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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2018)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL AUGUST 15, 2018 3B Are you ready? D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS Stock Your Emergency Kit When an emergency strikes, you’re usually not prepared. That’s just the nature of emergencies. That’s why it is crucial to have a stocked emer- gency kit ready for use at a moment’s notice. In the event of a disaster, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes you might not have access to food, water or electricity for sever- al days. Statistics show approximately half of adults in the United States do not have resources and plans in place for an emergency. Preparing emergency kits for your family is an important step in keeping them safe and healthy during a disaster. Have enough water and food We all need water to survive and food to keep up our strength, and depending on how many people are in your family, you might need to stock up on quite a lot of it. Make sure you have at least a three-day supply of food and water, which trans- lates to one gallon of water per person per day, and a food supply that won’t easily spoil (such as canned soup, dry pasta, powdered milk, etc.), as well as the tools to prepare that food (such as a manual can opener and basic utensils). The CDC also recommends three days of health supplies. Hygiene, safety items Along with food and water, you’ll also want to stay relatively healthy and clean in the event of a disaster. The CDC recommends packing soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, baby wipes, contact lenses or glasses, a fi rst aid kit, an emergency blanket, a multipurpose tool (that can act as a knife, fi le, pliers and screwdriver), and a whistle (to alert rescuers to your location, if needed). Electronic gear, other items of use Along with keeping a weather radio in your house, you also should stock an extra (along with fresh batteries) in your emergency kit. The CDC also recommends keeping a fl ashlight, hand- crank radio, cell phone and chargers= and extra batteries on hand. A map, cash, extra sets of keys and copies of important documents (Social Security card, insurance, critical medical information, etc.), and emergency contact info. Seeking Out Shelter Knowing an emergency situ- ation is underway is half the battle, but where do you go once you know something is happening? That’s a question you need to have answered well before the moment of truth. As DHS notes, choosing to take shelter is necessary in many emergencies. Taking appropri- ate shelter is critical in times of disaster. Sheltering is appro- priate when conditions require that you seek protection in your home, place of employment or other location when disaster strikes. Sheltering outside the hazard area could include stay- ing with friends and relatives, seeking commercial lodging or staying in a mass care facili- ty operated by disaster relief groups. Sometimes it’s safest to stay There may be situations, depending on your circum- stances and the nature of the disaster, when it’s simply best to stay where you are and avoid any uncertainty outside by sheltering in place. If a torna- do is coming and you have a basement or storm shelter, that is likely the safest place to go. The length of time you are re- quired to shelter may be short, such as during a tornado warn- ing, or long, such as during a winter storm or a pandemic. It is important that you stay in the shelter until local authorities say it is safe to leave. Addi- tionally, you should take turns listening to radio broadcasts and maintain a 24-hour safety watch. Where to go To effectively shelter, you must fi rst consider the hazard and then choose a place in your home or other building that is safe for that hazard. For example, for a tornado, a room should be selected that is in a basement or an interi- or room on the lowest level away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls. In the event of a fl ood, head for higher ground or perhaps track down a fl ood shelter if there is one nearby, as a safe place to ride out the storm. During a tornado, plan to seek shelter at a government shelter or in your own (or a neighbor’s) base- ment. The safest locations to seek shelter vary by hazard. Be Informed about the sheltering suggestions for each hazard. Be prepared for the long haul During extended periods of sheltering, you will need to manage water and food supplies to ensure you and your family have the required supplies. Bring supplies with you, and work with organizers to disseminate information and follow the rules. S entinel C ottage G rove www.cgsentinel.com Know Your Warnings When storms strike, terms can get thrown around in the news and on the weather, but not ev- eryone understands the nuances between the various watches and warnings. Here’s a breakdown, according to the Red Cross. Tornadoes Tornado watch: Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps save lives. Tornado warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Tornado warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Go immediately un- der ground to a basement, storm cellar or an interior room (closet, hallway or bathroom). Heat wave Excessive heat watch: Conditions are favorable for an excessive heat event to meet or exceed local Excessive Heat Warning criteria in the next 24 to 72 hours. Excessive heat warning: Heat index values are forecast to meet or exceed locally defi ned warning criteria for at least two days (daytime highs = 105-110° Fahrenheit). Heat advisory: Heat Index values are forecast to meet locally defi ned advisory criteria for one to two days (daytime highs=100-105° Fahrenheit). Winter storms Winter storm outlook: Winter storm conditions are possible in the next two to fi ve days. Winter weather advisory: Winter weather condi- tions are expected to cause signifi cant inconve- niences and may be hazardous. When caution is used, these situations should not be life threaten- ing. Winter storm watch: Winter storm conditions are possible within the next 36 to 48 hours. People in a watch area should review their winter storm plans and stay informed about weather condi- tions. Winter storm warning: Life-threatening, severe winter conditions have begun or will begin with- in 24 hours. People in a warning area should take precautions immediately. Thunderstorms Severe thunderstorm watch: Severe thunder- storms are possible in and near the watch area. Stay informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued. Severe thunderstorm warning: Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Did you know? The American Red Cross, one of the most distinguished humanitarian organizations in the world, traces its history back to the 19th century. In 1881, former American Civil War nurse Clara Barton and her circle of acquaintances found- ed the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. That idea was inspired by a postwar visit Barton made to Europe, where she fi rst encountered the Inter- national Red Cross. Though many women did not work out- side the home during Barton’s era, the Massachusetts-born nurse would serve as the head of the American Red Cross for 23 years, during which time she aided the United States military in the Spanish-Amer- ican War. Barton also success- fully campaigned for including peacetime relief work as part of the global Red Cross mission. Today, the American Red Cross continues to help millions of people in need. Among the organization’s many missions are helping Americans affected by natural disasters, supporting military personnel and their families, collecting blood for processing and distribution, providing health and safety education and training, and providing international relief. OUTAGE & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS @ cgsentinel @cgsentinel #cgsentinel Downed power lines and objects touching downed lines can deliver a deadly shock — STAY AWAY! Report downed lines to EPUD Cottage-Grove-Sentinel Have an emergency kit ready in case of an emergency or extended power outage. Include a first aid kit, flashlights, radio, and extra batteries. Store 1 gallon of water per person (and per pet) per day. Keep a minimum of a 3-day supply in case of power outage; however, a two-week supply is recommended * for other emergencies. If your water is sourced by a well, fill containers with drinking water when extreme weather is expected. Keep phones and/or mobile devices fully charged when extreme weather is expected. For outage updates, visit www.epud.org or EPUD’s social media pages. * Recommended by Oregon Office of Emergency Management. Visit www.oregon.gov/OEM for more preparedness information. 24-HOUR EMERGENCY/OUTAGE SERVICE 541-746-1583 www.epud.org SmartHub app Learn more about electrical safety at www.epud.org #PlanAhead #NatlPrep 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 Twitter: @southlanefi re Facebook: southlanecountyfi reandrescue
