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Hurricanes, floods, ice storms and tornadoes are just a few examples of the disasters that North Carolina has dealt with throughout its history. The good news is that our residents have become very good at taking the steps necessary to protect themselves and their families. Fortunately, the steps people should take to prepare for a natural disaster are essentially the same steps they should take to prepare for acts of bioterrorism or other man-made catastrophes.
If you have never taken the time to develop a family disaster plan or a disaster preparedness kit, the following guide will help you do so. Keep in mind that the following steps outline practical information on how you and your family can prepare for ANY disaster. The guide includes up-to-date hazard-specific safety tips and information about preparedness and protection. Information on what to do with animals in a disaster can be found on the Internet at http://www.ncsart.org.
Disaster preparedness works. Taking action now will help protect your family, reduce the effect an emergency has on your life, and help deal with the chaos if an incident occurs near you. Be prepared to adapt this information to your personal circumstances and follow instructions received from public health and emergency management authorities. Above all, stay calm, be patient and think before you act. With these simple preparations you can be ready for the unexpected.
Make a Kit
Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to make it on your own for at least three days or longer. While there are many things that might make you more comfortable, think first about fresh water, food and clean air. Consider putting together two kits. In one, put everything needed to stay where you are. The other should be a lightweight, smaller version you can take with you.
You’ll need a gallon of water per person per day. Include canned and dried foods that are easy to store and prepare. Include clothes and a sleeping bag for each member of the family.
Start by gathering basic emergency supplies – a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, toilet articles, prescription medicines and other special things your family may need.
Keep important family documents such as insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a readily accessible waterproof, portable container.
Some terrorist attacks could send tiny microscopic “junk” into the air. Many of these materials can only hurt you if they get into your body, so think about ways to create a barrier between yourself and any contamination. Each member of the family should have something for covering their mouth and nose. Plan to use two to three layers of cotton T-shirt, handkerchief or towel. Or, consider filter masks, readily available in hardware stores, which are rated based on how small a particle they filter. It is very important that the mask or other material fit your face as snugly and smoothly as possible so that most of the air you breathe comes through the mask, not around it.
Make a Plan
Be prepared to assess the situation, use common sense and whatever you have on hand to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the emergency, the first important decision is whether to stay or go. You should understand and plan for both possibilities.
Develop a Family Communication Plan: Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations. Consider a plan where each family member calls, or e-mails, the same friend or relative in the event of an emergency. During an emergency, it may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-state contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
Staying Put: There are circumstances when staying put and creating a barrier between yourself and potentially contaminated air outside, a process known as “shelter-in-place,” can be a matter of survival. Choose an interior room or one with as few windows and doors as possible. Consider precutting plastic sheeting to seal windows, doors and air vents. Each piece should be several inches larger than the space you want to cover so that you can duct tape it flat against the wall. Label each piece with the location of where it fits.
If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to “shelter-in-place.” Quickly bring your family and pets inside, lock doors and close windows, air vents and fireplace dampers. Immediately turn off air conditioning, forced air heating systems, exhaust fans and clothes dryers. Take your emergency supplies and go into the room you have designated. Seal all windows, doors and vents. Watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet for instructions.
Getting Away: Plan in advance how you will assemble your family and anticipate where you will go. Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency. Keep at least a half tank of gas in your car at all times. Become familiar with alternate routes as well as other means of transportation out of your area. Take your emergency supply kit and lock the door behind you. If you believe the air may be contaminated, drive with your windows and vents closed and keep the air conditioning and heater turned off. Listen to the radio for instructions.
At Work and School: Think about the places where your family spends time: school, work and other places you frequent. Talk to your children’s teachers and your employer about emergency plans. Find out how they will communicate with families during an emergency. If you are an employer, be sure you have an emergency preparedness plan. Review and practice it with your employees. A community working together during an emergency also makes sense. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance. For more information on working together, visit Citizen Corps at www.citizencorps.gov or 1-800-820-4483.
The Rutherford Polk McDowell District Health Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services.
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