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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2021)
4B | SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL In case of emergency, fi nd the safest room In the event of an emergency, particularly weather-re- lated disasters with high winds like hurricanes, safety offi cials urge homeowners to take shelter in the safest room in their homes. Determining where this might be depends on the structure itself. Generally speaking, look for an interior room that is near the center of the house. It’s often best to choose one that doesn’t have windows or with windows that are very small. Bathrooms or walk-in closets are typically the safest areas in one-sto- ry homes. In two-story homes, the strongest wall of the house is often near the stairwell. Therefore, a fi rst-fl oor closet may be the best spot. The National Weather Ser- vice says that in the event of a tornado, being under- ground is best, so seek shelter in a storm cellar or base- ment. However, if no subterranean shelter is available, seek out shelter as far inside the structure as possible, ideally in a small space. Again, bathrooms, closets, un- der stairs, or in a hallway may be the best bets. What is a standby generator? No one wants to imagine losing power in their homes. But homeowners and renters face such situations every day. For those who aren’t prepared to confront power outages, doing so can be a nuisance in the best of situa- tions, and potentially very dangerous, if not fatal, in the most dire instances. Thankfully, no one has to go long without power. Standby generators are backup electrical systems that operate automatically. Once the generator senses a pow- er loss, which can occur within seconds of a utility out- age, its automatic transfer switch essentially gives the generator a wakeup call, commanding it to begin sup- plying power to the circuits in a home. Some transfer switches may be automated, requiring no effort on the part of homeowners when the power goes out. Others may need to be fl ipped on like one might fl ip a light switch. Seniors and/or people with mo- bility issues may benefi t from standby generators with automated transfer switches, as they may fi nd it diffi cult to manually turn the switches themselves. That’s espe- cially true if the power goes out overnight, when visibil- ity inside a home with no power is compromised. Standby generators are typically connected to the cir- cuits throughout a home, which means they can kick in and run HVAC systems, refrigerators and security sys- tems, among other devices. That helps people stay com- fortable and sleep well during power outages, while also ensuring they won’t have to throw away any groceries or spend times in their homes without functioning secu- rity systems. Standby generators can help people prepare for and overcome storms and natural disasters, making them an invaluable addition to any home. How much should you stock- pile for an emergency? When the novel coro- navirus COVID-19 was officially proclaimed a pandemic in March 2020, people were urged to stay home and limit their expo- sure to those outside their households. Understand- ably, some measure of panic ensued after that proclama- tion. Fears of lockdowns and an inability to shop for ne- cessities created worldwide shortages of cleaning sup- plies, meat, canned goods, grains, and paper products like toilet tissue. Shoppers were grabbing what they could when they could, and empty store shelves were left in the wake of the pan- demonium. Although it’s wise to keep an ample stockpile of foods and other supplies in advance of a weather emergency, it’s important to draw the line between planning proactively and hoarding goods. But what is the right amount to have on hand? According to the Fed- eral Emergency Manage- ment Agency, each person should have a cache of sup- plies that can last up to two weeks. Included in the rec- ommendations are 11⁄2 gal- lons of water each day per person. One half-gallon is for drinking purposes and the remaining gallon is for hygiene should water sup- plies be interrupted by the emergency. That equates to 84 gallons of water for a family of four, which may not be feasible for many families. One workaround is to fill a bathtub in one bathroom with water to use for hygiene and reserve bottled water for drinking. In regard to food, City Prepping, a popular social media channel for prep- pers, has created a list of what might be included in a two-week emergency sup- ply. Most of the supplies are nonperishable items. Some options include: • canned soup (20 cans) • powdered milk • cereal (two boxes) • canned vegetables (20 cans) • peanut butter (two jars) • pasta (20 bags/boxes) • coffee or tea • canned fruit (20 cans) • oatmeal (five pounds) • rice (20 pound bag) • olive oil Individuals who have a chest freezer also may think about purchasing meats/ poultry and frozen foods when they are on sale and creating a two-week menu. Invest in foods that are nu- tritionally dense and easy to prepare. In addition, set aside an area to store other sup- plies. Sanitation and hy- giene items, matches in a waterproof container, extra clothing and blankets, cash, and special needs items like prescription medications, contact lens solution and batteries also are good to have on hand. Some items like disinfecting wipes may still be in short supply, so buy them as they become available. Preparing for an emer- gency requires having at least a two-week supply of necessary items on hand. Using resources wisely and avoiding hoarding behav- iors can help prevent short- ages. Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, notes that it’s important for parents of school-aged young- sters to familiarize themselves with the emergency response plans established by their children’s schools. Such plans typically include how the school will respond if school is in session during snow- storms or natural disasters, as well as the protocol surrounding lockdown situa- tions where children may be in danger. In such situations, knowledgeable parents who are familiar with emergency response plans and how to communicate with school offi cials and how those offi cials will disseminate information to concerned parents can help fi rst responders and educators focus on their responses, which may involve protecting children. Knowledge of these plans also can calm par- ents’ nerves and reduce the likelihood that school campuses will become chaotic in the wake of potentially dangerous situations, including storms or natural disas- ters. In addition to learning about schools’ emergency response plans, parents can discuss these plans with their children. Such discussions should emphasize the importance of following educators’ instructions during both practice drills and when the plans are implemented in response to disasters or other threats. Th e City of Cottage Grove and it’s many partners work to keep you informed before, during and aft er disaster strikes. Our Emergency Management Partners: • City of Cottage Grove Police Department • South Lane County Fire and Rescue District • City of Cottage Grove Public Works Department • Lane County Emergency Management • South Lane School District • Th e local Red Cross chapter • Local utilities and other agencies. To learn more visit: cottagegrove.org/cd/page/emergency-management 400 E. Main Street Cottage Grove, OR 97424 541-942-3340 Are You Re ady? See our sup ply checkli st in this pub lication. September Is National Preparedness Month Planning ahead can make a life- saving difference in the event of a natural disaster or emergency. Go to ready.gov for a comprehensive list of emergency preparedness tips, and put these three tasks at the top of your to-do list: 1. Develop and communicate a family emergency plan. 2. Put together a “go bag” to take with you in the event of an evacuation. 3. Create a 7-day emergency supply kit for your home. 233 Harrison 541-942-4439 ZV\[OSHULÄYLVYN