Disaster Preparedness

Evacuation

An evacuation can occur at many different levels. You may be forced to evacuate your home due to a fire or natural gas leak; whereas the remainder of your neighborhood is not affected. Your street or neighborhood could be evacuated due to a serious threat to public safety. Regardless of the reason why, it is important for your family to be prepared for an emergency evacuation.
 


Fires

If a fire occurs in your home, it can devastate your family, destroy your home and property, and upset an entire neighborhood. In many cases, fires can be prevented by taking same basic but very important precautions. 
 
Before a fire:
  • Install smoke alarms in your home (bedrooms, kitchen, and living room minimum)
  • Place fire extinguishers in a visible and accessible location such as your kitchen and garage. Replace them if they lose their charge or have been used. 
  • Learn how to use fire extinguishers
 
Plan your escape:
  • Draw a floor plan of your home and mark two ways out of each room
  • Review the plan with household members and practice your escape routes
  • Decide on a safe place outside your home where everyone will meet after evacuating the house
     


Heat Wave

If there is an area of high pressure with little or no rain and clouds, there is nothing to protect the air and ground from being heated excessively. When large high pressure air is trapped, the ground and air will continue to heat and the heat wave will last longer.
 
The effects of the heat can be devastating. It's important to drink plenty of water and stay indoors when possible.
 


Flash Floods

Heavy rainfall in the area may cause severe flooding. The level of washes, creeks, streams, and culverts can rise quickly and pose a hazard for people and pets. The rule for being safe is simple: never cross moving water. Even a shallow depth of fast moving floodwater produces more force than most people imagine. The most dangerous thing you can do is try walking, swimming, or driving through swift water. Before a flood occurs, create an evacuation plan by sharing with your family which areas may become impassable. If you live in a high risk flood area, purchase a flood insurance policy. If you feel you are at risk you should check with your insurance agent.