Only a picket fence remains of a home that once stood in Talent, Oregon, before the Almeida Fire destroyed it all.Beth Nakamura/Staff
Due to a fire or other life-threatening emergency, there is no guarantee that you will be warned before you must evacuate.Taking the time to prepare now may just be so everyone in your family knows where they will go and what they will take with them if they are told to flee.
Emergency preparedness experts suggest there are at least three things you need to do now to improve your family’s safety during and after a disaster: Sign up to be aware of upcoming hazards, and have an escape plan and bags of essentials ready.
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To help you prepare, the American Red Cross’s interactive map of common disasters across the United States gives you an idea of which emergencies could hit your area.
Sign up for Public Alerts, Citizen Alerts, or your county’s services, and emergency response agencies will notify you by text, phone, or email when you need to take action (such as shelter-in-place or evacuate).
The National Weather Service website publishes information about local wind speeds and directions that may inform your fire evacuation routes.Follow directions from local officials.
The NOAA Weather Radar Live app provides real-time radar imagery and severe weather alerts.
The Eton FRX3 American Red Cross Emergency NOAA Weather Radio comes with a USB smartphone charger, LED flashlight, and red beacon ($69.99).The alert feature automatically broadcasts any emergency weather alerts in your area.Charge the compact radio (6.9″ high, 2.6″ wide) using the solar panel, hand crank or built-in rechargeable battery.
The Portable Emergency Radio ($49.98) with real-time NOAA weather reports and public emergency alert system information can be powered by a hand-crank generator, solar panel, rechargeable battery, or wall power adapter.Check out other solar or battery powered weather radios.
First in a series: Here’s how to get rid of allergens, smoke, and other air irritants and pollutants in your home.
Make sure everyone in your home knows how to leave the building safely, where everyone will be reunited, and how you will contact each other if the phone isn’t working.
Instructive apps like the American Red Cross’s MonsterGuard make disaster preparedness learning fun for kids ages 7 to 11.
Younger kids can also learn how from cartoon penguins in the free, downloadable book “Prepare with Pedro: A Handbook for Disaster Preparedness Activities” produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross Stay safe in disasters and emergencies.
Older kids can draw a floor plan of your home and find a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.They can also map evacuation routes for each room and know where to find gas and power cutoffs.
Plan how you will care for your pet in an emergency.If you change your address, phone number, or emergency contact outside of your immediate area, update the information on your pet’s ID tag or microchip.
Try to keep your travel bag as light as possible in case you have to carry it when you evacuate on foot or use public transport.It’s always a good idea to keep an emergency kit in your car.Redfora
It’s hard to think clearly when you’re told to evacuate.This makes it crucial to have a duffel bag or backpack (a “travel bag”) filled with essentials that you can take away when you run out the door.
Try to keep the bag as light as possible in case you have to carry it with you when evacuating on foot or using public transport.It’s always a good idea to keep an emergency kit in your car.
Also pack a light travel bag for your pet and identify a place to stay that will accept animals.The FEMA app should list open shelters during a disaster in your area.
Those trained by Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and other volunteer groups are advised to follow a preparation calendar that breaks down the acquisition and movement of supplies over 12 months so preparation is not overly burdensome.
Print an emergency preparedness checklist and post it on your refrigerator or home bulletin board.
You can build your own emergency preparedness kit by following American Red Cross and Ready.gov guidelines, or you can purchase off-the-shelf or custom survival kits to help in an emergency.
Consider the colors of a portable disaster kit.Some people want it to be red so it’s easy to spot, while others buy a plain-looking backpack, duffle bag, or rolling duffle that won’t draw attention to the valuables inside.Some people remove patches that identify the bag as a disaster or first aid kit.
Assemble essentials in one place.Many must-haves may already be in your home, such as hygiene products, but you need replicas so you can quickly access them in an emergency.
Bring a pair of long pants, a long-sleeved shirt or jacket, a face shield, a pair of hard-soled shoes or boots, and wear goggles close to your travel bag before leaving.
Protective equipment: masks, N95 and other gas masks, full face masks, goggles, disinfectant wipes
Extra cash, glasses, medicines.Ask your doctor, health insurance provider or pharmacist about emergency supplies of prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
Food and drink: If you think stores will be closed and food and water are not available where you are going, pack a half-cup water bottle and a salt-free, non-perishable food pack.
First Aid Kit: The American Red Cross Deluxe Home First Aid Kit ($59.99) is lightweight but contains 114 essential items to treat injuries, including aspirin and triple antibiotic ointment.Add a pocket-sized American Red Cross emergency first aid guide or download the free Red Cross emergency app.
Simple Spare Lights, Radio, and Charger: If you don’t have a place to plug your device in, you’ll love the American Red Cross Clipray Crank Power, Flashlight, and Phone Charger ($21).1 minute of start-up produces 10 minutes of optical power.See other hand crank chargers.
Multitools (starting at $6) at your fingertips, offering knives, pliers, screwdrivers, bottle and can openers, electric crimpers, wire strippers, files, saws, awls and rulers ($18.99).Leatherman’s Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Multitool ($129.95) has 21 tools, including wire cutters and scissors.
Create a Home Emergency Preparedness Binder: Keep copies of important contacts and documents in a secure waterproof case.
Do not store any files that reveal your personal information in an emergency bag in case the bag is lost or stolen.
Portland Fire & Rescue has a safety checklist which includes making sure electrical and heating equipment is in good working order and does not overheat.
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Post time: Jun-21-2022