Are You
Prepared In The Event Of A Disaster?
San Diego
might be effected by a wide variety of hazards
such as, earthquakes, fires, severe storms,
power outages and acts of terrorism to name a
few. Imagine that you have no electricity,
no gas, no water and no telephone services.
Imagine that all of the businesses are closed
and you are without any kind of emergency
services. What will you do until help
arrives? In order to be prepared, you need
to have an emergency plan in place, remain calm,
patient and put your plan into action.
Involve you family in the planning process.
By showing them simple steps that can increase
everyone’s safety you can help reduce any
anxiety about emergencies. Make sure to
include your children in discussions and
planning for emergency safety. Teach your
children their basic personal information so
they can identify themselves and get help if
they become separated from family. Prepare
an emergency card with information for your
child, including their full name, address, phone
number, parent’s cell and work numbers and an
out of area / state contact.
If you are a
senior or are disabled, tell your neighbors if
you cannot move well or quickly in an emergency
and make arrangements for someone to check on
you. Your personal attendant or home
health agency worker may not be available / able
to help you. Ask your personal attendant
about their agency’s plan for continued care
and services in an emergency. Maintain a
supply of all of your prescription medication.
If you use oxygen, keep an emergency supply for
3-days or more.
When a
disaster occurs, you might not have access to
food, water and electricity for days, or even
weeks. Store enough emergency food to
provide for your family for at least 3 days.
Water supplies may be cut off or contaminated.
Store enough water for everyone in your family
to last at least 3 days. More is better.
In any emergency, you or a family member may be
cut, burned or suffer other injuries. Keep
a well supplied first aid kit so that you are
prepared to help when someone is hurt.
Plan on how
you will communicate with loved ones after a
disaster. Long distance phone lines often
work before local phone lines, so identify an
out-of-state contact and provide this person
with the contact information of people you want
to keep informed of your situation. Share
this information with your family and friends
locally. Don’t count on cell phones -
increased cell phone networks can quickly
overload wireless capacity. Keep coins
handy. Payphones are more likely to work
before other phone lines. If an earthquake
hits, be sure to check your telephones to be
sure that they have not shaken off of the hook
and are tying up a line.
It is
important that you are aware of your community
resources. Know the locations of your
local fire and police departments. After a
disaster, emergency shelters and temporary
medical centers will be set up in your
community. Contact your local Office of
Emergency Services to find out plans for your
area.
You should
be concerned with your own safety before taking
care of your pets. Storing extra food and
water for pets is always a good idea. Keep
them in a secure place, at home if possible, as
if you are evacuated they will not be allowed at
an emergency shelter.
Earthquakes
If a major
earthquake struck in your area today, you might
be without direct assistance for up to 72 hours.
Are you prepared to be self-sufficient? Is
your family? Your neighborhood? Here
are some important things to remember to help
prepare you and your family.
 | Know
your safe spots in each room – under
doorways, sturdy tables, desks or against
inside walls.
| Know
the danger spots – windows, mirrors,
hanging objects, fireplaces, tall furniture
and bookcases.
| Usually
a hallway is one of the safest places if it
is not crowded with objects. Kitchens
and garages tend to be the most dangerous.
Also know the safest place in each room.
It will be difficult to move from one place
to another during a severe earthquake.
| Know
the possible ways to exit your home and
workplace in emergency situations.
| Conduct
practice drills. Physically place
yourself and your children in safe
locations.
| Install
smoke detectors on each level of your home
and change batteries every six months.
| Keep
beds away from the windows ~ move mirrors
and heavy pictures away from couches or
places where people sit. Always keep
your hallways and exits clear for easy
evacuation.
| Know
how and when to switch off your utilities.
|
| | | | | | |
What
To Do ! Know what to do when the shaking
begins:
DROP,
COVER and
HOLD
ON
!!
| DROP
to the floor.
| Take
cover under a sturdy piece of furniture or
next to an interior wall. COVER your
head and neck with your arms. Stay
away from windows.
| HOLD
ON to a sturdy piece of furniture and be
prepared to move with it.
| If
you are downtown, it is safer to remain
inside a building after an earthquake unless
there is a fire or a gas leak.
| Never
take elevators after an earthquake.
| If
you are outside, find a clear space away
from buildings, trees and power lines.
Drop to the ground.
| If
you are in a car, slow down and drive to a
clear place (as described above). Stay
in the car until the shaking stops.
| Turn
off the gas only if you smell gas.
| Listen
to the radio for instructions and expect
aftershocks.
|
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Tsunamis
A strong
earthquake lasting 20 seconds or more in the
Pacific Ocean
region could generate a tsunami. A
noticeable rapid rise or fall in the coastal
waters is a sign that a tsunami is approaching.
Tsunami’s most frequently come onshore as a
rapidly rising turbulent surge of water full of
debris.
|
In response to a tsunami, move inland or
move to a higher ground immediately.
|
|
Do not
go to watch the waves or try to surf a
tsunami.
|
|
Stay
away from the beach and the bay until local
authorities have told you that it is safe to
return.
|
More
on Tsunamis
