Disasters can strike anytime and anywhere. And when they do, you may have little, if any, time to respond.
Homeland Security spokesman Gordon Johndroe has said that given the Al Qaeda terrorist network’s interest in weapons of mass destruction, “it’s appropriate for citizens to be informed about how to respond to a terrorist attack, much as people have prepared for years to be ready for tornadoes, hurricanes or floods.”
To be sure, other types of disasters–those that have nothing to do with terrorists, and everything to do with Mother Nature or human error–may hit your home or community in the future.
A hazardous-materials spill on a local highway or street could mean an instant evacuation for your family and neighbors. A fierce winter storm could confine your family to your house. And an earthquake, flood or other disaster could cut off basic services–gas, water, electricity and telephones–for days or, worse yet, render your home uninhabitable.
Will you, your family and home be prepared?
Once a disaster strikes, you won’t have time to shop or search for supplies, much less retrofit your foundation or make sure that the shrubbery around your home is planted far enough away to keep your home safe from wildfires. Local law enforcement officials and relief workers could reach you in hours, or it may take days. But if you’ve gathered supplies in advance and made sure that your home’s construction and contents are safe, your family can better endure an evacuation, extended home confinement or another emergency.
“The more preparation that people can do before something happens, the better they are going to be able to take care of themselves and their loved ones,” said Harold Brooks, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross’ Bay Area chapter. “We want people to take seriously the inevitability that bad things are going to happen.”
One of the easiest steps you can take to safeguard your family is compiling an emergency supplies kit. There also are many ways to prepare your home for a major storm, flood, fire or earthquake. Before you get started, find out whether your home is on or near a floodplain. If you are building or remodeling a home, keep in mind that there are many other options to consider for protecting your property.
Floods
Find out about flood insurance. Do you have enough?
Make sure that your main electric switch box, electric outlets and switches, and major appliances, including your washer, dryer, furnace and water heater, are situated above potential flood levels.
Securely anchor your fuel tank. Make sure that your floor drains have a float plug and that your sewer system has a back-flow valve.
Storms
Timely preparation, including structural and non-structural measures, can diminish the impact of a severe storm. Before a storm arrives, know how to turn off gas, electric power and water in case you have to evacuate the house. Keep plywood, plastic sheeting, lumber, sandbags and hand tools on hand.
Most important, “winterize” your house, barn, shed or other structures that could provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment. Install storm shutters, doors and windows; clear rain gutters; repair leaky roofs; and check your roof to make sure it can sustain unusually heavy weight from accumulation of water or snow.
Wildfires
If you are unsure whether your house is at risk from wildfires, check with your local fire marshal, building official, city engineer or planning and zoning administrator. If you are in a hazard area, they can further instruct you on how to protect yourself and your house and property from fire.
A simple way to protect against wildfires is to remove trees, shrubs and other vegetation within a 30-foot radius of your home. Yard debris, brush, woodpiles and other such materials should also be removed. Finally, consider landscaping alternatives such as rock gardens.
If you hire a contractor to remove a large tree, you can expect to pay about $300 to $500. But it’s well worth the cost. Left to grow near your house, foliage makes for a quick path for a fire to reach your home. One rule of thumb: The distance between your house and any nearby tree should be greater than the height of the mature tree or at least 10 feet. Similarly, any buildings not adjacent to your home, such as storage sheds, should be at least as far away as their height.
Earthquakes
Make sure your home’s foundation is secure. If you have a chimney, make sure it’s properly anchored.
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Securely fasten any pictures, mirrors, shelves, light fixtures, televisions, computers and other electronic equipment. Strap down any wood-burning stove and your water heater. Move heavy, tall furniture away from high-risk areas and fasten it to wall studs. Anchor your kitchen and laundry appliances and other heavy, breakable items. Finally, make sure to securely store any hazardous materials.
Finally, Brooks said, remain calm and, despite our current reality of terrorist and other threats, try not to view the situation as desperate. “The way to mitigate the number of lives lost, the number of people injured, the amount of suffering and ultimately the speed that we recover is completely contingent on the amount of preparedness,” Brooks said.
The essentials of an emergency kit
One way to protect your family in case of a natural disaster or other emergency is to put together a kit that contains water, food, first-aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and a battery-powered radio.
Keep as many items as possible in airtight plastic bags and change water and food supplies every six months. Replace batteries, update clothes and ask your physician or pharmacist about storing medications.
Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container such as a large trash can with a lid, a camping backpack or a duffel bag, and store it in a convenient place known to all family members.
Here’s a list of items to include in the kit:
Water: Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. (Other types of containers, including glass bottles or milk cartons, can break or decompose.) You should have one gallon of water per person, per day (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for food preparation and sanitation). Keep at least a three-day supply of water.
Food: Likewise, store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. If you must heat food, pack a can of Sterno or another brand of “canned heat.” Pick food items such as ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables and vitamin foods (for infants, the elderly or those on special diets).
First Aid: Sterile adhesive bandages and gauzes in assorted sizes, scissors, tweezers, needle, moistened towelettes, antiseptic, thermometer, tongue depressors (two total), tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant, assorted sizes of safety pins and cleansing agent or liquid soap.
Tools and other supplies: Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils; emergency preparedness manual; battery-operated or solar-powered radio; extra batteries; flashlight, cash or traveler’s checks, change; non-electric can opener; utility knife; fire extinguisher.
Sanitation: Toilet paper, moist towelettes, soap, feminine supplies, personal hygiene items, plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses); plastic bucket with tight lid; disinfectant; chlorine bleach.
Clothing and bedding: Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person and blankets or sleeping bags.
Special items: Some family members, such as infants and elderly people, may have special needs such as formula and medication.
Important documents: Keep paper and electronic (disc) records in a waterproof, portable container.
For more information, see “Be Alert, Be Aware, Have a Plan: The Complete Guide to Protecting Yourself, Your Home, Your Family” by Neal Rawls ($15).
–San Francisco Chronicle