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Staying
Put and "Shelter in Place"
Plan
in advance where you will take shelter.
Choose an interior room or one with as few windows and
doors as possible. If
you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local
authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to
“shelter in place” (staying put and creating a barrier between
yourself and potentially contaminated air outside).
Quickly
bring your family and pets inside, lock doors, and close windows,
air vents and fireplace dampers. Turn off air conditioning, forced
air heating systems, exhaust fans and clothes dryers.
Getting
Away
Plan
in advance how you will assemble your family and anticipate where
you will go. Choose
several destinations in different directions so you have options
in an emergency. If
you have a car, keep at least a half tank of gas in it at all
times. Become familiar
with alternate routes as well as other means of transportation out
of your area. Take pets with you if you are going to evacuate,
however, if you are going to a public shelter, keep in mind that
they may not be allowed inside.
Working
Together
Schools,
daycare providers, workplaces, neighborhoods and apartment
buildings, like individuals and families, should have
site-specific emergency plans.
If none exist, considering volunteering to help develop
one.
Schools
and Daycare
If you
are a parent, guardian of an elderly or disabled adult, make sure
schools and daycare providers have emergency response plans.
Ask how they will communicate with families during a
crisis. Do they store
adequate food, water and other emergency supplies.
Find out if they are prepared to “shelter in place” if
need be, and where they plan to go if they must get away.
For
People With Disabilities
Create
a support network to help in an emergency.
Tell these people where you keep your emergency supplies.
Give one member of your support network a key to your house
or apartment. Contact
your city or county government’s emergency information
management office. Many
local offices keep lists of people with disabilities so they can
be located quickly in a sudden emergency.
Wear medical alert tags or bracelets to help identify your
disability. If you are
dependent on dialysis or other life sustaining treatment, know the
location and availability of more than one facility.
Show others how to operate your wheelchair.
Emergency
Supplies
Water
Store
one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation
in clean plastic containers. Living
in a warm weather climate may require additional water.
Food
Store
food that won’t spoil and does not have to be heated or cooked.
Choose foods that your family will eat.
Remember to pack a manual can opener, cups and eating
utensils.
Clean
Air
Be
prepared to improvise with what you have on hand to protect your
nose, mouth, eyes and cuts in your skin.
Anything that fits snugly over your nose and mouth,
including any dense-weave cotton material, can help filter
contaminants in an emergency.
Remember, something over your nose and mouth in an
emergency is better than nothing. Do not use plastic material
to cover your nose or mouth.
Have
heavyweight garbage bags or plastic sheeting, duct tape and
scissors in your kit. Seal
off all windows, doors and air vents.
Basic
Supplies
Store
a flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, a first aid
kit, utility knife, local map, toilet paper, feminine hygiene
products, soap, garbage bags and pet food.
Other items to consider are prescription medications, and
comfort items.
Additional
Supplies
Prescription
medicines, list of medications including dosage, list of any
allergies.
Extra
eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries
Extra
wheelchair batteries, oxygen
Keep a
list of the style and serial number of medical devices
Medical
insurance and Medicare cards
List
of doctors, relatives or friends who should be notified if you are
hurt.
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