Be Ready for the Worst but Hope for the Best
Back in the early 2000's our local police chief, Clay McKinney started a Police Academy and hired a public relation person. They offered to enroll people who had graduated that academy in a CERT program. At the time FEMA was giving away money to support this program to 501c3 CERT non profits. Around 2012 that money dried up. During this time we also had a change of chiefs and the group let the status of their non profit lapse. WTSAR is an effort to reconstruct that original effort and perhaps improve on it.
Our main focus at this time is more about community service in general. But, we are still promoting the new efforts by FEMA to emphasise the need to prepare for worst case scenarios and encourage our local goverments to make some effort to mitigate known potential hazards. In Pecos there are two main threats - floods and tornadoes. We also have some severe winter weather, power outages, excessive heat and hail to deal with. And now it seems as though we have a new threat - earthquakes! While Active Attackers are getting all of the current attention it would seem to us that preparing for the greater threats would be more important
Make a Plan
1. Create a Family emergency Communications Plan. Include phone numbers and social media sites, doctors and other help agenies in your communications listings. Hsve a meeting about how your plan will work in an emergency situation. 2. Know your local agency disaster plans. 3. Make an evacuation and Shelter plan.
Emergency Supplies
1. Have extra supplies of: water, food, cash, batteries. 2. Make sure any flashlights are working. 3. Have a current first aid kit. 4. Have a whistle or some other kind of signaling device. 5. Have tools necessary to shut of water power and gas. 6. Have local maps. 7. Camping gear should be handy in case you have to rough it at your home or other location.
Critical Documents
1. Protect those documents that are important with regard to your properties and medical situations. 2. Use a fireproof, waterproof storage box kept in a location where there will be minimal risk for distruction and/or use safe deposit boxes at your local bank.
Earthquake
1. Drop to your hands and knees. 2. Cover your head and neck with your arms and other objects 3. Hold on to stay covered during the shaking
Extreme Heat
1. Stay inside if possible. 2. Stay in shade outside. 3. Never leave a child in a car. 4. Check your family and neighbors. 5. Know the signs of heat stroke 6. If skin irritation, dizziness and confusion are present go to a hospital.
Financial Preparedness
1. Safeguard important financial information. 2. Save money for a rainy day. 3. Establish cash in hand reserves. 4. Know your insurance coverage. 5. Check all sources for helpful information.
Flood
1. Don't cross flooded roadways. 2. Find out the flood risks for your area. 3. Make sure your buildings are prepared for floods. 4. Purchase flood insurance. 5. Evacuate immediately if called to do so. 6. Avoid wading in post flood water and pools. 7. Avoid downed powerlines. 8. Where appropriate waterproof clothing.
Hurricane
1. Know your evacuation and shelter plans ahead of time. 2. Make or know where shelters are for high winds. 3. Have grab and go supplies for 3 days. 4. Make sure your important documenst are in a safe place. 5. Prepare your house to withstand high winds and flooding as much as possible. 6. Purchase flood insurance. 7. If you are caught in rising water do not put yourself in a confined space like an attic.
Nuclear Explosion
1. Get inside the nearest builting to avoid radiation. 2. Stay away from outer walls and roof. 3. Stay inside for at least 24 hours or until authorities say it is safe to leave. 4. Remove contaminated clothing. 5. Protect yourself and clean any pets. 6. Stay tuned into alerts. 7. Family members should stay whereever they are and reunite later. 8. Do not consume food or liquids exposed to radiation. 10. Elecctric devices may cease to work due to EM bursts. Some battery powered devices may survive. A hand crank radio should continue to work.
Pandemics
1. Know how the virus spreads. 2. Wash your hands oftern. 3. Avoid close contact with other people. 4. Where a face mask. 5. Clean and disinfect commonly touched places.
Power Outage
1. Access what items you will want to have power inspite of the outage. 2. Plan for having batteries and/or backup inverters. 3. Have battery powered smoke detectors. 4. Keep mobile phones charged or have a backup charger. 5. Keep your car gas tank full incase you have to go somewhere else. When the power is out gas pumps don't work. 6. Don't use candles for light they could start a fire. 7. Turn off applicances that might break down with a power surge. 8. Don't start a generator in an inclused space where you might be. 9. Check on your neighbors. 10. Through away perishable food that has gotten warm.
Thunderstorm, Lightning, Hail
1. Go indoors during a thunderstorm. 2. Don't take shelter in small sheds or garages or under trees. 3. If boating get ashore at take shelter in a vehicle. 4. Secure objects that can be blown away. 5. Keep your cellphone charged. 6. Avoid running water or using landlines. Lighting can travel through these items. 7. Buy surge protectors or lightening rods. 8. Pay attention to alerts.
Tornado
1. Know where you can go to find a tornado resistant building or storm shelter. 2. Be able to recognize the signs that a tornado is forming. 3. Do not stay in mobile homes. 4. Take safety measures after a tornado during cleanup. Where sturdy shoes and gloves.
Wildfire
1. Set up defense zones around your property. 2. Remove gas, propane and any other fuel sources from your property. 3. Reduce vegitation out to 30 to 100 feet from your property. 4. Use fire retardant materials in your house. 5. Have an outdoor water source that can reach the edge of your property. 6. Pay attention to alerts. 7. Evacuate immediately if called upon to do so. 8. Keep N95 resperators handy to avoid smoke inhalation. 9. Avoid hot ash and charred trees.
Winter Storm
1. Make sure your home is appropriately insulated. 2. Include warm blankets and winter cloths in your emergency kits. 3. Create an emergency supply kit to keep in your car. 4. Limit your time outside. 5. Avoid driving in ice and snow. 6. Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning in the use of generators and other fuel powered heaters. 7. Shelter with family or friends if necessary. 8. Check on your neighbors.
Reference Link Information
Ready.gov is the public information site for FEMA preparation.
FEMA Alerts gives you weather alerts, disaster hotline,and prep tips.