Safety Message
    A message from our safety officer, Lt. Col. Patrick Malone
    September, 2007
September is National Preparedness Month, a nationwide effort to encourage citizens to take
simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools.

Here are some things to consider when preparing for emergencies at home.  When there IS an
emergency, take care of HOME FIRST!

First of all, have a family meeting to discuss escape routes and meeting places.  

  •  Make a floorplan of your house and show all possible escape routes for EACH room, and  
       POST it in every room.

  • have two meeting places - a main meeting place, and an alternative one, in case the first
        one isn't accessible.

  • have a communications plan - how to get in touch with each other, and also an out-of state
        contact, who may be able to contact others in case the phone lines are down or tied up.

  • let your contact know that you're ok, and they can pass the word.

  • don't rely solely on your cell phone, as cell phone service can go down during an
        emergency or disaster.

Things to do with your home to keep it safe, in case of a disaster such as an earthquake,
tornado or hurricane - for example:

  • have a wrench handy at your gas valve, and test it to make sure it turns.
  • if you smell gas, or hear hissing:  shut off the gas, open the windows, and don't turn on
        any  lights or flashlights, as they may make a spark that can ignite leaking gas.
  • if there is a water leak, turn off the water main, just in case there is also a sewer leak that
         may get into your home's water supply.
  • have a T-handle wrench on hand to turn off water main.
  • keep a supply of fresh drinking water on hand in case of emergency.
  • possible sources of fresh water are:  hot water heater (30-50 gallons), your toilet tank
        (several gallons), your hot tub (300-700 gallons).  You can add bleach (1/8 teaspoon
        of bleach per gal. of water), or boil for 3 mins. to make sure it's drinkable.
  • if you think there may be a gas leak, turn off your electricity to avoid the possibility of
        a spark igniting the gas.  Do NOT turn off the main breaker - instead, turn off each
        breaker one at a time.  When you go to power back up, turn on each breaker one at
        a time.

Prepare an emergency kit in case of disaster.  It should include, at a bare minimum, the
following:

  • A 3 day supply of drinking water, about 1 gal. per person, per day (2 week supply
       preferred)
  • canned and dry foods, snacks
  • a survival manual
  • a fire starting kit
  • battery powered radio, flashlight & batteries
  • cash (in case atm's are down)
  • special needs items, such as medicines, glasses, special dietary needs etc.
        gas for your generator, if you have one.
  • blankets/sleeping bags.
  • extra clothing
Be sure to date your emergency kit, and rotate out the food and water as they expire.

Keep in mind these 3 things that will help you survive:
1.  Use your head
2.  Have the will to survive
3.  Have a positive attitude

If you do these things, you will be better prepared to survive any emergency, at least long
enough for assistance to arrive, or for you to be able to safely return to your home.

For more information, visit the FEMA website for emergency preparedness.
http://www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtm

http://www.ready.gov/

for more information on drinking water:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html