COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL January 13, 2016
3B
Are you ready?
D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS
BEFORE AN
EARTHQUAKE
THE FIRST STEP to earthquake and tsunami safety is to
recognize your hazards. Look around your home and workplace
and identify objects that might fall or shift during shaking.
Additional information, including how-to instructions, is available
at shakeout.org/Oregon and from your local American Red Cross
offi ce. START NOW by identifying items that may fall, topple, or
slide. Secure potentially hazardous and valuable items.
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL EARTHQUAKE AND
HAZARDS AND BEGIN TO FIX THEM
HANGING OBJECTS
• Place only soft art above beds and sofas.
• Hang mirrors and pictures on closed hooks.
• Brace overhead light fi xtures.
OBJECTS ON OPEN SHELVES AND TABLETOPS
• Hold small valuables in place with removable putty,
museum wax, or quake gel.
• Add lips to shelves to prevent costly items from sliding.
• Move heavy objects and breakables to lower shelves.
KITCHENS
• Install strong latches on cabinet doors.
• Secure refrigerators and major appliances.
WOOD STOVES
• Anchor stove feet by bolting to fl oor or creating
brick and mortar bracing to keep stove from sliding.
Note: anchors must not conduct heat.
• Brace stove pipes.
WATER AND GAS PIPES
• Evaluate, replace, and properly secure rusted
or worn pipes.
• Replace rigid gas connections with fl exible
stainless steel gas connections.
WATER HEATERS
• Anchor to wall studs or masonry with
metal straps and lag screws.
• Install fl exible (corrugated) copper
water connectors.
GARAGES AND UTILITY ROOMS
• Move fl ammable or hazardous material
to low cabinets that are securely latched.
• Ensure that items stored above or beside
vehicle cannot fall.
HOME AND OFFICE ELECTRONICS
• Secure televisions, computers, sound
systems, and other electronics with fl exible
nylon straps and buckles.
ABOVE GROUND PROPANE TANKS
• Propane tanks can be anchored by
mounting the tank on a continuous
concrete pad and bolting the four legs to
the pad.
Disasters are hard to predict and usually are
out of your control. But you can take steps
to keep you and your family safe.
FURNITURE
• Store heavy and breakable items on
lower shelves.
• Secure tall furniture to wall studs
with lag bolts.
CREATE A
DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS
PLAN
WILL EVERYONE in your household know what to do
during the violent shaking of a strong earthquake or when
a tsunami warning has been issued? Do you know how to
get in touch with each other afterwards? Before the next
earthquake or tsunami, talk to your family, housemates,
or co-workers and plan what each person will do before,
during, and after.
After the shaking stops or the waves recede, power, utilities,
communication systems, and roads may be out, fi res and
chemical spills may occur, or you may be separated from
children, pets, and other family members. By planning now,
you will be ready. Planning for earthquakes and tsunamis
will also prepare you for other more frequent emergencies
such as storms, fi res, and fl ooding.
PLAN NOW TO BE SAFE DURING AN EARTHQUAKE
•Practice DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON.
• Identify safe spots in every room, such as under sturdy
desks and tables.
• Learn how to protect yourself no matter where you are
when an earthquake strikes.
PLAN NOW TO RESPOND AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
• Get a fi re extinguisher for your home and learn how to use
it properly.
• Teach everyone in your household to use emergency
whistles and to knock three times repeatedly if trapped.
• Identify family members or neighbors with special needs
such as medications, special diets, and wheelchairs.
• Take a Red Cross First Aid and Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR) class or refresher course.
• Know the location of utility shut-offs and keep needed
tools nearby. Only turn off the gas if you smell or hear
leaking gas.
Only the gas company should turn the gas back on.
• Install smoke alarms and check them monthly. Change
batteries once a year or whenever you hear a ”chirping”
sound.
• Work with your neighbors to identify people who have
skills and resources useful in an emergency.
• Know the tsunami hazard zones in your community and
how to get to safe areas.
• Recognize the natural warning signs of a tsunami—strong
ground shaking, water receding unusually far, and/or a
loud roar from the ocean—and make sure everyone in
your family knows to immediately evacuate if they are
in a hazard zone.
• Know how you may be notifi ed if a tsunami warning is
issued. Consider a NOAA Weather Radio with the Public
Alert feature if you live or work in a tsunami hazard
Preparing for disaster
Learn about specifi c health threats and what you
can do to reduce the risk to your health and safety.
Make an emergency plan.
Learn basic fi rst aid skills such as CPR.
Always look to local authorities and health experts
for specifi c, up-to-date information for your area.
Cottage Grove
Sentinel
PLAN NOW TO COMMUNICATE AND RECOVER
AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
• Select a safe place outside of your home to meet your
family or housemates after the shaking stops.
• Identify an out-of-the area contact person to call who can
relay information to other friends and family.
• Provide all family members with a current list of important
contact telephone numbers.
• Determine where you might stay if your home cannot be
occupied after an earthquake or tsunami.
• Ask about your children’s school or day care emergency
response plans. Keep emergency release information
current.
• Talk to your insurance agent about your coverage for
earthquake and tsunami losses.
• Make copies of important documents such as identifi cation,
deeds, insurance policies, and fi nancial records in a
secure, waterproof container. Include a household
inventory of your belongings.
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE personal disaster supply
kits. Keep them where you spend most of your time, so they
can be reached even if your building is damaged or if you
need to quickly evacuate out of a tsunami hazard zone. Keep
one kit in your home, another in your car, and a third kit at
work.
PERSONAL/OFFICE DISASTER SUPPLY KIT
• Medications, prescription list, copies of medical cards,
doctors’ names, and contact information
• Medical consent forms for dependents and copies of
personal identifi cation
• First aid kit and handbook
• Non-latex gloves, dust masks
• Spare eyeglasses or contact lenses and cleaning solution
• Whistle (to alert rescuers to your location)
• Sturdy shoes, change of clothes, blanket
• Emergency cash ( ATMs require power and might not work)
• Local road maps
• List of emergency out-of-area contact phone numbers
• Bottled water, snack foods high in water and calories
• Flashlight with extra batteries and light bulbs
• Comfort items such as games, crayons, writing materials,
stuffed animals
• Toiletries and personal care supplies
• Extra keys for car, home, offi ce, safe deposit box etc.
HOUSEHOLD DISASTER SUPPLY KIT
Supplies for at least seven days
Store in an easily accessible location, preferably outdoors,
in a large watertight, easily-moved container. Replace
perishable items like water, food, medications and
batteries on a yearly basis.
• Water (minimum one gallon a day for each person and pet)
• Wrenches or other special tools to turn off gas and water
supplies
• Work gloves and protective goggles
• Heavy duty plastic bags for waste, and to serve as tarps,
rain ponchos, etc. Include duct tape.
• Portable or hand-cranked radio with extra batteries
• Additional fl ashlights or light sticks
• Canned and packaged food
• Charcoal or propane for outdoor cooking and matches if
needed
• Cooking utensils and a manual can opener
• Pet food, pet carrier and restraints
• Comfortable, warm clothing including extra socks
• Blankets and/or sleeping bags, and perhaps a tent
• Copies of vital documents (deeds, insurance, bank accounts
etc.)
CAR DISASTER SUPPLY KIT
Decide what items in your personal kit are absolute
necessities and add:
• An additional 6-pack of water
• Tire repair kit, booster/jumper cables, pump and fl ares,
white distress fl ag or silver space blanket
• Seasonal supplies: winter (blanket, hat, mittens, shovel,
sand, chains
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zone.
• If a tsunami warning is issued, get off the beach and tune
in to your radio or television for further instructions on
what to do.
• Is there a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
in your area? If not, go to citizencorps.gov/cert and fi nd
out how to start one.
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Cottage-Grove-Sentinel
Make sure all the pieces are in place to render you and your family prepared in the event of a natural disaster.
• Listen to radio or television newscasts for the latest weather information, and follow all evacuation directions and suggestions.
• Keep a stock of non-perishable food items as well as bottled water on hand inside your home.
• Keep a 72 Hour Kit on hand inside your home that is easy to get to in the event of a disaster.
For more information and tips on disaster response and preparedness, contact your local emergency services center.
South Lane Fire & Rescue • 233 Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 • 55 South 1st Street, Creswell 541-895-2506