Make
a Plan
Meeting Places
A family plan is crucial. You should plan two emergency family meeting places.
The first should be somewhere just outside your home where your family
can safely meet in case of a house fire. The second should be outside your
neighborhood
in case you can't return home or are evacuated.
Family Contact
Ask an out-of-state friend or family member to be your "family contact".
Make sure all family members have this person's name and telephone number.
After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Each family member
should call this person to tell them where they are.
Follow
Instructions Immediately
A sudden emergency involving chemicals, or hazardous materials, can force emergency
officials to ask you to take immediate action to protect yourselves and your
families. You may be asked to shelter in-place, to prepare to evacuate, or
to evacuate.
In Case
Of A Chemical Emergency
Shelter-in-Place
- Chemical Emergency
Shelter-in-Place
is likely to be the way you are directed to protect yourself. If
you are told to Shelter-in-Place, do the following:
- Immediately
go inside. Bring pets inside also.
- Close and lock
all windows and doors. Stay calm. Stay off the telephone.
- Turn off heating
and cooling systems.
- Go to an interior
room with no or few windows.
- Turn on
a radio to a local Emergency Alert System station for information
and directions. Stay tuned
to the station until you are given instructions that
the emergency is over. Seal openings into the room with plastic
sheeting and
tape only if you are instructed to do so.
- If told to
protect breathing, cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth,
if possible.
- After the emergency
is over, you will be instructed to air out your house.
Prepare to Evacuate
You may be told to Prepare-to-Evacuate. When informed of this, you should do
the following:
- Stay calm. Stay off
the telephone.
- Turn on
your radio or television to the local Emergency Alert System
station for emergency instructions.
- Pack only what you
need. Gather critical medicines, appropriate clothing for the weather conditions,
portable radio, flashlight, spare batteries, checkbook, credit cards, and
other essential items.
- Lock your house.
- Pets,
with the exception of seeing eye dogs are generally not permitted
in shelters. Special pet shelter accommodations will be made
available.
- You may
return home as soon as the emergency is declared over, and
have been instructed to
return.
Evacuation
Evacuating means leaving
the area that is affected by the potential hazard. Sometimes a chemical accident,
such as an overturned tanker truck, will force people from their homes for
health and safety reasons. If you are asked to evacuate, do the following:
- Remain calm.
- Listen carefully to
the instructions you are given and be sure you are in an area that is being
evacuated.If told
to evacuate, do so.
- Do not use the phone
except to dial 911 in a life-threatening situation.
- Take your Disaster
Supply Kit with you.
- DO NOT go to your children's
school. If they are in the evacuation area, they will be taken care of.
They will probably be gone by the time you get there.
- Close and lock windows
and doors.
- Turn off all fans,
heating and cooling units.
- Bring pets
indoors and leave food and water for them.
- Keep vehicle windows
and vents closed while evacuating.
- Follow instructions
of emergency personnel along evacuation routes. Stay tuned to radio and
television for further instructions from emergency officials.
- Shelters will be announced
by the County based on the type of incident and the area affected by the
emergency.
