EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
It is important that we all prepare for hazards and respond to public health emergencies. When people
are prepared they can deal with disasters of all sorts much more effectively. Are you ready for an emergency?
Prepare a Family Disaster Plan
Natural disasters, can strike quickly and without warning. Families can cope with disaster by preparing in
advance and working together as a team. Create a family disaster plan including a communication plan,
disaster supplies kit, and an evacuation plan. Knowing what to do is your best protection, and it is your
responsibility.
Do Some Research
The first step is to learn about what could happen to you. Contact your American Red Cross chapter or
local emergency management office and ask the following questions. Be prepared to take notes.
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Ask what types of disasters are most likely to happen. Request information on how to prepare
for each.
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Learn about your community’s warning signals: what they sound like and what you should do
when you hear them.
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Ask about animal care after disaster. Animals other than service animals may not be allowed
inside emergency shelters.
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Find out how to help elderly or disabled persons, if needed.
Find out about the disaster plans at your workplace, your children’s school or daycare center,
and other places where your family spends time.
Create a Plan
Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster. Explain the dangers of fire,
severe weather, and earthquakes to children. Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a
team. Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen and then address the following
topics.
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Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster.
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Conduct a home hazard hunt.
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Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).
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Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room. Plan how
to take care of your pets.
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Show each family member how and when to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at the
main switches.
Pick two places to meet: (1) right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a
fire; (2) outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Everyone must know the
address and phone number.
Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services number for
emergency help.
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Check if you have adequate insurance coverage.
Teach each family member how to use the fire extinguisher, and show them where it’s kept.
Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
Stock emergency supplies and assemble a disaster supplies kit.
Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class.
Develop different methods for communicating during emergency situations and share your
plans beforehand with all those who would be worried about your welfare.
Practice Your Plan
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Test your smoke detectors monthly, and change the batteries at least once a year.
Quiz your family members every six months so they remember what to do.
Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills.
Replace stored water every three months and stored food every six months.
Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer’s instructions. (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007)
Prepare for Natural Disasters and Severe Weather
Emergency preparedness requires awareness of health threats and how to protect yourself and others.
The resources below will help you prepare for natural disasters and severe weather.
Floods
Flooding occurs when a river or lake overflows or breaks levees. Floods often cause damage to homes,
buildings, bridges, cars, buildings, sewer systems, and roadways.
Recognizing Health Threats
People, pets, livestock, and wildlife sometimes die due to drowning. In addition to causing physical
damage, floods can also lead to waterborne diseases.
Protecting Yourself and Others
During a flood and its aftermath, you need to know how to protect your personal health and safety as
well as the safety of others.
Basic Steps
Here are some basic steps to prepare for a flood:
 Contact the local county geologist or county planning department to find out if your home is located in
a flash-flood-prone area or landslide-prone area.
 Learn about your community's emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes, and locations of
emergency shelters.
 Plan and practice a flood evacuation route with your family. Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to be
the "family contact" in case your family is separated during a flood. Make sure everyone in your family
knows the name, address, and phone number of this contact person.
 Post emergency phone numbers at every phone.
 Inform local authorities about any special needs, i.e., elderly or bedridden people, or anyone with a
disability.
 Identify potential home hazards and know how to secure or protect them before the flood strikes. Be
prepared to turn off electrical power when there is standing water, fallen power lines, or before you
evacuation. Turn off gas and water supplies before you evacuate. Secure structurally unstable building
materials.
 Buy a fire extinguisher and make sure your family knows where it is and how to use it.
 Buy and install sump pumps with back-up power.
 Have a licensed electrician raise electric components (switches, sockets, circuit breakers and wiring) at
least 12" above your home's projected flood elevation.
 For drains, toilets, and other sewer connections, install backflow valves or plugs to prevent floodwaters from entering.
 Anchor fuel tanks which can contaminate your basement if torn free. An unanchored tank outside can
be swept downstream and damage other houses.
Emergency Supplies
You should stock your home with supplies that may be needed during the emergency period. At a minimum, these supplies should include:
 Several clean containers for water, large enough for a 3-5 day supply of water (about five gallons for
each person).
 A 3-5 day supply of non-perishable food and a non-electric can opener.
 A first aid kit and manual and prescription medicines and special medical needs.
 A battery-powered radio, flashlights, and extra batteries.
 Sleeping bags or extra blankets.
 Water-purifying supplies, such as chlorine or iodine tablets or unscented, ordinary household chlorine
bleach.
 Baby food and/or prepared formula, diapers, and other baby supplies.
 Disposable cleaning cloths, such as "baby wipes" for the whole family to use in case bathing facilities
are not available.
 Personal hygiene supplies, such as soap, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, etc.
 An emergency kit for your car with food, flares, booster cables, maps, tools, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, sleeping bags, etc.
 Rubber boots, sturdy shoes, and waterproof gloves.
 Insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin, screens, or long-sleeved and long-legged clothing for
protection from mosquitoes which may gather in pooled water remaining after the flood.
Responding to Flood Watch or Flood Warning
If you your area is under a flood watch or warning:
 Gather the emergency supplies you previously stocked in your home and stay tuned to local radio or
television station for updates.
 Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve if evacuation appears necessary.
 Have your immunization records handy or be aware of your last tetanus shot, in case you should receive a puncture wound or a wound becomes contaminated during or after the flood.
 Fill bathtubs, sinks and plastic soda bottles with clean water. Sanitize the sinks and tubs first by using
bleach. Rinse and fill with clean water.
 Bring outdoor possessions, such as lawn furniture, grills and trash cans inside or tie them down securely.
Preparation to Evacuate
Expect the need to evacuate and prepare for it. When a flood watch is issued, you should:
 Fill your vehicle’s gas tank and make sure the emergency kit for your car is ready.
 If no vehicle is available, make arrangements with friends or family for transportation.
 Identify essential documents such as medical records, insurance card along with ID cards and put in
water prove material to carry with you during evacuation.
 Fill your clean water containers.
 If you have pet, identify a shelter designated for pets.
 Review your emergency plans and supplies, checking to see if any items are missing.
 Tune in the radio or television for weather updates.
 Listen for disaster sirens and warning signals.
 Put livestock and family pets in a safe area. Due to food and sanitation requirements, emergency shelters cannot accept animals.
 Adjust the thermostat on refrigerators and freezers to the coolest possible temperature.
Order to Evacuate
You should never ignore an evacuation order. Authorities will direct you to leave if you are in a low-lying
area, or within the greatest potential path of the rising waters. If a flood warning is issued for your area
or you are directed by authorities to evacuate the area:
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Take only essential items with you.
If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water.
Disconnect appliances to prevent electrical shock when power is restored.
Follow the designated evacuation routes and expect heavy traffic.
Do not attempt to drive or walk across creeks or flooded roads.
Order NOT to Evacuate
To get through the storm in the safest possible manner:
 Monitor the radio or television for weather updates.
 Prepare to evacuate to a shelter or to a neighbor's home if your home is damaged, or if you are instructed to do so by emergency personnel. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009)
Landslides
Landslides occur when masses of rock, earth, or debris move down a slope. Debris flows, also known as
mudslides, are a common type of fast-moving landslide that tends to flow in channels. Landslides are
caused by disturbances in the natural stability of a slope. They can accompany heavy rains or follow
droughts, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. Mudslides develop when water rapidly accumulates in the
ground and results in a surge of water-saturated rock, earth, and debris. Mudslides usually start on
steep slopes and can be activated by natural disasters. Areas where wildfires or human modification of
the land have destroyed vegetation on slopes are particularly vulnerable to landslides during and after
heavy rains.
Recognizing Health Threats
In the United States, landslides and debris flows result in 25 to 50 deaths each year. The health hazards
associated with landslides and mudflows include rapidly moving water and debris, broken electrical, water, gas, and sewage lines that can result in injury or illness, and disrupted roadways and railways that
can endanger motorists and disrupt transport and access to health care.
Some areas are more likely to experience landslides or mudflows, including areas where wildfires or
human modification of the land have destroyed vegetation. Areas where landslides have occurred before include:
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steep slopes and areas at the bottom of slopes or canyons
slopes that have been altered for construction of buildings and roads
channels along a stream or river
areas where surface runoff is directed
Protecting Yourself and Others
You can cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together with family, friends, and
neighbors to help protect each other. You need to plan ahead for how you can protect yourself before,
during, and after the landslide or mudslide occurs.
Preparation for Intense Storms and Rainfall
There is much you can do to plan ahead.
 Assume that steep slopes and areas burned by wildfires are vulnerable to landslides and debris flows.
Learn whether landslides or debris flows have occurred previously in your area by contacting local authorities, a county geologist or the county planning department, state geological surveys or departments of natural resources, or university departments of geology.
 Contact local authorities about emergency and evacuation plans.
 Develop emergency and evacuation plans for your family and business.
 Develop an emergency communication plan in case family members are separated.
 If you live in an area vulnerable to landslides, consider leaving it.
Action During Intense Storms and Rainfall
When you recognize conditions that will likely result in a landslide or mudslide, you need to be ready to
take action.
 Listen to the radio or watch TV for warnings about intense rainfall or for information and instructions
from local officials.
 Be aware of any sudden increase or decrease in water level on a stream or creek that might indicate
debris flow upstream. A trickle of flowing mud may precede a larger flow.
 Look for tilted trees, telephone poles, fences, or walls, and for new holes or bare spots on hillsides.
 Listen for rumbling sounds that might indicate an approaching landslide or mudflow.
 Be alert when driving. Roads may become blocked or closed due to collapsed pavement or debris.
 If landslide or debris flow danger is imminent, quickly move away from the path of the slide. Getting
out of the path of a debris flow is your best protection. Move to the nearest high ground in a direction
away from the path. If rocks and debris are approaching, run for the nearest shelter and take cover (if
possible, under a desk, table, or other piece of sturdy furniture).
Action After a Landslide or Mudslide
There are still dangers after a landslide or mudslide occurs, so you need to take caution and get information.
 Stay away from the site. Flooding or additional slides may occur after a landslide or mudflow.
 Check for injured or trapped people near the affected area, if it is possible to do so without entering
the path of the landslide or mudflow.
 Listen to the radio or TV for emergency information.
 Report broken utility lines to the appropriate authorities.
 Consult a geotechnical expert (a registered professional engineer with soils engineering expertise) for
advice on reducing additional landslide problems and risks. Local authorities should be able to tell you
how to contact a geotechnical expert. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010)
Tornadoes
Tornadoes can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Although nothing can be done to prevent tornadoes, there are actions you can take for your health and safety.
Recognizing Health Threats
During a tornado, people face hazards from extremely high winds and risk being struck by flying and falling objects. After a tornado, the wreckage left behind poses additional injury risks.
Protecting Yourself and Others
Learn about the tornado warning system of your county or locality. Most tornado-prone areas have a
siren system. Know how to distinguish between the siren's warnings for a tornado watch and a tornado
warning.
Signs of an Approaching Storm
Some tornadoes strike rapidly, without time for a tornado warning, and sometimes without a thunderstorm in the vicinity. When you are watching for rapidly emerging tornadoes, it is important to know
that you cannot depend on seeing a funnel: clouds or rain may block your view. The following weather
signs may mean that a tornado is approaching:
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a dark or green-colored sky
a large, dark, low-lying cloud
large hail
a loud roar that sounds like a freight train
If you notice any of these weather conditions, take cover immediately, and keep tuned in to local radio
and TV stations or to a NOAA weather radio.
Presence of a Funnel Cloud
If you see a funnel cloud nearby, take shelter immediately. However, if you spot a tornado that is far
away, help alert others to the hazard by reporting it to the newsroom of a local radio or TV station before taking shelter as described later. Use common sense and exercise caution. If you believe that you
might be in danger, seek shelter immediately.
Warnings from Weather Forecasts
When there are thunderstorms in your area, turn on your radio or TV to get the latest emergency information from local authorities. Listen for announcements of a tornado watch or tornado warning. A tornado watch is issued when weather conditions favor the formation of tornadoes, for example, during a
severe thunderstorm. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado funnel is sighted or indicated by
weather radar.
 Because tornadoes often accompany thunderstorms, pay close attention to changing weather conditions when there is a severe thunderstorm watch or warning.
 During a tornado watch, stay tuned to local radio and TV stations or a NOAA weather radio for further
weather information. Watch the weather and be prepared to take shelter immediately if conditions
worsen.
 During a tornado warning, take shelter immediately.
Taking Shelter
The key to surviving a tornado and reducing the risk of injury lies in planning, preparing, and practicing
what you and your family will do if a tornado strikes. Flying debris causes most deaths and injuries during a tornado. Although there is no completely safe place during a tornado, some locations are much
safer than others. Your family could be anywhere when a tornado strikes—at home, at work, at school,
or in the car. Discuss with your family where the best tornado shelters are and how family members can
protect themselves.
Home
Pick a place in the home where family members can gather if a tornado is headed your way. One basic
rule is stay away from windows. An exploding window can injure or kill.
The safest place in the home is the interior part of a basement. If there is no basement, go to an inside
room, without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet.
For added protection, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench. If possible, cover
your body with a blanket, sleeping bag, or mattress, and protect your head with anything available—
even your hands. Avoid taking shelter where there are heavy objects, such as pianos or refrigerators, on
the area of floor that is directly above you. They could fall though the floor if the tornado strikes your
house.
Mobile Home
Do not stay in a mobile home during a tornado. Mobile homes can turn over during strong winds. Even
mobile homes with a tie-down system cannot withstand the force of tornado winds.
Plan ahead. If you live in a mobile home, go to a nearby building—preferably one with a basement. If
there is no shelter nearby, lie flat in the nearest ditch, ravine, or culvert and shield your head with your
hands.
If you live in a tornado-prone area, encourage your mobile home community to build a tornado shelter.
On the Road
The least desirable place to be during a tornado is in a motor vehicle. Cars, buses, and trucks are easily
tossed by tornado winds. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car. If you see a tornado, stop your vehicle and get out. Do not get under your vehicle. Follow the directions below for seeking shelter outdoors.
Outdoors
If you are caught outside during a tornado and there is no adequate shelter immediately available:
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Avoid areas with many trees.
Avoid vehicles.
Lie down flat in a gully, ditch, or low spot on the ground.
Protect your head with an object or with your arms.
Long-Span Buildings
A long-span building, such as a shopping mall, theater, or gymnasium, is especially dangerous because
the roof structure is usually supported solely by the outside walls. Most such buildings hit by tornados
cannot withstand the enormous pressure. They simply collapse.
If you are in a long-span building during a tornado, stay away from windows. Get to the lowest level of
the building—the basement if possible—and away from the windows.
If there is no time to get to a tornado shelter or to a lower level, try to get under a door frame or get up
against something that will support or deflect falling debris. For instance, in a department store, get up
against heavy shelving or counters. In a theater, get under the seats. Remember to protect your head.
Office Buildings, Schools, Hospitals, Churches, and Other Public Buildings
Extra care is required in offices, schools, hospitals, or any building where a large group of people is concentrated in a small area. The exterior walls of such buildings often have large windows. If you are in any
of these types of buildings:
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Move away from windows and glass doorways.
Go to the innermost part of the building on the lowest possible floor.
Do not use elevators because the power may fail, leaving you trapped.
Protect your head and make yourself as small a target as possible by crouching down.
Shelter for People with Special Needs
Advance planning is especially important if you require assistance to reach shelter from an approaching
storm.
 If you are in a wheelchair, get away from windows and go to an interior room of the house. If possible,
seek shelter under a sturdy table or desk. Do cover your head with anything available, even your
hands.
 If you are unable to move from a bed or a chair and assistance is not available, protect yourself from
falling objects by covering up with blankets and pillows.
 If you are outside and a tornado is approaching, get into a ditch or gully. If possible, lie flat and cover
your head with your arms. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007)
Extreme Heat
Conditions of extreme heat are defined as summertime temperatures that are substantially hotter
and/or more humid than average for location at that time of year. Humid or muggy conditions, which
add to the discomfort of high temperatures, occur when a "dome" of high atmospheric pressure traps
hazy, damp air near the ground. Extremely dry and hot conditions can provoke dust storms and low visibility. Droughts occur when a long period passes without substantial rainfall. A heat wave combined
with a drought is a very dangerous situation.
Recognizing Health Threats
People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to compensate and properly cool themselves. The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn't
enough. In such cases, a person's body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures may
damage the brain or other vital organs.
Protecting Yourself and Others
To protect your health when temperatures are extremely high, remember to keep cool and use common
sense. The following tips are important:
 Drink plenty of fluids. During hot weather you will need to increase your fluid intake, regardless of
your activity level. Don't drink liquids that contain alcohol, or large amounts of sugar—these actually
cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach
cramps.
 Replace salt and minerals. Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. These are necessary for your body and must be replaced.
 Wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen. Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body fluids. It also causes pain
and damages the skin. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by putting on sunscreen.
 Consider the weather when you schedule outdoor activities. If you must be outdoors, try to limit your
outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body's
thermostat will have a chance to recover.
 Pace yourself. If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly
and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping
for breath, stop all activity. If you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint, get into a cool area or
at least into the shade, and rest, especially.
 Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air
conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library—even a few hours spent in air conditioning can
help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if
there are any heat-relief shelters in your area. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or
moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
 Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
 Use a buddy system. When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have
someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose
consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a
day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.
 Monitor those at high risk. Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some
people are at greater risk than others, including the following:
o Infants and young children
o People aged 65 or older
o People who have a mental illness
o Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure
 Adjust to the environment. Be aware that any sudden change in temperature, such as an early summer heat wave, will be stressful to your body. You will have a greater tolerance for heat if you limit
your physical activity until you become accustomed to the heat. If you travel to a hotter climate, allow
several days to become acclimated before attempting any vigorous exercise, and work up to it gradually.
 Do not leave anyone in cars. Even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures
very quickly. Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees
Fahrenheit within the first ten minutes. Anyone left inside is at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or
even death.
 Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets, and leave the water in a shady area. (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, July)
Wildfires
Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that occur in the countryside or in a wilderness area. Wildfires spread
out from their original source very quickly and they often change direction unexpectedly. Developed
areas and communities adjacent to and surrounded by forested regions or wildlands are at risk.
Recognizing Health Threats
Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. Smoke can cause coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, chest pain,
headaches, stinging eyes, a runny nose, and asthma exacerbations. If you have heart or lung disease,
smoke might make your symptoms worse. People who have heart disease might experience chest pain,
rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and fatigue. When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy
people may experience some of these symptoms.
Protecting Yourself and Others
Knowing what to do when you see a wildfire, or when you hear a wildfire warning, can help protect you
and your family. Limit your exposure to smoke. Following are ways to protect your health:
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Pay attention to local air quality reports. Listen and watch for news or health warnings about
smoke. Also pay attention to public health messages about taking additional safety measures.
Refer to visibility guides if they are available. Not every community has a monitor that measures
the amount of particles that are in the air.
If you are advised to stay indoors, keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors
closed unless it is extremely hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the
fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If you
do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek
shelter elsewhere.
Do not add to indoor pollution. When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns,
such as candles, fireplaces, or gas stoves. Do not vacuum, because vacuuming stirs up particles
already inside your home. Do not smoke, because smoking puts even more pollution into the
air.
Follow your doctor's advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if
you have asthma or another lung disease, call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper "comfort" or "dust" masks commonly found at
hardware stores are designed to trap large particles, such as sawdust. These masks will not protect your lungs from smoke. An “N95” mask, properly worn, will offer some protection
Practicing Wildfire Safety
People start most wildfires. Find out how you can promote and practice wildfire safety.
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Contact your local fire department, health department, or forestry office for information on fire
laws.
Make sure that fire vehicles can get to your home. Clearly mark all driveway entrances and display your name and address.
Report hazardous conditions that could cause a wildfire.
Teach children about fire safety. Keep matches out of their reach.
Post fire emergency telephone numbers.
Ensure adequate accessibility by large fire vehicles to your property.
Plan several escape routes away from your home—by car and by foot.
Talk to your neighbors about wildfire safety. Plan how the neighborhood could work together
after a wildfire. Make a list of your neighbors' skills such as medical or technical. Consider how
you could help neighbors who have special needs such as elderly or disabled persons. Make
plans to take care of children who may be on their own if parents can't get home.
Before Wildfire Threatens
Even if your area has never experienced a wildfire, if you live in a region susceptible to wildfires, it is always wise to plan in advance.
Emergency Supplies
When wildfire threatens, you won't have time to shop or search for supplies. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need if advised to evacuate. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry
containers such as backpacks, duffle bags, or trash containers. In the kit, include:
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A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won't spoil.
One change of clothing and footwear per person and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.
A first aid kit that includes your family's prescription medications.
Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries.
An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash, or traveler's checks.
Sanitation supplies.
Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.
Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Assemble a smaller version of your
kit to keep in the trunk of your car.
Protection for Your Home
If you live in the woods or nearby a forest, you can take action to help protect your home.
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Create a 30- to 100-foot safety zone around your home. Within this area, you can take steps to
reduce potential exposure to flames and radiant heat. Homes built in pine forests should have a
minimum safety zone of 100 feet. If your home sits on a steep slope, standard protective
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measures may not suffice. Contact your local fire department or forestry office for additional information.
Mow your lawn regularly. Rake leaves, remove dead tree limbs and twigs, and clear all flammable vegetation. Also remove leaves and rubbish from under structures.
Prune tree branches and shrubs within 15 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.
Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.
Remove vines from the walls of your home.
Store gasoline, oily rags and other flammable materials in approved safety cans. Place cans in a
safe location away from the base of buildings.
Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill from your home. Clear combustible material
within 20 feet. Use only wood-burning devices evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory,
such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.
Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes.
Identify and maintain an adequate outside water source such as a small pond, cistern, well,
swimming pool, or hydrant. Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the
home and other structures on the property. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008)
When Wildfire Threatens
If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area:
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Listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information. Follow the instructions of local officials.
Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape. Shut
doors and roll up windows. Leave the key in the ignition. Close garage windows and doors, but
leave them unlocked. Disconnect automatic garage door openers.
Confine pets to one room. Make plans to care for your pets in case you must evacuate.
Arrange temporary housing at a friend or relative's home outside the threatened area.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
Wear protective clothing including sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothing, long pants, a longsleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief to protect your face.
Lock your home.
Tell someone when you left and where you are going.
Choose a route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of fire and
smoke.
If you're sure you have time, take the following steps to protect your home:
Inside:
 Close windows, vents, doors, blinds, or noncombustible window coverings and heavy drapes.
Remove lightweight curtains.
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Shut off all utilities if possible.
Open the fireplace damper and close fireplace screens.
Move flammable furniture into the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass
doors.
Turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your home in heavy smoke.
Outside:
 Seal attic and ground vents with precut noncombustible coverings.
 Turn off propane tanks.
 Place combustible patio furniture inside.
 Connect the garden hose to outside taps.
 Set up a portable gasoline-powered pump.
 Place lawn sprinklers on the roof and near aboveground fuel tanks. Wetting the roof may help if
it is shake-shingled.
 Wet or remove shrubs within 15 feet of the home. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
2007)
Returning Home after a Disaster
When you return to your home after a tornado, flood, landslide or another natural disaster, protect
yourself and your family from illness and/or injuries by following these tips.
Preventing Illness from Food
 Identify and throw away food that may not be safe to eat. Do not keep or eat food that smells bad,
looks bad, or has touched floodwater. When in doubt, throw food out.
 Store food safely. While the power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as
possible. Add block ice or dry ice to your refrigerator if the electricity is expected to be off longer than
four hours.
Preventing Illness from Water
 Listen to public announcements. Local public announcements will include warnings if local tap water is
not safe for drinking, cooking, cleaning, or bathing.
 Until the water is safe, use bottled water or boil or disinfect water. If a "boil water" advisory is in effect, do not drink tap water or use it to brush your teeth unless water has come to a rolling boil for at
least one minute or is treated with unscented household chlorine bleach. To disinfect water, add 1/4
teaspoon (approximately 1.5 mL) bleach to one gallon of cloudy water or 1/8 teaspoon (approximately
0.75 mL) bleach to one gallon of clear water. Stir well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it.
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
 Do not enter a building if you smell gas. Call 911. Do not light a match or turn on lights.
 Do not use fuel-burning devices indoors or in enclosed areas. You can be poisoned or killed by carbon
monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas from burning fuel such as gasoline, charcoal, or propane when
using generators, charcoal grills, camp stoves, or other fuel-burning devices.
 Make sure a battery or electric powered CO detector is functional. Use CO detectors inside your
home, garage, or work area to alert you to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
Avoiding Contact with Animals and Insects
 Reduce mosquito bites. Consider avoiding outdoor activities during the evening and early morning,
which are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Use an insect repellent with DEET or Picaridin.
 Stay away from wild or stray animals. Stray dogs may be hurt or afraid and may bite. Call local authorities to handle animals.
Avoiding Unstable Buildings and Structures
 Stay away from damaged buildings or structures. Do not enter unstable buildings until they have been
examined and certified as safe by a building inspector or other government authority. Leave immediately if you hear shifting or unusual noises that signal that the structure is about to fall.
 Beware of electrical and fire hazards.
 NEVER touch a fallen power line. Call the power company to report fallen power lines.
 Do not touch fallen electrical wires. They may be live and could hurt or kill you.
 Turn off the electrical power at the main source if there is standing water. Do not turn on power or
use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water.
 Do not turn the power back on until electrical equipment has been inspected by a qualified electrician.
Do not burn candles near flammable items or leave the candle unattended. If possible, use flashlights
or other battery-operated lights instead of candles.
Avoiding Hazardous Materials
 Wear protective clothing and gear. For example, a respirator may be needed when handling hazardous materials.
 Wash skin that may have come in contact with hazardous chemicals. Contact local authorities if you
are not sure about how to handle or get rid of hazardous materials.
Stopping Mold Growth
 Clean up and dry out the building quickly. Open doors and windows and use fans to dry out the building.
 Prevent and remove mold growth. To prevent mold growth, clean wet items and surfaces with detergent and water. To remove mold growth, wear rubber gloves, open windows and doors, and clean
with a bleach solution of one cup of bleach in one gallon of water.
 Throw away porous items. Take out items that have soaked up water such as carpet and upholstered
furniture that cannot be cleaned and dried.
 Use fans and dehumidifiers and open doors and windows to remove moisture. (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2008)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007, September 4). Develop a Family Disaster Plan.
Retrieved April 26, 2010, from CDC.gov:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/preparedness/plan/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007, April 19). Fact Sheet Wildfires. Retrieved April 26,
2010, from CDC.gov: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/facts.asp
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007, October 18). Tornadoes: Being Prepared. Retrieved
April 26, 2010, from CDC.gov: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/prepared.asp
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008, July 2). Returning Home After a Disaster: Be Healthy
and Safe. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from CDC.gov:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/returnhome.asp
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008, June 2). Wildfire - Are you Ready? Retrieved April 26,
2010, from Wildfire - Are you Ready?:
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/home_fire_prev/wildfire/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009, March 27). Key Facts About Flood Readiness.
Retrieved April 26, 2010, from CDC.gov:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/readiness.asp
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, January 21). Landslides and Mudslides. Retrieved
April 26, 2010, from CDC.gov: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/landslides.asp
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (July, 2009 31). Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to
Promote Your Personal Health and Safety. Retrieved April 26, 2010, from CDC.gov:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp