Community Emergency Preparedness Guide
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Presentation Transcript
Emergency Preparedness A guide for individuals and communities
Winter Weather Hazards Potential Impact • Heavy snow or rain • Sleet/freezing rain • Ice • Below freezing temperatures • Strong winds • Fallen trees and debris • Power outages • No communications services • Dangerous roadways • School and business closures • Exposure to cold • Hypothermia • Frostbite
Summer Weather Hazards Potential impact • Thunderstorms • Heavy rain • Lightning • Hurricanes • Tornadoes • Extreme heat • Blocked roads • Power outages • Flooded areas • Damaged property • Fires
How to prepare? • Get a Kit • Make a Plan • Be Informed • Get Involved
Emergency Kit • Water • Canned or packaged food (with manual can opener) • Flashlight • First aid kit • Battery powered radio (with extra batteries) • Prescription medicine • Toiletries
Emergency Kit • Build one for work, home, and car • Make it specific to your needs: special supplies for kids, elders, disabled, and pets • Should include sufficient resources for 72 hours without assistance • Be aware of resources available at work and places you and your family are frequently
Weather-specific considerations Winter weather • Wear loose and lightweight clothes in layers • Outside: wear a hat, boots, and mittens • Make sure your emergency heat sources are not a fire or health hazard! • Do NOT use a generator inside the house • If you must travel, bring a winter weather survival kit, including: • Blankets/sleeping bags • Extra clothes • Windshield scraper and brush • Sand or cat litter for traction • Battery booster cables • Shovel • Knife • Tow rope
Weather-specific considerations Summer weather • In some cases, you will need to decide whether to shelter in place or evacuate • Use your best judgment • Know your surroundings at home and work • Have exit routes mapped or planned in advance • Whether you shelter in place or evacuate, keep your emergency kit with you • Stay informed by using your emergency radio
Preparedness planning • Family communication • Contact cards • ICE contacts in cell phone • Text messaging • Out-of-state contact
Preparedness planning Emergency contacts • Personal • Spouse/significant other/emergency contact • School • Eldercare • Out-of-area contact • Work • Manager • Co-workers
Preparedness planning • Know your surroundings • Be aware of regional hazards • Have an exit strategy for work and home • Know your community’s evacuation routes • Coordinate with neighbors for a community planning effort • Practice! Hold a household evacuation drill
Staying informed • Hearing about an emergency • National Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radio, UVA Siren • Know how local authorities will notify you • Know what different weather alerts mean and plan what will be your response • CodeRED Community Emergency Alert System • www.communityemergency.org
Staying informed during a disaster • Power and telephone service may be lost • Make sure you have alternate means of staying in communication with family and keeping yourself informed • Reporting an incident • Storm conditions can significantly delay first responders • If there is a life threatening situation, call 9-1-1 • What if 9-1-1 fails?
Other Precautions • See Something, Say Something • Report suspicious activity and behavior • Active Shooter Events • Run, Hide, Fight
Get involved! • Help your community be prepared by joining Charlottesville’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) • Free training in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations and more! • Visit www.charlottesvillecert.org for more information
Questions? Chan Bryant, Chief Deputy Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office 411 E. High Street, Bldg.B Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 972-4001 (434) 996-7057 cell cbryant2@albemarle.org