| December
Emergency Drill
The results of our
December drill are in - It was an unqualified great success.
Community Medical Center - Oakhurst met their requirements as did
Sierra Ambulance. The Red Cross setup a simulated shelter; first
time for us, and the Sheriff's Office provided an Incident Command
Post. RACES supplied superb communication, as usual. The biggest
asset to the event were our volunteers, who were evacuees at the
Seventh Day Adventist Church shelter and patients at the CMC
Urgent Care. Thanks to all
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Prepare a Winter
Storm Plan
From The American
Red Cross
Have extra blankets
on hand.
Ensure that each
member of your household has a warm coat, gloves or mittens, hat,
and water-resistant boots.
Assemble a disaster
supply kit
Have your car
winterized before winter storm season.
Listen to NOAA
Weather Radio and your local radio and TV stations for updated
storm information.
A winter storm
WATCH means a winter storm is possible in your area.
A winter storm
WARNING means a winter storm is headed for your area.
A blizzard WARNING
means strong winds, blinding wind-driven snow, and dangerous wind
chill are expected. Seek shelter immediately!
Be alert to
changing weather conditions.
Avoid unnecessary
travel.
Stay indoors during
the storm.
If you must go
outside, several layers of lightweight clothing will keep you
warmer than a single heavy coat. Gloves (or mittens) and a hat
will prevent loss of body heat. Cover your mouth to protect your
lungs.
Understand the
hazards of wind chill, which combines the cooling effect of wind
and cold temperatures on exposed skin.
As the wind
increases, heat is carried away from a person's body at an
accelerated rated, driving down the body temperature.
Walk carefully on
snowy, icy, sidewalks.
After the storm, if
you shovel snow, be extremely careful. It is physically strenuous
work, so take frequent breaks. Avoid overexertion.
Avoid traveling by
car in a storm, but if you must, carry
a disaster supply kit in the trunk.
Keep your car's gas
tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from
freezing.
Let someone know
your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If
your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your
predetermined route.
If
You Do Get Stuck, stay
with your car. Do not try to walk to safety.
Tie a brightly
colored cloth (preferably red) to the antenna for rescuers to see.
Start the car and
use the heater for about 10 minutes every hour. Keep the exhaust
pipe clear so fumes won't back up in the car.
Leave the overhead
light on when the engine is running so that you can be seen.
As you sit, keep
moving your arms and legs to keep blood circulating and to stay
warm.
Keep one window
away from the blowing wind slightly open to let in air.
What
to Do After a Winter Storm
Continue listening
to local radio or television stations or a NOAA Weather Radio for
updated information and instructions. Access may be limited to
some parts of the community, or roads may be blocked.
Help a neighbor who
may require special assistance; infants, elderly people, and
people with disabilities. Elderly people and people with
disabilities may require additional assistance. People who care
for them or who have large families may need additional assistance
in emergency situations.
Avoid driving and
other travel until conditions have improved. Roads may be blocked
by snow or emergency vehicles.
Avoid overexertion.
Heart attacks from shoveling heavy snow are a leading cause of
deaths during winter.
Follow forecasts
and be prepared when venturing outside. Major winter storms are
often followed by even colder conditions. |
|
Upcoming Training Session For
All Resource Volunteers
Mark
Your Calendars !!
Featuring An Overview of
Emergency Services and the FEMA National
Incident Management System
Monday, March 27, 2006
Oakhurst Community Center
6:00 PM / 8:00 PM Refreshments
will be served
Bring your entire family;
tell your friends and neighbors. Anyone interested is welcome We will also discuss the upcoming training schedule -
Disaster Services Training; Shelter Operations; CPR / First Aid;
and updates on future Disaster Drill
Exercises.
For more emergency
management information, we recommend you go to http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is7.asp
and download their "Citizens Guide To Disaster
Assistance" and take their online course, a good general
introduction to disaster assistance.
____________________________________
Emergency Preparations For Your Household
and Family
Talk with your
family about the potential disasters that can happen and why
it’s necessary to prepare for them. Involve each member of
your family in the planning process. By showing them simple
steps that can increase their safety you can help reduce their
anxiety about emergencies.
Remember - You
May Need To Be Self Sufficient For Up To 72 Hours
Make sure
everyone knows where to find your disaster supply kit .
Your disaster supply kit should include the following:
water, food, and manual can
opener, flashlight,
battery operated radio and
batteries, whistle, pocket knife,
personal medications and
prescriptions, extra
keys to your house and vehicles, basic
first aid kit and instructions, walking
shoes, warm clothes, a hat, and rain gear, extra
prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal
items, toilet paper,
plastic bags and other hygiene supplies paper,
pens and tape for leaving messages, cash,
copies of insurance and
identification cards, any
special-need items for children and seniors or people with
disabilities. Don’t forget pet supplies.
Plan where to
meet after a disaster if your home becomes unsafe. Choose two
places, one just outside your home and one outside your
neighborhood in case you are told to evacuate.
Determine the
best escape routes from your home. Try and identify two escape
routes.
Make sure each
member knows who your family’s out-of-state contact is and
instruct them to call this person and tell him/her where they
are.
Locate the gas
main or propane tank shutoff and other utilities and make sure
family members know when and how to turn them off.
Teach each member
of your family how to use a fire extinguisher.
Create emergency
response cards for each of your family members.
Take into account
the special needs of children, seniors or people with
disabilities, family members that don’t speak English and
pets.
____________________________________
Emergency
Community
Response Team
More Information About The
Eastern Madera County Emergency Preparedness Committee and
Emergency Community Response Team Can Be Found On Our Website, www.sierratel.com/emergency
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