TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Plan Ahead to Respond to Disaster
submitted by Dean Sawyer, Emergency Planner, with information from www.72hours.org
Talk with your family about poten
tial disasters and why it’s neeessary to
prepare for them. Involve each mem
ber of your family in the planning pro
cess. By showing them simple steps that
can increase their safety, you can help
reduce their anxiety about emergencies.
In the event of any disaster,
whether natural or manmade, local
authorities might not get to you - in
Siletz or wherever you are - for sev
eral days. Power outages may last for
weeks and if you don’t have a backup
generator, your frozen and refrigerated
items will not last.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Make sure everyone knows where
to find your disaster supply kit. Have
a flashlight and a pair of shoes un
der everyone’s bed in case there is
an earthquake during the night.
Use a plastic bag tied to the leg of
the bed to keep these items from
moving during an earthquake.
Plan where to meet after a disaster
if your home becomes unsafe.
Choose two places, one just out
side your home and one outside
your neighborhood in case you are
told to evacuate. Be sure your gas
tank is always at least half full.
Determine the best escape routes
from your home. Try to identify two
escape routes.
Make sure each member knows who
your family's out-of-state contact
is and instruct them to call this per
son and tell him/her where they arc.
Locate the gas main and other utili
ties and make sure family members
know when and how to turn them off.
Practice your evacuation routes,
and Drop, Cover & Hold and Stop,
Drop & Roll drills.
•
•
•
Teach each member of your fam
ily 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 who
don't speak English, and pets.
After a major disaster, the usual
services we take for granted, such as
running water, refrigeration, and tele
phones, may be unavailable. Experts
recommend you should be prepared to
be self-sufficient for at least seven days.
Store your household disaster kit
in an easily accessible location. Put the
contents in a large watertight container
(e.g., a large plastic garbage can with a
lid and wheels) that you can move easily.
Your basic emergency kit should
include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Water - one gallon per person per day
Food - ready to eat or requiring
minimal water
Manual can opener and other
cooking supplies
Plates, utensils, and other feeding
supplies
First aid kit and instructions
A copy of important documents
and phone numbers
Warm clothes and rain gear for
each family member
Heavy work gloves
Disposable camera
Unscented liquid household bleach
and an eyedropper for water
purification
Personal hygiene items, including
toilet paper, feminine supplies,
hand sanitizer, and soap
Plastic sheeting, duct tape, and utility
knife for covering broken windows
•
•
•
•
A component of your disaster kit
is your Go-bag. Put the following items
together in a backpack or another easy-
to-carry container in case you must
evacuate quickly. Prepare one Go-bag
for each family member and make sure
each has an ID tag.
You might not be at home when an
emergency strikes, so keep some ad
ditional supplies in your car and at
work. Consider what you would need
for your immediate safety:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
March USDA Distribution Dates
Salem
Siletz
Monday, March 5
Tuesday, March 6
Wednesday, March 7
Thursday, March 8
Friday, March 9
9
9
9
9
9
a.m.
a.m.
a.m.
a.m.
a.m.
-
-
-
-
-
3 p.m.
3 p.m.
3 p.m.
3 p.m.
3 p.m.
Monday, March 19 1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 20
9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 21 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
This is our extremely busy time of
year while we attend the western regional
and national conferences. Please make
a real effort to keep your scheduled ap
pointments because it might be difficult
to catch up with us at any other time.
This month we will attend the an
nual Western Regional Conference of
Food Distribution Programs on Indian
Reservations in Reno, Nev. In June, we
will head off to San Antonio, Texas, to
attend the national conference.
Kitti Navarro, USDA FDP Director
Joyce Retherford, USDA FDP Clerk
1-800-922-1399, ext. 1279, or 541-444-8279
Happy Meals!
8
•
Siletz News
•
March 2007
Tools, such as a crowbar, hammer
and nails, staple gun, adjustable
wrench, and bungee cords
Blanket or sleeping bag
Large heavy-duty plastic bags and
a plastic bucket for waste and
sanitation
Any special-needs items for chil
dren, seniors, or people with dis
abilities. Don’t forget water and
supplies for your pets.
•
•
•
•
•
Flashlight
Radio - battery-operated
Batteries
Whistle
Dust mask
Pocketknife
Emergency cash in small denomi
nations and quarters for phone calls
Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes,
and a warm hat
Local map
Some water and food
Permanent marker, paper, and tape
Photos of family members and pets
for re-identification purposes
List of emergency point-of-contact
phone numbers
List of allergies to any drug (espe
cially antibiotics) or food
Copy of health insurance and iden
tification cards
Extra prescription eyeglasses, hear
ing aids, or other vital personal items
Prescription medications and first
aid supplies
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Extra keys to your house and vehicle
Any special-needs items for chil
dren. seniors, or people with dis
abilities. Don't forget to make a Go-
bag for your pets.
Most of these items are already
somewhere in your home and you
don't have to go out and purchase
them. Just look around for the items
and put them together. If you don't
have all the items, most of them can
be purchased for a minimal cost.
Become A
Foster Parent
Mark your calendars for upcoming
drop-in foster parenting info sessions
in your area.
Have you ever wondered how to
become and what is expected of a tribal
foster parent? Do you have an idea but
are intimidated by the process? Do you
just want to know more?
This is the perfect opportunity to
get your questions answered without
any pressure of “signing up.”
Drop in at your convenience at any
of the locations listed below. Please
pass the word on to anyone who you
think may be interested. Light refresh
ments will be provided.
Sessions took place in Siletz and
Salem in February. Those in Eugene
and Portland are as follows:
•
•
March 7, 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.,
Eugene Area Office
March 14, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.,
Portland Area Office
Contact: Shawna Nagunst at 1-800-
922-1399, ext. 1275, or 541-444-8275,
or e-mail shawnan@ctsi.nsn.us.
Help Needed on
Cemetery Project
The Cultural & Heritage Commit
tee is working on a cemetery project.
It wants to purchase grave markers for
the numerous unmarked and unknown
graves at the Paul Washington Cem
etery. The committee is asking for tribal
member input to identify as many
graves as possible.
The committee also is asking for
tribal member artists to submit artwork
suggestions for the markers. The art
work would have to be very small as
the markers would be rather small in
dimension. The artwork should be
about 5" wide and 10" long.
For more information or to assist in
identifying the graves, please contact
the Cultural Office at 1-800 922-1399,
ext. 1246, or 541-444-8246.
Can You Play Taps?
।
.
J
Seeking a talented tribal member to play Taps at the 2007 Memorial |
Day Ceremony on May 28 at I I a.m. in Siletz. If interested, contact .
Celesta Lee, assistant Tribal Council secretary, at I -800-922-1399, ext. 1205,
or 541-444-8205.
J