Storms or other emergencies may happen at any time. It's best to be prepared with supplies for 7 to 14 days.

• Stock up on the food you normally use and enjoy.
• Foods that don't need refrigeration or cooking are best.
• Remember babies, older people and those with special diets as you prepare.
• If the electricity goes off, use foods that might spoil first. Then use foods from the freezer. Finally, use others that don't need the refrigerator.

• If you use prescription medicines, keep an extra supply on hand.
• If anyone in the family uses special medical devices, talk to your doctor about what to do if there's a problem with them.
• Get a first aid kit. Take it with you if you're asked to leave your home.

• Keep paper copies of your bank, credit card and other financial records.
• Do not take your cash out of the bank. It is not insured if it's under your mattress! Keep a little extra cash on hand in small bills for the store.

• Have several flashlights and extra batteries and bulbs ready to use.
• Don't use open candles. They may cause a fire.
• Have a battery-powered portable radio. Listen to radio stations WEPM 1340 AM or WXVA 98.3 FM for news and instructions.

• Bundle up with extra warm clothes and blankets. Use a hat.
• Be very careful if you use a fireplace or wood stove. They might cause a fire if you're not used to them.
• You may need to go to a relative or friend's house if they have heat or to a Red Cross shelter.
• Listen to radio stations WEPM 1340 AM or WXVA 98.3 FM to find out where the shelters are.

The pages that follow have more suggestions for getting your family and neighborhood ready --

Step 3: Complete This Checklist.
Keep this booklet handy in case of an emergency.

• Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (fire, police, ambulance, etc.), along with your name, full home address and telephone number. Panic can confuse memory.
• Make sure each family member knows how and when to turn off the water, gas and electricity at the main switches.
• Check if you have enough insurance coverage. Note that if you are a renter, your landlord's insurance does not protect your personal property. Contact your insurance agent to ask about renter's insurance. Usually this is not very expensive. If you are exposed to floods, ask your agent about the National Flood Insurance Program.
• Teach each family member how to use the fire extinguisher (ABC type) and show them where it's kept.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
• Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards. Do a home hazard hunt with all family members.
• Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room.
• Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster.
• Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class. Contact the Red Cross Chapter in Bardane (725-5015) for information about training programs.

Step 4: Practice and Maintain Your Plan.

• Quiz your kids every six months so they remember what to do.
• Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills every six months.
• Replace stored water and food every six months to keep them fresh.
• Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) regularly. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly. Change the batteries at least once a year.

What to Tell Children.
Tell children that a disaster is something that happens that can hurt people, cause damage, or cut off utilities like water, telephones, or electricity. Explain to them that fire, rain, wind and snow can all cause disasters. For Y2K, explain that some computers and some electronic equipment may stop working for awhile when the date changes from 1999 to 2000. Talk about effects that children can relate to, such as loss of electricity, water and telephone service. Suggestions:

• Give examples of several disasters that could happen in your community. Help children recognize their warning signs. Talking about possible problems ahead of time reduces fear and lets everyone know how to respond.
• Teach children how and when to call for help. Check the telephone directory or Section 7 of this booklet for local emergency telephone numbers. Teach children when to call 911. At home, put a list of emergency telephone numbers by all phones. Explain when to call each number. Even very young children can be taught how and when to call for emergency assistance. If a child can't read, make an emergency telephone number chart with pictures. This can help the child see the correct number to call.
• Explain that when people know what to do and practice in advance, everyone can handle emergencies better. That's why you need to create a Family Disaster Plan.
• Have older children take a first aid and CPR course. These are critical skills and learning can be a fun activity.
• Tell children that in a disaster there are many people who can help them. Talk about ways that people can help: parents, neighbors, Red Cross volunteers, police officers, firefighters, teachers, doctors, or utility workers.
• Teach children to call your family contact person in case they are separated from the family in an emergency. Help them memorize the telephone number, or write it down on a card that they can keep with them.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
Working with neighbors can save lives and property. Meet with your neighbors to plan how you can work together after a disaster until help arrives. If you're a member of a neighborhood organization, such as a home association or crime watch group, introduce disaster preparedness as a new activity. Let them know that you are preparing. If they wish to talk about it, they're welcome to talk to you any time. Discuss how you can work together to handle natural disasters or Y2K problems. Talk about how you can share resources. Know your neighbors' special skills (medical, technical and others). Consider how you can help neighbors with special needs, such as disabled and elderly persons. Make plans for child care, in case parents can't get home.

Emergency Supplies.
Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for about 7 to 14 days. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need in an evacuation (see Section 5 for recommended content). Store these supplies in sturdy easy-to-carry containers like backpacks, duffel bags or covered trash containers. Replace these supplies periodically.

Keep important family documents in a waterproof and fireproof container.

Utilities:
Locate the main electric fuse box, water service main and natural gas main. Learn how and when to turn these utilities off. Teach all responsible family members. Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves.

Remember, turn off the utilities only if you suspect the lines are damaged or if you are instructed to do so. If you turn the gas off, you will need a professional to turn it back on.

Home Hazard Hunt:
During a disaster, ordinary objects in your home can cause injury or damage. Anything that can move, fall, break or cause a fire is a home hazard - for example, an unsteady bookshelf. People can trip over loose electric cords or toys on stairways. Inspect your home at least once a year and fix potential hazards. Have your children tell you if they find any hazards.

If Disaster Strikes:
Remain calm and patient. Put your plan into action.

• Listen to your battery-powered radio and follow the instructions of local emergency officials. Tune to radio stations WEPM, AM 1340 or WXVA 98.3 FM for the latest emergency information.
• Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes. Dress warmly in winter.
• Take your Disaster Supplies Kit.
• Lock your home.
• Use travel routes local authorities tell you to use. Don't take shortcuts, because certain areas may be impassable or dangerous.

• Shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving, if instructed to do so.
• Post a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
• Make arrangements for your pets. See Section 5 for suggestions.

Check for injuries.
Give first aid and get help for seriously injured people.

• Use flashlights. Do not light matches or turn on electrical switches, if you suspect damage.
• Check for fires, fire hazards and other household dangers.
• Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows and get everyone outside quickly.
• Shut off any undamaged utilities.
• Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline and other flammable liquids immediately.

Remember to ...

• Confine or secure your pets. Leave them a lot of water and some food, too.
• Call your family contact. Do not use the telephone again unless it is a life-threatening emergency.
• Check on your neighbors, especially elderly or disabled persons.
• Make sure you have an adequate water supply in case service is cut off.
• Stay away from power lines that are down.

During an emergency, you might be cut off from food, water and electricity for days. If power is out, food stores may be closed and your water supply may not work.

Having a supply of clean water is very important. A normally active person needs to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. During hot weather you will need double that amount. Children, nursing mothers and sick people will need more. You will also need water to fix meals and to wash. Keep at least one gallon per person, per day. You should keep a 7 to 14 day supply of water for each member of your family. Don't forget water for pets.

If supplies run low, drink what you need today and try to find more for tomorrow. You can use less by doing less and staying cool.

How to Keep Water:
Keep your water in very clean plastic, glass, fiberglass or enamel-lined metal containers. Never use a container that has held poison. Plastic soft drink bottles are best. You can also buy food-grade plastic buckets or drums. Close water containers tightly, date them and keep in a cool, dark place. Change this water with fresh water every six months.

Hidden Water Sources in Your Home:
If a disaster catches you without a supply of clean water, you can use ice cubes and the water in your hot-water tank or pipes. You can also clean water from the reservoir (back) tank of your toilet (not the bowl).

To use the water in your pipes, let air into the plumbing by turning on the faucet in your house at the highest point. A small amount of water will trickle out. Then get water from the lowest faucet in the house.

To use the water in your hot-water tank, cut off the power to your heater and open the drain at the bottom of the tank. Start the water flowing by turning off the water intake valve and turning on a hot-water faucet. Do not turn the power back on when the tank is empty.

Emergency Outdoor Water Sources:
If you need to find water outside, you can use these, if you clean the water before drinking it.

• Rainwater
• Streams, rivers and other moving bodies of water
• Ponds and lakes
• Natural springs
• Snow

Don't use water with floating material, smells or is a dark color. Use saltwater only if you distill it first. You should not drink floodwater.

Three Ways to Purify Water:
In addition to having a bad smell and taste, bad water can have germs that cause diseases such as dysentery, typhoid and hepatitis. You should clean water before drinking, cooking or washing.

There are many ways to clean water. None is perfect. Often the best way is to do two things: This will kill most germs but will not get rid of heavy metals, salts and most other chemicals. Before cleaning, let the water settle, or pour it through layers of paper towels or clean cloth.

1. Boiling.
   Boiling is the safest method of cleaning water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 5 minutes, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Let the water cool before drinking. Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring the water back and forth between two clean containers. This will also make the taste of stored water better.
2. Disinfection:
   You can use household liquid bleach to kill germs. Use only regular household liquid bleach that contains only 5.25% sodium hypochlorite - check the label. Do not use scented bleaches, colorsafe bleaches or bleaches with added cleaners. Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water, stir and let stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not have a slight bleach smell, do it again and let stand another 15 minutes.

The only item used to clean water should be household liquid bleach. Other chemicals, such as iodine or water treatment products sold in camping or surplus stores that do not contain 5.25% sodium hypochlorite as the only active ingredient, are not recommended and should not be used.

Distillation:
While the two ways shown above will kill most germs in water, distillation will remove those and will also get rid of heavy metals, salts and most other chemicals.

Distillation involves boiling water and then collecting the vapor that condenses back to water. The condensed vapor will not include salt and other impurities. To distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot's lid so that the cup will hang right side up when the lid is upside-down (make sure the cup is not dangling into the water) and boil the water for 20 minutes. Let it cool. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.

Keep Bad Water from Entering Your Home:
Do you know where your incoming water valve is? You'll need to shut it off to stop bad water from coming into your home if you hear news of broken water lines.

Short-Term Food Supplies:
Even though an emergency might not cut off your food supply for 7 to 14 days, you should try to have that much on hand. The easiest way to get 7 to 14 days of food is to buy more of the basic foods you usually keep on your shelves, a little at a time.

• Date food with ink or marker as you buy them and replace them gradually with new supplies. Eat out of your long-term storage and replace what you've used. Place new items at the back of the storage area and the older ones in front so they are used first.
• Keep food in a dry, cool spot - a dark area if possible.
• Keep food covered at all times and protected from mice and insects.
• Open food containers (or packaging) carefully so that you can close them tightly after each use.
• Wrap cookies and crackers in plastic bags and keep them in tight containers.
• Empty opened packages of sugar, cereal, dried fruits and nuts into screw-top jars or air-tight cans to protect them from pests.
• Look at all food for signs of spoilage before use.

Nutrition Tips:
During and right after an emergency, it will be important that you keep up your strength. So remember:

• Eat at least one well-balanced meal each day.
• Drink enough liquid to help your body work well (8 glasses a day).
• Eat enough to help you do any necessary work.
• Take vitamin, mineral and/or protein supplements.

When Food Supplies Are Low:
If you do less, healthy people can get along on half their food for a long period and without any food for many days. Food, unlike water, may be rationed safely, except for children, pregnant women and those who are frail or ill.

If your water supply is low, eat fewer foods that are high in fat and protein and don't eat salty foods, since they will make you thirsty. Try to eat salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals and canned foods with lots of liquid.

You don't need to go out and buy strange foods to prepare an emergency food supply. You can use the canned foods and other staples on your cupboard shelves. In fact, familiar foods are important. They can lift spirits and give a feeling of security in time of stress. Also, many canned foods don't need cooking, water or special preparation. Consider multivitamins and supplements also.

Special Considerations:
People with special diets and allergies will need more attention, as will babies, toddlers and elderly people. Nursing mothers may need to give their baby liquid formula in case they can't nurse. Canned dietetic foods, juices and soups may be helpful for ill or elderly people.

Make sure you have a hand-operated (not electric) can opener and disposable utensils. And don't forget foods for your pets.

How to Cook if the Power Goes Off:
In case the power is cut off, plan to use other ways of cooking. Don't use open flames or charcoal grills indoors. For emergency cooking you can use a fireplace or wood stove. You can also heat food with candle warmers, chafing dishes and fondue pots. A charcoal grill or camp stove can be used outdoors. Canned foods can be eaten right out of the can. If you heat it in the can, be sure to open the can and remove the label first.

Shelf life of Foods for Storage:
Here are some general rules for rotating common emergency foods:

• Use within six months:
• Powdered milk (boxed)
• Dried fruit (in metal container)
• Dry, crisp crackers (in metal container)
• Potatoes or other root vegetables - watch for signs of spoilage
• Use within one year:
• Canned meat and vegetable soups
• Canned fruits, fruit juices and vegetables
• Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals (in metal containers)
• Peanut butter
• Jelly
• Hard candy and canned nuts
• Vitamin C
• May be stored a long time: (in proper containers and conditions)
  • Wheat
  • Vegetable oils
  • Dried corn
  • Baking powder
  • Soybeans
  • Instant coffee, tea and cocoa
  • Salt
  • Non-carbonated soft drinks
  • White rice
  • Bouillon products
  • Dry pasta
  • Powdered milk (in nitrogen-packed cans)

First, use perishable foods from the refrigerator

Then, use the foods from the freezer. To lessen the number of times you open the freezer door, post a list of freezer contents on it. In a well-filled, well-insulated freezer, foods will usually still have ice crystals in their centers (meaning foods are safe to eat) for at least three days. In winter, if the outside temperature stays 32F or below, you can store frozen foods in an unheated garage or other protected cold location.

Finally, begin to use non-perishable foods and staples.

When the power is out for a long time, you may be able to use dry ice if you can find it at a local store. Bring an ice cooler or other container to transport it back home. As a rule of thumb, 25 pounds of dry ice will keep a 10-cubic-foot freezer at the right temperature (below 32F) for three or four days.

First, check to see if your neighbors have power. The problem may only be in your home, a blown fuse or a tripped circuit-breaker. If they are also without service, check with the power company to see when power may be back on. If the outage seems widespread, turn your battery-powered radio to WEPM 1340 AM or WXVA 98.3 FM for more news. Then, turn off all major appliances. When appliances ( refrigerators, electric water heaters, air conditioners and pumps) are left on, they could overload electric lines when power is turned back on, causing a second outage.

Plumbing can freeze when power is lost during cold weather periods. You can turn off the water supply at the main intake pipe, drain your system and leave a faucet open to avoid air lock, if you feel this might be a problem.

Be ready to go to a shelter if warmth and protection are a problem during a long power outage, or if for any reason local officials request or require that you leave your home. Listen to a battery-operated radio (WEPM 1340 AM or WXVA 98.3 FM) for information about where shelters will be available. See Section 7 for a list of possible shelters in Jefferson County.

Other Power Sources:
Generators for home use may be difficult to find in late 1999. Even if you find one, generators can be expensive, temperamental and noisy. The power generated is often not 'clean' with frequent spikes and surges that can damage equipment. Fuel needs to be stored for it. This can be hazardous and many fuels don't store well for a long time. Because of these reasons, unless there is a clear medical need for a generator, try using wood stoves, kerosene heaters, propane refrigerators, etc. Solar power can also be used, but is a long-term solution.

In cold climates, lack of heat can be life threatening. The ill, the elderly and small children are especially at risk. Use extra blankets, coats, socks, hats and gloves to keep warm. Close drapes and close off rooms you don't need. If heat is cut off, a fireplace, wood stove, or freestanding kerosene or propane heater may be used as another heat source. Do make sure there is adequate ventilation to prevent the build up of carbon monoxide, other gases or smoke. Buy a battery powered carbon monoxide detector.

Please do not plan to use gas-fueled appliances like an oven as another heating source. The same goes for wood-burning or liquid-fueled heating devices that are not made to be used inside a house or apartment. Camp stoves and heaters should only be used out of doors in a well-ventilated area. If you do purchase another heating source, make sure it is approved for use indoors and is listed with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Have lots of flashlights and extra batteries and bulbs on hand. Keep one next to your bed. Check batteries often. Don't use open flame candles for emergency lighting.

Examine your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms now. If you have alarms that are hard-wired into your home's electrical system (most newer ones are), check to see if they have battery back-ups. If not, buy battery-operated smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you already have detectors, clean and test them. A working smoke detector can double your chances of survival. Replace all batteries in all alarms each year as a general fire safety precaution. If you rent your home, ask your landlord about doing this.

Make sure any open flame is well away from children, pets, or flammables. Make sure that freestanding heaters or lamps cannot be knocked over by active children or pets and that fire screens are in place. Always keep an ABC fire extinguisher close at hand. For safety, use a flashlight when using the stairs or going into darkened cabinets or rooms. When filling a kerosene heater or lamp, do it outdoors and make sure the appliance is cool.

Practice home fire drills. Find two exits from every room, make sure all family members know of the outside meeting place and how to get out quickly. If your house catches fire, DO NOT TRY TO PUT IT OUT. Fire spreads faster than you can possibly imagine -- a matter of seconds. Leave immediately.

Call the local fire department AFTER you have left the building. Even if you can't reach the fire department, do not try to put out the fire yourself. NEVER go back into a burning building to get belongings or pets.

Your drugstore keeps its records on computers, as do most businesses and many doctors; and they may be subject to Y2K problems. If you take medication regularly, ask your doctor to write you an additional prescription so you have an extra supply on hand. Pharmacies may have problems or delays in filling prescriptions.

Keep a family medical inventory:

1. List all medications, over the counter and prescription that all family members use. Don't forget emergency items such as medication for allergic reactions to bee stings.
2. List any supplies used with them, such as needles, alcohol swabs, lancets, etc.
3. List all medical conditions, allergies, surgeries, etc.
4. List all devices used at home or at a medical facility (e.g. dialysis machine, pacemaker, glucose testing equipment, inhalers, respirators, etc.). This includes wheelchairs (and, if they are battery powered), stair lifts, automatic door openers, etc. (According to FEMA, anyone requiring any type of life support that uses electricity should register with his or her local Office of Emergency Services -- regardless of possible circumstances. The telephone number of the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Services is 728-3290).
5. List last dates of all immunizations such as tetanus.

Once you've made your lists, talk to your doctor about:

• Family shots, such as flu shots, children's immunizations, etc.
• How you can order enough medication and supplies in advance and store them safely.
• How to handle the medical conditions in an emergency. Do you need to buy equipment or get training?
• In addition, find out from the manufacturers of electronic devices if they will work without problems through the date change. Also, find out from your doctor what you can do if the device doesn't work properly or fails. There may be other things you can use in an emergency.
• Make sure all the equipment you use has necessary extra parts, that you know how to fix the equipment and have the right tools on hand.
• Talk about all of this with family members. Even children as young as 8 can take first aid classes and know what to do in an emergency. Children as young as 3 can dial 911.
• Practice fixing equipment and test any emergency plans and training.

Medical and Dental Care:
Try to schedule needed exams, lab tests, etc., with results returned well before the end of 1999. If your doctor has not paid attention to the Y2K problem, he may "lose" your medical records. Get paper copies of your medical file, x-rays, etc. If you need medication, ask if the doctor will give you a prescription ahead of the usual expiration. Some HMO's or health insurance companies will not take advance prescriptions - check yours. You'll need to talk about this with your provider and local drugstore.

Try not to have any elective surgery just before or just after 1/1/2000. Elective surgery means surgery not needed for treatment of a life or health threatening or sustaining condition.

To prepare for medical situations in advance, we suggest the following:

1. Stock up on needed medications.
2. Get copies of all medical and dental records, including x-rays.
3. Make sure family shots are up to date for such things as flu, tetanus, children's immunizations, etc.
4. If you have any medical or dental problems that you've been putting off taking care of, do so now.
5. Make sure you understand any medical conditions you have and know how to take care of yourself in an emergency when services are not readily available.

Medical Conditions:
The frail elderly, people with special medical problems, those that are temporarily incapacitated, needing a caregiver, or people with handicaps --must make special plans for their safety in any emergency or if Year 2000-related emergency service failures happen.

YOU CAN BUY BASIC FIRST AID KITS FROM THE RED CROSS (Tel. 725-5015), OR FROM YOUR LOCAL DRUG STORE. Or you may assemble your own. Have a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. The first aid kit should include:

• Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
• 4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
• Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
• Triangular bandages (3)
• 2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
• 3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Needle
• Medicine dropper
• Moistened towelettes
• Antiseptic
• Compresses
• Thermometer
• Tongue depressors (2)
• Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
• Assorted sizes of safety pins
• Cleansing agent/soap
• Latex gloves (2 pair)
• Sunscreen

• Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Antacid (for stomach upset)
• Syrup of Ipecac (use to start vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
• Laxative
• Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)
• Basic first aid manual (available from the Red Cross at Bardane - tel. 725-5015)

• THIS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MANUAL
• Battery operated radio and extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries/bulbs
• Cash or travelers checks, change
• Medical supplies and first aid manual
• Household liquid bleach to purify drinking water (5.25% sodium hypochlorite only)
• Blankets and extra warm clothing
• Infant and small children's needs (if appropriate)
• Mess kits, or paper cups, plates, plastic utensils and other disposable tableware
• Paper towels and napkins
• Manual can opener, utility knife
• Fire extinguisher: small canister, ABC type
• Pliers
• Tape
• Wooden matches in a waterproof and fireproof container
• Mouse traps
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic storage containers
• Signal flare
• Paper, pencil
• Needles, thread
• Shovel and other useful tools
• Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
• Whistle
• Plastic sheeting
• Map of Jefferson County (for locating shelters)

• Toilet paper
• Soap, liquid detergent
• Feminine supplies
• Personal hygiene items
• Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses and trash disposal)
• Plastic bucket with tight lid
• Spray disinfectant

• Thermal underwear
• Sunglasses
• Special needs for infants, elderly or disabled persons.
• For Babies
• Formula
• Disposable diapers
• Bottles with disposable liners
• Powdered milk
• Canned baby food
• Medications, vitamins
• "Security" blanket or toy
• For Adults
• Heart, high blood pressure or other medication for chronic conditions
• Insulin
• Prescription drugs
• Denture needs
• Contact lenses and supplies
• Extra eye glasses
• Sanitary supplies

Entertainment - toys, games and books

Important Family Documents -
Keep these records or copies in a waterproof, fireproof portable container.

• Important phone numbers
• Wills, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
• Passports, social security cards, immunization records
• Bank account numbers
• Credit card account numbers and companies
• Inventory of valuable household goods
• Family records (birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates, immigration or citizenship documents)
• Legal proceedings, past and current

If you are on a public sewage line, be aware of possible back flow, especially in floods. Report problems immediately. If you have your own septic system, make sure your treatment schedule is kept up to date.

Flush home toilets only when necessary. Put used toilet paper in plastic bags to avoid clogging problems. Use disinfectant freely. Fill your bathtub with water and use a bucket to take it to the toilet for flushing. Gray water or water from the outside, such as swimming pools or streams, may be used if free from debris.

Expect delays in garbage and trash collection. Rodents can be a major health threat where garbage piles up. Make sure you have enough sturdy, idded containers to hold 7 to 14 days of trash. Store paper and other flammables away from any heat sources or open flames. If waste builds up, consider burying bags in pits and use lime to cut down on smell and contamination.

Don't allow garbage to pile up outside your home. In some rural areas, trash can attract dangerous animals.

1. Telephones: Communication is extremely important. During an emergency, do not tie up the lines. Use the phone only when absolutely necessary. If there is no phone service, you could be cut off from emergency medical, police and fire services. One way of staying in touch is with a CB Radio and/or a family channel walkie-talkie.

2. Radio: During any sort of an emergency, information becomes very important. Radio is the most easily available source. Make sure you have a portable battery operated AM/FM radio with good reception and enough batteries to last for at least a week of continuous play. Your local emergency stations are WEPM 1340 AM and WXVA 98.3 FM.

1. Banks/Financial Records:
   Keep hardcopies of all bank statements, Social Security earnings profile, mortgage, car, utility and rent payments, IRA's, etc. Keep canceled checks or carbons.

2. Cash, Credit and Debit Cards:
   Expect to use cash for most purchases if electric power is not available or if you have Y2K concerns. Have some extra cash or travelers checks on hand in case ATM cards, credit cards and the like cannot be processed. Plan to keep cash or travelers checks in a safe place. Emergency cash should be in small bills so stores can make change more easily. It is not advisable, however, to withdraw large amounts of money from your bank. Even if the bank is temporarily closed because of a power outage, your money is safe there and it is FDIC insured. It is not FDIC insured if it is at home in your mattress!.

Whether or not to 'arm' yourself for crisis situations is a hotly debated topic. We recommend as an alternative working with your neighbors and local police department to establish block watches. Plan with your neighbors for possible security situations. The best security is often the simplest -- watchful neighbors, secure doors, locks, lights, a dog, etc.

1. Cars:
   Keep your automobile gas tank more than half full and oil at the proper level. Gas stations may experience a variety of electrical problems or delays in fuel delivery. Storing gasoline can be extremely expensive and hazardous. We don't recommend it. Arrange neighborhood car pools for local errands. Use extra caution at intersections. In storms, be alert for downed wires and debris.

2. Traffic Systems:
   Many traffic systems are computer controlled. If driving, treat every light as if it were a stop sign -- even if green. If walking, don't trust lights. Look both ways.

3. Public Transportation:
   Busses will have the same problems as cars. Allow extra time or have backup car pool plans.

4. Trains:
   Trains have had some computer problems not related to Y2K. Don't expect trains to run on time. Use extra caution at railroad crossings.

5. If You Have to Go to a Shelter

It's 2:00 a.m. and a flash flood forces you to evacuate your home - fast. There's no time to gather food from the kitchen, fill bottles with water, grab a first-aid kit from the closet and snatch a flashlight and a portable radio from the bedroom. You need to have these items packed and ready in one place before disaster strikes.

Disasters happen anytime and anywhere. A highway spill of hazardous material or a brush fire could mean instant evacuation. A winter storm, earthquake, flood or tornado or any other disaster could cut off basic services - gas, water, electricity and telephones - for days, and you may need (or be ordered by authorities) to move to a shelter or other temporary location.

Your family will cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supplies Kit. Once disaster hits, you won't have much time to shop or search for supplies. But if you've gathered supplies in advance, your family will be more comfortable at a shelter.

• Review the checklist below
• Gather the supplies that are listed in Section 4 that you may need if your family is confined at home and store your evacuation kit with, but separate from them.
• Place the supplies you'd most likely need for an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container. Possible containers include a large, covered trash container, a camping backpack, or a duffel bag.

Supplies:
There are six basics that should be part of your Disaster Supplies Kit that you may need if you have to evacuate: water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies and special items such as critical medications. (While many of these items are also listed in Section 4, they are repeated here so that you may have a specific, portable list of what is suggested if you need to evacuate.)

1. Water:
   Store one gallon of water per person per day (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for food preparation/sanitation) You may need several days supply, since you can't be certain ample water will be available in your temporary new location.

2. Food:
   Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Select food items that are compact and lightweight. Include a selection of the following foods in your disaster supplies kit:
   • Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables.
   • Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)
   • Staples - sugar, salt, pepper
   • High energy foods - peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix
   • Vitamins
   • Comfort/stress foods - cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags

3. First Aid Kit:
   Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. See Section 4.G for a list of what the first aid kit should contain.
4. Clothing and Bedding:
   Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.
• Sturdy shoes or work boots, warm socks
• Rain gear
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Hats and gloves
• Thermal underwear
• Sunglasses
5. Tools and Supplies:
   • Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
   • This emergency preparedness manual
   • Battery operated radio and extra batteries
   • Cash or travelers checks, change for coin-operated telephones
   • Non-electric can opener, utility knife

   Sanitation

   • Toilet paper, towelettes
   • Soap, liquid detergent
   • Feminine supplies
   • Personal hygiene items

6. Special Items:
   Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons.
   • For Babies
     • Formula, diapers and bottles
     • Powdered milk, canned baby food and medications
   • For Adults
     • Heart and high blood pressure medication or other chronic illness medication, insulin and prescription drugs
     • Denture needs, contact lenses and supplies, extra eye glasses
     • Foods for special diets

   Entertainment - quiet games and books

   

   Pets -
   Emergency planning should include all members of the family, including pets. If your family must go to a shelter or other site away from home, confine your pet (if appropriate) to a specific room in the house and provide plenty of food and water to sustain the animal while you are away. If possible, arrange for someone to board your pet, or find a relative or friend who can check on its well-being on a regular basis. If you place your dog or cat in a kennel, make sure that the facility can provide good long-term care and that they are prepared for disasters themselves. Insulate fish tanks with pillows or blankets.

   Put together a basic disaster kit for your pets, in case you must leave your home quickly. Recommended items would include:

   • An airline-approved carrier for each dog, cat or other pet, with ID, photo, vaccination records, registrations, special needs list, enough medicines and a muzzle or leash.
   • An extra supply of pet food (for dogs, a lower protein dog formula will produce less stool, a benefit when kept indoors). Kitty litter for cats.
   • Plenty of clean water.
   • Bowls (disposable containers if you leave your home), can opener, bleach (disinfectant and water purification), blankets, towels, paper towels, kitchen trash bags and other waste disposal supplies.

   Important Family Documents -
   Keep these records or copies in a locked waterproof, fireproof, portable container. Remember to take the key.

   • Important phone numbers
   • Wills, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
   • Passports, social security cards, immunization records
   • Bank account numbers, credit card account numbers and companies
   • Inventory of valuable household goods
   • Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates) and legal papers such as divorce, immigration or citizenship records

- Remember to practice and maintain your plan -
Replace supplies as needed and keep documents updated.

6. Where to Find Additional Information

For more information on general Emergency Preparedness and Y2K and how you might prepare, try these web sites:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency.............................www.fema.gov
• The American Red Cross...............................................www.redcross.org
• The Presidents Council on Y2K Conversion..........................www.y2k.gov
• West Virginia 2000...................................................www.state.wv.us/y2k/
• Coalition/2000........................................................www.coalition2000.org
• The Cassandra Project......................................www.cassandraproject.org
• Center for Y2K and Society.........................................www.y2kcenter.org

Return to Jefferson County Emergency Preparedness Home Page