Stay Safe - Preparing for Disaster
We just had a wonderful presentation by Fran O'Shaunessy from the American Red Cross in Xenia, OH (Greene County). If you are like me - we say to ourselves, "It won't happen to me" or "It won't happen here". Those sayings have been proven wrong time and time again. Not only has Xenia been hit by two powerful tornados but we also had the chemical explosion/spill just a couple of years ago in Miamisburg. Fires affect many homes in the area every week.
Fran told an interesting story about the Miamisburg spill in that it seemed relatively contained at first. The Red Cross set up shelters for the few hundred people that were initially effected. There was then an additional explosion. The Red Cross then had to move its shelters to more remote locations and it ended up evacuating 30,000 people from their homes!
We are more at risk than ever even here in the Dayton area. There are scares from tornados, wind damage, floods, lightning hits. We need to be aware of possible pandemic flu and avian flu where we might be told to stay in our homes for days/weeks. There may be gas leaks. Unfortunately, we now worry about terrorist attacks too.
So, let's all stop saying, "It won't happen here", and get prepared. Fran says we should plan for being isolated for at least 3 days whether its locked down in our own homes or away from home or simply being without power.
These steps are excerpted from brochure FEMA 475 which is available by calling 1-800-480-2520:
1. Get informed - find out what disaster plan exists in your community and where are designated shelters. Talk to your emplyer, schools, and child care centers. Does your community have a warning system? Should you buy a weather alert radio?
2. Make a plan - Meet with your family to prepare them. Choose and out-of-town contact so that you can communicate with loved ones even if the local phone lines are congested. Decide where to meet. Plan escape routes and safe places in your home. Plan for those with disabilities and plan for your pets! Make copies of vital documents - a person without identification has a hard time getting around these days.
3. Assemble a kit - Food, batteries, battery-powered radio, flashlight, first aid kit, hand sanitizer, towelettes, toilet paper, matches, sterno for cooking, money, medications, special needs.
4. Maintain your plan and kit - Update these every 6 months - new batteries, new food, new medications. Have evacuation drills. Test your fire extinguisher. Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
If you need more information or contact names/numbers for the American Red Cross, please send an email MindyNemon@aol.com
STAY SAFE!
Fran told an interesting story about the Miamisburg spill in that it seemed relatively contained at first. The Red Cross set up shelters for the few hundred people that were initially effected. There was then an additional explosion. The Red Cross then had to move its shelters to more remote locations and it ended up evacuating 30,000 people from their homes!
We are more at risk than ever even here in the Dayton area. There are scares from tornados, wind damage, floods, lightning hits. We need to be aware of possible pandemic flu and avian flu where we might be told to stay in our homes for days/weeks. There may be gas leaks. Unfortunately, we now worry about terrorist attacks too.
So, let's all stop saying, "It won't happen here", and get prepared. Fran says we should plan for being isolated for at least 3 days whether its locked down in our own homes or away from home or simply being without power.
These steps are excerpted from brochure FEMA 475 which is available by calling 1-800-480-2520:
1. Get informed - find out what disaster plan exists in your community and where are designated shelters. Talk to your emplyer, schools, and child care centers. Does your community have a warning system? Should you buy a weather alert radio?
2. Make a plan - Meet with your family to prepare them. Choose and out-of-town contact so that you can communicate with loved ones even if the local phone lines are congested. Decide where to meet. Plan escape routes and safe places in your home. Plan for those with disabilities and plan for your pets! Make copies of vital documents - a person without identification has a hard time getting around these days.
3. Assemble a kit - Food, batteries, battery-powered radio, flashlight, first aid kit, hand sanitizer, towelettes, toilet paper, matches, sterno for cooking, money, medications, special needs.
4. Maintain your plan and kit - Update these every 6 months - new batteries, new food, new medications. Have evacuation drills. Test your fire extinguisher. Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
If you need more information or contact names/numbers for the American Red Cross, please send an email MindyNemon@aol.com
STAY SAFE!
posted by Mindy Nemon at
11:05 AM
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