select foods that require no preparation or cooking and little or no water, such as canned meats, fruits, and vegetables. If you must heat food, store a can of Sterno or a camping stove and fuel. Select food items that are compact and lightweight. *

First Aid Kit *

Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. A first aid kit should include the following:

• Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• Assorted sizes of safety pins
• Cleansing agent/soap
• Latex gloves (2 pairs)
• Sun screen
• 2 - inch sterile gauze pads (4 - 6)
• 4 - inch sterile gauze pads (4 - 6)
• Triangular bandages (3)
• Non-prescription drugs
• 2 - inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
• 3 - inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Needle
• Moist towelettes
• Antiseptic
• Thermometer
• Tongue blades (2)
• Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant

Non-Prescription Drugs

• Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever.
• Antidiarrhea medication.
• Antacid (for stomach upset).
• Syrup of ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
• Laxative
• Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center).

Tools and Supplies

• Mess kits or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils. *
• Emergency preparedness manual *
• Battery-operated radio and extra batteries *
• Flashlight and extra batteries *
• Cash or travelers checks, change *
• Nonelectric can opener, utility knife *
• Fire extinguisher (small ABC type)
• Tube tent
• Pliers
• Tape
• Compass
• Matches in waterproof container.
• Map of the area (for locating shelters)
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic storage containers
• Signal flare
• Paper, pencil
• Needles, thread
• Medicine dropper
• Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
• Whistle
• Plastic sheeting

Sanitation

• Toilet paper, towelettes *
• Soap, liquid detergent *
• Feminine supplies *
• Personal hygiene items *
• Plastic bags with ties (for personal sanitation use.)
• Plastic bucket with tight lid (to store sanitation waste)
• Disinfectant.
• Household chlorine bleach

Clothing and Bedding

• Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person *
• Sturdy shoes or work boots *
• Rain gear *
• Blankets or sleeping bags *
• Hat and gloves
• Thermal underwear
• Sunglasses

Special Items

• Remember family members with special requirements, such as infants, elderly or disabled persons, and pets.

For Baby *

• Formula
• Diapers
• Bottles
• Powdered milk
• Medications
• Favorite snuggle toy or "blankie"

For Adults *

• Heart and high blood pressure medication
• Insulin
• Prescription drugs
• Denture needs
• Contact lenses and supplies
• Extra eye glasses

Entertainment

• Games and books, playing cards

Important Family Documents *

Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container

• Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
• Passports, social security cards, immunization records
• Bank account numbers
• Credit card account numbers and companies
• Inventory of valuable household goods
• Important telephone numbers
• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
• FEMA
• American Red Cross