10 | DISASTER PREPARATION | M ARCH 2019
Make contact after an emergency
Disaster events have the
potential to cripple commu-
nication systems quite easily,
making it challenging to get
news to others of current con-
ditions and wellness status.
Having a mobile phone is
perhaps one of the best safety
measures in the event of a
diaster. While voice calls can
tie up bandwidth and voice
networks, data-based services
like text messages and emails
are less likely to experience
network congestion and will
go through more easily, ad-
vises the Federal Communi-
cations Commission.
As soon as possible, reach
out to someone to provide a
status update. Th is person, in
turn, can relay information to
others.
Another idea is to use social
media to post a status report.
Th is will help get the word
out to the greatest number of
people in the least amount of
time, provided a few minutes
of network connectivity are
available.
A third resource is contact-
ing loved ones through a local
American Red Cross chapter.
Th e agency can help family
members reconnect whether
separation was caused by an
emergency at home or over-
seas. Individuals also can list
themselves on the Red Cross’
“Safe and Well” website. Sta-
tus can be updated at any
time, and others can access
the information to check in
on loved ones who have been
out of contact.
Safely handle a prolonged power outage
Accidents and storms can disrupt
the electricity that powers everything
in homes and businesses. A short-
term loss of power can be a nuisance,
but extended power outages can
cause damage and may even be dan-
gerous.
Widespread power outages are
oft en anticipated during or aft er se-
vere storms, which can disable entire
power grids. Because damaged pow-
er lines and infrastructure must be
carefully assessed aft er severe storms,
it may take anywhere from hours to
several days before power is fully re-
stored.
Th e Food and Drug Administra-
tion says that food spoilage is one of
the hazards of long-term power out-
ages. If a storm is imminent, you can
be proactive by freezing the contents
of the refrigerator when possible so
that items can stay at safe tempera-
tures longer, advises the FDA. Food
can remain safe for up to two hours
at refrigerator temperature before
it starts to spoil. Grouping food to-
gether in the freezer also can help it
stay colder longer. Having extra ice
on hand or freezing containers of wa-
ter also can provide a chilling eff ect,
as well as serve as a water supply if
faucet water is unavailable — which
can be a concern for those with well-
pumped water.
Your barbecue can turn out to be
your best friend during power out-
ages. Many stoves, even gas ones, will
not light because of electric ignitions.
A gas camping stove or barbecue can
serve as the primary place to cook
food until power is restored. Always
have a secondary propane tank on
hand.
Keep plenty of bottled water on
hand, especially if your water supply
is well-fed and requires an electric
pump to activate fl ow.
Stock up on blankets and warm
clothing. Power outages during the
winter can be especially challenging
because of the lack of heat in a home
Family members can huddle togeth-
er in small rooms to conserve heat
People with wood-burning stoves
can use them to keep warm.
If you have a generator, run i
safely. Th e Consumer Product Safety
Commission says generators should
be operated as far away from the
house as possible to avoid deadly
carbon monoxide fumes. Also, use
appropriately-gauged, outdoor-rated
extension cords to power up genera-
tors.
It is also important to stay pu
and avoid the road aft er a storm tha
causes a power outage. Wires may be
down, traffi c lights may not work and
dangerous debris may be littering the
roads. Hunkering down is the bes
approach until power is restored.
IDENTIFY • PREPARE • SURVIVE
Neighbor Helping Neighbor
Map Your Neighborhood Program
Safe Water, Safe Sanitation
Emergency Food Planning and Preparation
Pet Care Planning for Disaster
Are you Ready
Senior Citizen Preparedness
These and many more
online classes are available online
www.wleog.org