Lily Lake Summerhaven Assoc. Emergency Preparedness

Lily Lake Summerhaven Association Emergency Preparedness

Rev. 10-Apr-08

March 29, 2008 Slide Show
Before a Disaster Strikes
Grab-and-Go Kit
Home Preparations
Pet Preparations
Additional Links

March 29, 2008 Slide Show

On March 29, 2008, Linda Botts, Coordinator of the Southeast Wisconsin Citizen Corps, and Laurl Borst from the Red Cross presented a slide show overview of emergency preparedness. Below are the main points covered in the slide show:

Southeast Wisconsin Citizen Corps Council & the American Red Cross: Preparing Makes Sense - Get Ready Now
Keeping yourself, your family, and your community safe. This is about what YOU can do. In the case of a widespread disaster, there may not be someone available to come and help.

What do you need to know?

Hazards in our community
How to mitigate and prepare
What the county is doing to prepare
Ways you can become involved

Hazards in Kenosha County...

Natural weather events:

Floods
Tornadoes
Thunderstorms/lightening
Winter storms/ice storms
Extreme temperatures
Straight line winds

Other hazards:

Fire
Power outage
Public health issues
Chemical spills

Terrorism:

Chemical
Biological
Radiological
Nuclear
Explosives

How will you be notified?
Depending on the emergency, you may be notified in different ways:

Outdoor warning sirens
These are only for tornadoes and are meant to be heard only outdoors. The second sounding of a siren is NOT an "all clear". Sirens can be struck by lightning or suffer other damage that makes them inoperable.
Local broadcast media
NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio (162.450)
A NOAA radio is the best way to be notified. Storm watches can go on for hours and then turn to warnings.
Internet and Alerts
Your computer needs electricity. If the power is out for a long time, you may not get the warning.
CodeRED Emergency Notification System
Kenosha County may call you for a serious local event, e.g., a chemical spill in your neighborhood.

How to prepare...

Mitigation:

Trim trees, bushes
Check gutters, drainpipe extensions
Do positive landscaping
Clean up debris in yard/neighborhood
In high winds, items in your yard become missiles.
Move water heaters and other appliances up off the floor
Bolt large, heavy furniture (like bookcases) to wall studs (to prevent items falling on you)
Clean and test your smoke detector(s) regularly
They have just a 10-year life span.

Know your response options:
The only two options you have are to:
- Shelter in place
- Evacuate

Plan ahead:

Personal/family emergency plan
You have to formulate a plan and make sure everyone knows it. After an emergency, review the plan and make improvements.
Emergency contact information
It may make sense to pick a relative in another state as a central contact because local phone lines or contacts may be unavailable.
Personal/family emergency supplies
In the recent tornado, people who ran into their basements found themselves without many essentials, e.g., coats and shoes. You probably want to position some supplies (e.g., flashlights, food, clothing, pet supplies) in the area where you plan to seek shelter. See other sections on this page for ideas on what should go into home preparations or a grab-and-go kit.
Know the safety procedures at work and school, too

How the county prepares

Office of Emergency Management (2 people in Kenosha)
MISSION: to lessen the loss of life and reduce injuries and property damage during natural and technological incidents/events through mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

All emergency plans updated yearly
Continuously train first responders
Conducts training exercises

First responders:

Includes fire, law enforcement, EMS, public health, public works, and dispatch
Continuously training to provide optimum service in a crisis

Southeast Wisconsin Citizen Corps Council and American Red Cross:

Educates, informs, and trains citizens on preparedness
Professionals and citizens working together to keep Kenosha safe
Source for citizens who want further training or volunteer opportunities

It's important to build a sense of community because 911 may not be there for you in a large-scale event. YOU will have to fill local needs.

Citizen Corps: 5 programs

Neighborhood Watch
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
Medical Reserve Corps
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)
Fire Corps

How you can become involved:

Start or join a Neighborhood Watch group
Take a CERT class
Volunteer in the community
Get additional training through Red Cross, FEMA or Emergency Management

For more information

American Red Cross
262-554-9997 (Racine)
Direct line to the Milwaukee office: 1-800-236-8680. There is also an 800 number to the national office.
NOTE: The Red Cross is not a first responder. The Red Cross comes in after the initial response team has assessed needs.

Southeast Wisconsin Citizen Corps
262-605-7903

Kenosha County Emergency Management
262-605-7900

Before a Disaster Strikes

Before a disaster strikes:

Make a plan to keep in touch in case your family gets separated.
Make a list of important documents (e.g., marriage and birth certificates, passports) so that you can gather them quickly -- or better yet keep them all together.
Make it a policy to keep your car gas tank close to full. Gas station pumps will not work if the electricity is out.
Keep a list of passwords to your various computer accounts. Also keep a copy of email addresses of family and friends. You can keep these on paper or an inexpensive flash drive for easy grab and go.
Make a video of the interior of your home and all its contents and keep it in a safe-deposit box. Include an outside view including any outbuildings, mature trees, and shrubs. It could be invaluable for an insurance claim later.

Grab-and-Go Kit

If you have to evacuate, here are some of the things you ought to have in a "grab and go" kit:

Prescription drugs
Your FILE OF LIFE with updated medical information
First aid supplies (e.g., bandaids, ointments)
Some hygiene items (e.g., soap, tissue, toilet paper)
Extra eye glasses and hearing aids
Your important papers, computer password and email address files, and important telephone numbers in a plastic pouch
Extra keys to your house and car
Sturdy, sensible, multi-purpose clothing and shoes, gloves
Some large plastic bags, which you can use for protection from rain, as an emergency blanket, and to close off a broken window.
Cash in small bills
If you can't take your pet with you, leave a supply of food and water for it, and don't leave pets chained to anything

Home Preparations

If the emergency allows you to stay at home but cuts you off from the world for several days, here are some of the things to have in place to survive until help arrives:

Extra batteries for flashlights and radios, or better yet a solar flashlight / radio.
A couple of the long-lasting glo sticks for light. The larger ones (24 inchs long) can last up to 6 hours.
A whistle to call for help.
A weather radio to track storm path and weather conditions.
In case of a tornado, the experts now feel that the north and north east corner of a basement may be the safe place. In a house without a basement, seek shelter at the lowest level and in the smallest room without windows preferably an interior room. Be sure to pre-position some supplies (e.g., shoes, coats, a change of clothing flashlights, food) in the secure location.
Enough food and water to last three or four days. Have bottled water and canned fruit or vegetable juice to drink. Have food that doesn't need to be cooked such as unrefrigerated pudding cups, canned stew, tuna and chicken, crackers, peanut butter and jelly. Don't forget a manual can opener, paper plates, paper towels, and supply of disposable eating utensils.
A first aid kit for minor injuries. First aid book.
Dust mask to filter air impurities.
Duct tape and plastic to create a shelter.
Moist towlettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
Matches in a waterproof container.
Paper and pencils.
Chlorine bleach and a medicine dropper.
Instructions on how to turn off the gas, electricity, and water to your home and the tools to do it.

Pet Preparations

If you have pets, you will need to care for them in an emergency. Here are some of the things to have in place for their well-being:

Tags or collars with identification (animal's name, your phone number). Pets should wear these at all times.
Names and phone numbers of veterinarians and boarding centers, including some out of your area in case local centers are evacuated.
Proof of pet's vaccinations.
Medications, medical records (stored in a waterproof container), and first aid kit.
Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/or carriers strong enough to restrain your pet in a tense situation. Animals may become unpredictable as they get stressed by severe weather and the chaos of evacuation.
Current photos in case your pet is lost.
Food, water, bowls, cat litter and pan, can opener.
Pet bedding, treats, and toys.
Newspaper and plastic bags for cleanup.

If you have to evacuate and leave your pets behind:

Note that only service animals are allowed in shelters.
Do NOT tie or cage animals that you leave behind. Their chances for survival are greater if they can move around.
Leave food and a large container of water that cannot be toppled.
Post a sign in your window indicating how many and what type of animals you left there.

Additional Links

http://www.alertchicago.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/keno_cert/
http://www.ki4u.com/guide.htm

Pandemic flu: Check out the following links for updates on vaccines, masks, and trials in human subjects:

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/vaccine/vacresearch.html
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/vaccine/mask.html
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/vaccine/medantivirals.html
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/vaccine/humantests.html