As a public safety reminder Nevada Division of Emergency Management/Homeland Security urges the public to be prepared in the event an emergency causes you to be self-reliant for three days without utilities and electricity, water service, access to a supermarket or local services, or maybe even without response from police, fire or rescue. Are you ready?
Ready is a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to get the public involved and ultimately to increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation.
The Nevada Division of Emergency Management/Homeland Security recommends preparing for such an event can start with four important steps:
Get a Kit - Of Emergency Supplies
The first step is to consider how an emergency might affect
your individual needs. Plan to make it on your own, for at least three days.
It's possible that you will not have access to a medical facility or even a
drugstore. It is crucial that you and your family think about what kinds of
resources you use on a daily basis and what you might do if those resources are
limited or not available.
Basic Supplies:
Think first about the basics for survival - food, water, clean air and any
life-sustaining items you require. Consider two kits. In one kit put everything
you will need to stay where you are and make it on your own for a period of
time. The other kit should be a lightweight, smaller version you can take with
you if you have to leave your home.
Recommended basic emergency supplies include:
* Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least
three days, for drinking and sanitation
* Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and a can opener if
kit contains canned food
* Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
and extra batteries for both
* Flashlight and extra batteries
* First aid kit
* Whistle to signal for help
* Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape
to shelter-in-place
* Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
* Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
* Local maps
* Pet food, extra water and supplies for your pet or service animal
Make A Plan - For What You Will Do in an Emergency
The reality of a disaster situation is that you will likely
not have access to everyday conveniences. To plan in advance, think through the
details of your everyday life. If there are people who assist you on a daily
basis, list who they are and how you will contact them in an emergency. Create
your own personal support network by identifying others who will help you in an
emergency. Think about what modes of transportation you use and what
alternative modes could serve as back-ups. If you require handicap accessible
transportation be sure your alternatives are also accessible. If you have tools
or aids specific to your disability, plan how you would cope without them.
For
example, if you use a communication device, mobility aid, or rely on a service
animal, what will you do if these are not available? If you are dependent on
life-sustaining equipment or treatment such as a dialysis machine, find out the
location and availability of more than one facility. For every aspect of your
daily routine, plan an alternative procedure. Make a plan and write it down.
Keep a copy of your plan in your emergency supply kits and a list of important
information and contacts in your wallet. Share your plan with your family,
friends, care providers and others in your personal support network.
Caring for Animals During a Disaster
If you are like millions of animal owners nationwide, your pet is an important member of your household. Unfortunately, animals are also affected by disaster.
The likelihood that you and your animals will survive an emergency such as a fire or flood, tornado or terrorist attack depends largely on emergency planning done today. Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling an animal emergency supply kit and developing a pet care buddy system, are the same for any emergency. Whether you decide to stay put in an emergency or evacuate to a safer location, you will need to make plans in advance for your pets. Keep in mind that what's best for you is typically what's best for your animals.
Plan for pet needs during a disaster by:
- Identifying shelter. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. Find out which motels and hotels in the area you plan to evacuate to allow pets well in advance of needing them. There are also a number of guides that list hotels/motels that permit pets and could serve as a starting point. Include your local animal shelter's number in your list of emergency numbers. They might be able to provide information concerning pets during a disaster.
- Take pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, manual can opener, food dishes, first aid kit and other supplies with you in case they're not available later. Before you find yourself in an emergency situation, consider packing a "pet survival" kit which could be easily deployed if disaster hits.
- Make sure identification tags are up-to-date and securely fastened to your pet's collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site. If your pet gets lost, his tag is his ticket home.
- Make sure you have a current photo of your pet for identification purposes.
- Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet so that if he panics, he can't escape. http://www.ready.gov/caring-animals