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