Maine Prepares 2011

2, Friday | September 30, 2011, Maine Emergency Management Agency - www.MainePrepares.com

Irene gave Maine a break, but don’t be fooled By the time Hurricane Irene hit Maine Sunday, August 28, it was downgraded to a tropical storm. But on Monday, it still left 190,000 Mainers without power, bridges closed due to flooding, and flood warnings in place for major waterways. Emergency shelters were open across the state on Monday. Even downgraded, Irene brought 2-4 inches of rain and 40-50 mph wind gusts to most of the state.

Hurricanes don’t always weaken this much before they hit us. You should have supplies on hand to weather any major storm, including plenty of non-perishable foods, bottled water, and other supplies.

Develop a written family plan based on your vulnerability to the hurricane haz-

ards. Have a place to go if you must evacuate, and know the evacuation route. You should keep a written plan, share it with friends and family, and update it regularly.

Hurricane preparedness should be a part of this plan (as should all types of hazards).

If a hurricane is coming: Listen to weather reports. Modify your home to strengthen it against storms so that you can be as safe as possible. Shutter or board up windows, or at least criss-cross them with heavy tape; keep away from windows and glass doors. Secure outside objects so they don’t blow around. Fuel up the car in case an evacuation is ordered (and, if ordered, do so without delay, so you don’t put yourself and emergency responders at risk).

Contact info for all Maine County EMAs. Also notes whether a county has at least one of the following: ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service); CART (County Animal Response Team); CERT (Community Emergency Response Team); RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services).

Turn off utilities at main valves and switches if instructed to do so by authorities. Take refuge on the ground floor in a small central room. Check flashlights, radios, etc.

For more hurricane information, visit the National Hurricane Center at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

First 72 hours: You’re responsible for yourself

Emergency personnel are very busy during a disaster, so the “first responder” is the person experiencing the emergency — you.

Consider yourself alone for the first 72 hours, and prepare for that possibility now.

Have a Plan: Involve the whole family.

Plan for how to get out of the building from every room in the house in an emergency. Make sure everyone knows that if you have to leave an unsafe house, such as in a fire, that nobody goes back inside for any reason — not even for another person.

Choose a safe meeting place, such as by the family car or at the end of the driveway.

Have a backup plan at a neighbor’s house or nearby landmark. Establish an out-oftown number to call in case family members are separated or a disaster is too severe

for you to get to your meeting spot.

Make a Kit: Prepare a Disaster Kit for your home that you can grab in a hurry if you have to leave (see next page). Outfit your kit with three days of nonperishable foods, bottled water, and everything else you’ll need. Avoid thirst-inducing foods;

choose salt-free crackers, whole-grain cereals, and canned foods with high liquid content. Don’t forget a can opener. Have a battery-operated or hand-cranked radio to stay informed in case of power outage.

Be Informed: Talk about what might happen, how you might get information about events, and what emergencies are likely in your area — but prepare for any and all hazards. Listen to weather forecasts and news reports to prepare for what’s coming. Find out from your town how authorities will inform you of local emergencies or safety issues. Identify any challenges with elderly or special-needs individuals in your home.

For more information, visit www.MainePrepares.com.

After the disaster: What to do when it’s all over

There can be a lot to handle once the initial disaster has passed — and a lot to consider during its aftermath.

Find your family, if people are missing.

The American Red Cross will have a database to help you.

Find a place to stay. If you don’t know where shelters are, call 2-1-1. Let 2-1-1 know if you have pets, service animals, or livestock. For longer-term housing needs, FEMA may offer services and grants for home repair or replacement.

Coping with disaster. Everyone is affected in a disaster. Overwhelming emotions are normal. Difficulty focusing, chemical abuse, and physical problems can also

occur. Acknowledging and talking about your feelings can help. Stay healthy, get enough rest, spend time with loved ones, and try to maintain a normal routine.

First 48 hours. Returning home can be physically and mentally challenging. Use caution!

Check for injuries; don’t move seriously injured people unless they’re in immediate danger. If you must move an unconscious person, stabilize the neck and back first, and call for help.

Get a radio to listen for updates, and a flashlight to inspect your home when power is out. Turn on the flashlight before entering your home, in case the battery produces a spark that might ignite leaking gas.

Stay off the streets. If you must go out, watch for fallen objects, downed electrical wires, stray animals, and weakened structures, bridges, roads, and sidewalks.

Entering your home. Check outside for loose power lines, gas leaks, and structural damage. Enter carefully and look for things like loose floorboards; slippery floors; gas leaks; sparks; broken or frayed wires; cracks in the roof, chimney, or foundation; damaged pipes or contaminated water; con-

YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES

taminated food; basement flooding; and chemical spills. Don’t take chances with potential hazards; call professionals. Wear rubber gloves. Use common sense.

Helping children cope. Children may feel frightened, confused, and insecure, whether they’ve personally experienced trauma, seen the event on television, or heard adults discussing it. Younger children may return to earlier behaviors such as bedwetting and separation anxiety. Older children may display anger, aggression, or withdrawal. Listen to them, inform them, explain everything what’s happening, and include them in the recovery plan.

Helping pets. For a few days, leash or contain your pets when outside, provide them with shelter and water, stay with them, and watch them closely. Pets may become aggressive due to unfamiliar scents, altered landmarks, and wild animals in the area, and won’t understand dangerous things like downed power lines. To locate pet shelters or pet-friendly organizations, or to locate missing pets, call 2-1-1.

During and after the disaster. MEMA steadily updates both its Web site at www.Maine.gov/mema and 2-1-1 Maine (see page 7 for more about 2-1-1).

ANDROSCOGGIN

OXFORD

Joanne Potvin, Director 2 College St., Lewiston Control Ctr.: Central Fire Station, 45 Oak Street - 784-0147 anem1@roadrunner.com www.androscogginema.org CART - CERT - RACES

Allyson Hill, Interim Director County Courthouse PO Box 179 26 Western Ave., South Paris 743-6336 oxctyema@megalink.net www.megalink.net/~oxctyema ARES - CART

AROOSTOOK Vernon R. Oulette, Director 158 Sweden St., Caribou 493-4328 vern@aroostookema.com www.aroostookema.com CERT

CUMBERLAND James Budway, Director 22 High St. Unit 1, Windham 892-6785 budway@cumberlandcounty.org www.cumberlandcounty.org/ema ARES - CART - CERT - RACES

FRANKLIN Tim A. Hardy, Director 140 Main St. Ste. 1, Farmington 778-5892 thardy@fncome.com www.franklincountyema.org ARES - CERT

HANCOCK Ralph E. Pinkham, Director County Courthouse, 50 State St. Ste. 4, Ellsworth 667-8126 ema@co.hancock.me.us www.co.hancock.me.us/ema ARES - CART - CERT

PENOBSCOT Tom Robertson, Director 97 Hammond St., Bangor 945-4750 ema@penobscot-county.net ema.penobscot-county.net CART - SAR

PISCATAQUIS Thomas F. Iverson Jr., Director 163 E. Main St., Dover-Foxcroft 564-8660 pcema@myfairpoint.net www.piscataquis.us

SAGADAHOC Misty D. Green, Director County Courthouse, 752 High St., Bath 443-8210 sagema@sagcounty.com www.sagcounty.com

SOMERSET Mike Smith, Director 8 County Drive, Skowhegan 474-6788 - Mike.Smith@ somersetcounty-me.org www.somersetcounty-me.org ARES - CART - CERT - RACES

KENNEBEC

WALDO

Richard Beausoleil, Director 125 State St., Augusta 623-8407 rrbeau@kennebeccounty-me.gov www.kq1l.com/kcema/kcema.html ARES - CART - CERT

Dale D. Rowley, Director 45A Congress St., Belfast 338-3870 emadirector@waldocountyme.gov www.waldocountyme.gov/ema ARES - CART - RACES - SAR

KNOX

WASHINGTON

Ray Sisk, Director 62 Union St., Rockland; Control Ctr.: County Courthouse 594-5155 rsisk@knoxcountymaine.gov www.knoxcountymaine.gov ARES - CART - RACES - SAR

Michael F. Hinerman, Director PO Box 297, 28 Center Street, Machias; Control Ctr.: County Courthouse 255-3931 wnema@roadrunner.com www.washingtoncountymaine.com

LINCOLN

YORK

Tim Pellerin, Director PO Box 249 34 Bath Road, Wiscasset; Control Ctr.: County 911 Center 882-7559 - EMAoperations@ lincolncountymaine.me www.lincolncountyema.net CART - SAR

Kimberly L. White-Kaiser, Director 5 Swetts Bridge Road, Alfred Control Ctr.: County Courthouse 324-1578 ema@co.york.me.us www.yorkcountyme.gov ARES - CART - CERT - RACES

This supplement was produced and published by the

Writer: David M. Fitzpatrick Photos: Courtesy of MEMA and others; some BDN photos.

Sales: Jeff Orcutt Cover Design: Michele Prentice To participate in next year’s Maine Prepares, contact Jeff Orcutt at (207) 990-8036 or jorcutt@bangordailynews.com

www.MainePrepares.com - Maine Emergency Management Agency, Friday | September 30, 2011, 3

FINANCIAL FIRST AID Have the following things copied and stored in at least two safe places regarding the people in your household.

PLANNING YOUR DISASTER KIT

DISASTER KIT ITEMS

First, educate yourself about your area, and know what to expect. Then plan to build your kit.

Build a kit to support your plan. Pack according to location and what hazards you’re likely to face, but there are some things to have regardless.

_____ Determine what hazards exist in your local area, and build your kit to address all hazards you may face. _____ Write a plan based on the hazards. Involve everyone who will be affected by the plan: family, roommates, neighbors, etc. _____ Get something to store your Disaster Kit items in. A large, waterproof box is ideal; consider a plastic 40+ gallon garbage container with a lid and rollers. In an emergency, you can roll it into your car, yard, or home in just a few minutes. You can also use a heavy-duty duffel bag, but be sure any supplies you put in it that need to stay dry are properly packed in small containers, waterproof bags, etc. _____ Waterproofing. Even if you use a waterproof box, be sure you pack its contents in waterproof bags. That way, if the cover pops off or the box leaks, you won’t lose everything. _____ Consider temperatures where you store your kits; heat can significantly degrade the quality of supplies in a few months. Try to store supplies in an area constantly below 80 degrees Fahrenheit and out of direct sunlight. _____ Build your kit. Use the “Disaster Kit Items” checklist next.

Consider placing kits in your home, car, and workplace. When an emergency strikes, you never know where you’ll be. _____ Home Disaster Kit completed. _____ Car Disaster Kit completed for each car. _____ Work Disaster Kit completed. _____ Business Disaster Kit completed (see the checklist on this page). If you own a business, you have an entirely different set of things you have to be conscious of. _____ Kids’ Disaster Kits completed (below).

KIDS’ DISASTER KITS A disaster can be especially traumatic for kids. You should at least pack kids’ items in your DK, but a better idea is to involve your kids in the planning process, and have them build their own DKs in small duffel bags that they can easily grab. _____ Snacks. You should have enough food for everyone in the main Disaster Kit, but have the kids add snacks, such as granola bars or candy that won’t soon spoil. _____ Water. Again, you should have enough for everyone, but if the kids have their own bottles of water, all the better. _____ Toys, Arts, & Crafts. Favorite toys for young children can help keep their minds off what’s going on. _____ Other entertainment. Word finds, card games, handheld video games, and coloring books are good. Small items are best. _____ Small flashlight _____ Clothing. A favorite outfit is great to help kids feel okay during a crisis. They should also pack a change of warm clothing. _____ Other: Whatever the kids can think of that would make them more comfortable if they had to stay in a shelter, let them add it to their kits, as long as they can pick up the duffel and easily carry it.

_____ Food. Have non-perishable foods, enough for each person for a week (or more). Don’t forget to include a manual can-opener for canned food. _____ Water. If the water supply is contaminated or declared undrinkable, or you are unable to get water from city lines or wells, you should have several gallons on hand.

A good guide is one gallon of water per person per day, with at least one week’s worth of water per person. _____ Flashlights. Don’t forget extra batteries. Better still, have a hand-cranked flashlight that never needs them. _____ First Aid items. A full first aid kit is ideal. Have bandages, gauze, alcohol wipes, etc. Tablets to purify water, electrolyte tablets, and other things would also be ideal.

OTC pain medication is also good. _____ Wrench, or whatever tool needed to turn off water and/or gas in your house. Other emergency tools are also a good idea. _____ Blankets. Have at least one good sleeping bag or heavy blanket for each family member. _____ Thermal Blankets. In the event you’re stuck in extreme cold, these can be invaluable. They’re inexpensive and take up very little room. _____ Clothing. Make sure you have clothing for every member of the family. _____ Waterproof matches or lighter _____ Medication. Anything you need, prescription or non-prescription. Include an original bottle with dosage information in case you need refills during an event. _____ Radio. Radio is likely the first place you’ll get info. Have extra batteries, or get a hand-cranked radio so you won’t need batteries; these often have lights, cell phone chargers, etc. built in. A radio with weather stations on them are your best bet; these can even have tone-alert features that notify you when an advisory is issued. _____ Car keys/house keys. An extra set of all keys, so you’re not scrambling to find car keys if you have to leave in a hurry or house keys when you return. _____ Money. Some cash or a spare credit card. In a disaster, banks may be closed and ATMs may be down. It never hurts to have $20 or so in your kit, just in case. _____ Financial information - Use the “Financial First Aid” checklist on this page. _____ Pet supplies - Use the “Family Pets Checklist” _____ Anything else you think would be good.

FAMILY PETS PLAN Plan for your pets; they can’t do it! _____ Food: Three-day supply, dry or in cans _____ Water: Three-day supply _____ Collar with any license and vaccination tags _____ Copies of veterinary records _____ Harness or leash _____ Pet crate or carrier. _____ Pet litter box, if appropriate _____ Favorite toy

LEGAL DOCUMENTS _____ Birth certificates/adoption papers _____ Marriage license and divorce papers _____ Social Security cards for all family members _____ Passports/Green Cards for all family members _____ Naturalization documents for all family members _____ Copies of wills, trusts, and related legal materials _____ Powers of Attorney _____ Mortgage or real estate deeds to all properties _____ Vehicle registration/ownership for all vehicles TAXES AND ACCOUNTS _____ Previous year’s tax returns for all family members _____ Property tax statement for all family members _____ Personal property tax for all family members _____ Financial statements for all family members FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS/INSURANCE _____ Mortgage statement _____ Utility bills _____ Car payment/insurance info for all vehicles _____ Student loan info for all students _____ Property or rental insurance _____ Life, health, and property insurance information MEDICAL _____ Health insurance ID cards _____ Disabilities documentation _____ Living will OTHER _____ Military ID, orders, DD-214, and other discharge papers _____ Health insurance ID cards _____ Disabilities documentation _____ Living will

BUSINESS DISASTER KIT Have this info ready in case you evacuate your business.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS _____ Incorporation paperwork _____ Business permits/licenses _____ Employee information _____ Info on legal representation _____ Mortgage or real estate deeds _____ Company vehicle registrations/ownership papers TAXES AND ACCOUNTS _____ Previous year’s tax returns _____ Property tax statement _____ Financial statements FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS/INSURANCE _____ Mortgage statement or lease _____ Utility bills _____ Business vehicle payment info _____ Bank loan information _____ Property, auto, life, worker’s comp insurance info MEDICAL _____ Health insurance information _____ Disabilities documentation _____ Employee benefits documentation

4, Friday | September 30, 2011, Maine Emergency Management Agency, www.MainePrepares.com

Watch out for floods Staying warm when it’s cold

Weather terminology

When it comes to hardship and economic loss, flooding is the most common natural disaster in Maine, and one of the costliest. Nationally, if we exclude drought, floods and debris flow cause up to 90 percent of the damage related to all natural disasters; most U.S. communities experience some kind of flooding. In Maine, we get melting snow and rain in spring, severe storms with heavy rain in the summer, and hurricanes in late summer and into fall. It’s important to plan for this even if you’ve never been affected by flooding before.

Have a family disaster plan that includes evacuation routes and a site away from the disaster area where family members can meet (see page 2). And have a Disaster Kit (page 3).

Stay tuned to local TV or radio, or through www.weather.gov. Pay attention to all local warnings; if told to evacuate, do so. Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater; even shallow, fast-moving floodwaters produce astonishing force. During an evacuation, follow authorities’ instructions, and know which routes to take.

Flood insurance. Even if you’re a half-mile away from the nearest river, at a low elevation you may be in a flood-danger zone. Many people are at flood risk but don’t know it; only about 20 percent of at-risk people have flood insurance, and many people assume their standard homeowner’s insurance will cover them. It won’t.

And for the federal government to help you repair or rebuild after a flood, your home must be in a declared disaster area, which only happens in half of floods. Luckily, if you’re a flood-prone area, a National Flood Insurance Program policy costs around $400 a year.

For more flood info, visit www.fema.gov/hazard/flood.

So what does “outlook,” “watch,” and “warning and advisory” mean? According to the National Weather Service, they equate to “Ready, Set, Go!” Outlook = Ready! - An outlook indicates hazardous weather might occur, and provides advanced notice of potential hazards so that citizens and emergency management personnel can begin planning. These outlooks are issued well in advance.

Watch = Set! - A watch indicates potentially hazardous weather is coming. A watch is generally issued 24 to 48 hours in advance, depending on the type of weather, to give the public and emergency responders the heads-up. A watch means it’s time to get prepared, and to heed the recommendations of the NWS and other officials.

Advisories & Warnings = Go! - An advisory or warning indicates hazardous weather is imminent or occurring.

They’re generally issued 12-36 hours prior to the event, and last up to and through the event. It means a weather event is imminent or occurring, but it’s one that won’t likely lead to a life-threatening situation if proper safety steps are followed.

These indicate a situation that is normally less hazardous than those for which warnings are used.

When a warning is issued, you should take immediate action to protect lives and property. Warnings are issued for many different hazards including winter storms, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and severe thunderstorms. Always take warnings seriously; your life may be at stake.

In Maine, the NWS works with emergency planners and other officials to define many aspects of what constitutes an advisory versus a warning.

A major winter storm could strand you in your home days or even weeks. You might even be without power or the ability to heat your home.

Have a Disaster Kit and plenty of supplies in case you have to “shelter in place,” possibly under adverse conditions. Have plenty of non-perishable foods and bottled water. Plan as if you had to shelter in place for several weeks. Don’t forget the pets; have food supplies for them in cans, or keep an extra bag of dry food that you rotate regularly.

Build a car Disaster Kit and store it in the trunk in case you’re stranded in your car. Be sure your mechanic prepares your car for the winter. Get studded snow tires and winter windshield wipers, and check your fluids. And on the road, watch out for the other guy. Consider taking defensivedriving and winter driving courses.

If a winter storm comes, heed weather reports and take warnings seriously. Make

Don’t Wait For An EMERGENCY. Get Involved Now. Go to www.VolunteerMaine.org Select “Disaster Volunteering” to learn more.

Supported by the Maine Commission for Community Service

Bangor Hydro and Maine Public Service are part of the Emera family of companies.

In an emergency, our team of dedicated and knowledgable employees stand ready to restore your electric service as quickly and safely as possible.

Never touch a downed power line or a tree in contact with a downed line. Instead, call our Customer Service centers right away.

Bangor Hydro Electric Company (207) 973-2020 1-800-440-1111

Maine Public Service Company (207) 760-2300 1-877-655-4448

www.bangorhydro.com • www.mainepublicservice.com

sure you have extra batteries for your radio and flashlights. If you have a non-electric stove, make sure you have plenty of wood, propane, kerosene, etc.

Check to see if you have fuel for the camp stove, grill, or generator — DO NOT USE THESE INDOORS. Have extra blankets and/or sleeping bags handy. Stay warm!

Hypothermia can sneak up on you. The elderly may be particularly susceptible to this. If you have an elderly neighbor, friend, or relative, make sure they’re okay.

THINK SAFETY! Check the batteries in your smoke detectors. Careful with candles.

Don’t overtax yourself shoveling snow.

Don’t be too quick to use the chain saw on a downed tree in the yard. Make sure you use proper safety equipment.

For more information, visit the National Weather Service at nws.noaa.gov/om/ winter or the Centers for Disease Control at www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter.

www.MainePrepares.com - Maine Emergency Management Agency, Friday | September 30, 2011, 5

Getting through power outages Safety tips: Burning wood, using generators

When the power fails, you never know if it will be for two hours or two days. It’s important to have plenty of non-perishable food such as canned goods, drink mixes, and powdered milk. Canned goods can be eaten cold, but a gas or charcoal grill can keep hot meals coming.

Fridge and Freezer. Keep shut! Rule of thumb: If your freezer is half-full, the contents will remain frozen for about 24 hours; full, for 48. Keep a camping cooler handy; for extended outages, fill them with ice and pack in your perishables.

Lights, Radios, and Cell Phones. If you must use candles, keep them at least a foot away from anything flammable, don’t leave them unattended, and put them out before sleeping. Have flashlights and radios with extra batteries — or, better yet, have hand-cranked varieties. Cell phones are key if phone lines are out.

If you don’t have a cellphone charger in a handcranked radio (a great feature), limit your cellphone usage. Leave them

off until you need them to conserve power.

Bedtime. Turn on the bedroom light; hopefully, you’ll wake if the power is restored. This will enable you to quickly get that cold-storage food back into the fridge and freezer. But have a food thermometer handy to check internal temperatures. Perishable food and drink should be no higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit; if it’s higher, take no chances and throw it out. Frozen food that is no more than 40 degrees is re-freezable as long as it still has ice crystals.

Generators. If you have vital electrical medical equipment, have a power backup plan in place. Battery backups and generators can mean the difference between life or death for someone using powered medical equipment.

Generators can also make a disaster far easier to bear by providing lights, refrigeration, TV, and heat. But they can be deadly; read about them at the story to the right.

Many Mainers burn wood or use generators, which are great when the power goes out. But there are a few commonsense rules to follow if you do either.

Heating with Wood • Have your chimney cleaned and inspected each season.

• Don’t use gasoline as a starter fluid • Keep all combustibles 3+ feet from heating units.

• Make sure smoke pipes are secure and draft vents work.

• Have adequate kindling; use seasoned (not green) wood.

• Dispose of ashes in a metal container; dump outdoors when they’re cold.

• Don’t overload the unit with too much wood.

Fire Escape Plans • Make an escape plan and review it with all family members.

• Practice it twice a year (daylight and darkness).

• Know two ways out of each living area of your home.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home.

Change the batteries once a year, and the alarms every 10 years.

• In a fire, once you’re out of your home, stay out.

Generator Use We can never say enough about the proper safe use of generators. They’re wonderful things to have and can be life savers during disasters, or at least make life a lot easier. But you must NEVER USE THEM INDOORS. Never use them in an attached garage. Never use them in the basement. Never

run one outside near an open window, door, or vent or any sort. They produce carbon monoxide, which is odorless and colorless and very deadly. Also: • Generator exhaust can cause a fire if too close to combustible materials.

• Never refuel a generator inside or while it’s hot; fire could result.

• Plug any electrical devices directly into the generator.

Never “back feed” your house circuits or connect the generator to the house wiring. This could create a hazard to line workers.

• Don’t overload the generator.

• Make sure all cords have proper insulation, are in good condition, and are the proper wire gauge.

• Properly maintain your generator; follow any manufacturer’s instructions.

Storms. Floods. Power outages. Disasters strike in a split second, but they don’t have to catch you off guard.

2-1-1 Maine is your statewide resource for emergency preparedness information and disaster relief services.

With one phone call, you can receive information that can help you recover, if the unexpected happens.

Dial 2-1-1. It’s easy, confidential and free.

TTY: 2-1-1. For rotary phones, dial 1-866-811-5695.

2-1-1Maine is made possible by a partnership between all ten United Ways of Maine,Youth Alternatives Ingraham and the State of Maine.

6, Friday | September 30, 2011, Maine Emergency Management Agency - www.MainePrepares.com

Extra planning needed to help those with disabilities and aging population In a disaster, listen to the radio for information. But what if someone is deaf?

To be informed, watch TV or read online. But what if someone is blind?

To evacuate, jump in your car and go.

But what someone can’t drive, or even get around without assistance?

If danger is near, stay away from it.

But what if someone has a cognitive impairment?

“Simple disaster responses” aren’t always so simple. According to the 2000

census, one in five homes had someone with a disability, which doesn’t count the people who, at the time of a disaster, might be recovering from medical procedures and have temporary disabilities.

Communities must identify who needs special help, but all emergency planning begins at the individual level: People should have their own plans in place in case help doesn’t arrive right away. Here’s just a few of the many challenges for those individuals, and their community responders, to consider:

Mobility. People with wheelchairs aren’t easy to evacuate without wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Hearing. Deaf people may not even know there is something coming at them; they can’t hear the radio. MEMA, the Maine Center on Deafness, and the Division of Deafness recently launched the nation’s first emergency alert system for the deaf, notifying them via email pager. This will help notify deaf people, but even if they’re in public shelters, they might be isolated without a sign-lan-

guage interpreter.

Sight. Blind people can’t drive themselves, walk away from a disaster, or even see one coming. If they’re alone, they’re at serious disadvantages.

Cognitive. Those with cognitive disabilities may not comprehend the threat, and may not be able to make sound judgments and decisions.

Elderly. Homebound elderly people often rely on someone coming to care for them. In a disaster, there might not be someone coming.

How search and rescue works (and how you can help) After a 4-year-old boy was lost or kidnapped at Coburn Gore in 1975 and never found, the Maine Legislature reinforced a 1943 statute charging the Maine Warden Service with searching for people lost in Maine’s wilderness or inland waters.

SAR was in its infancy then, with the National Association of Search and Rescue then developing ways to plan searches, based on data from searches across the nation. Some Maine wardens took

the NASAR training and brought this new science back to Maine.

Today, with just 125 sworn officers, each with an assigned district in Maine, the MWS doesn’t have the manpower it needs to manage the more 450 searches it engages in every year. While most are brief and easily handled, plenty require more manpower. The MWS calls in nearby wardens when it can, but a substantial search means calling the Maine Association of Search and Rescue.

MASAR is a coalition of volunteer groups skilled in ground, horse-mounted, K-9, and rough-terrain SAR. When the MWS requests assistance, MASAR calls in the appropriate member groups, with about 200 collective trained volunteers, to assist.

The MWS and MASAR might use onthe-spot citizen volunteers in searches, but not in challenging circumstances.

The time to volunteer is now; contact MASAR to see which SAR groups could

use your help.

Tips. And if you’re heading into the wilderness, observe these key points: • Have a plan, tell others about it, and stick to it.

• Bring food and water for several days, even for a brief hike, and bring survival gear.

• Bring a map and compass; don’t rely on your GPS. • Bring a cell phone, but don’t rely on

it, either.

• If you get lost, stay put.

www.MainePrepares.com - Maine Emergency Management Agency, Friday | September 30, 2011, 7

For disaster information and help, or help anytime, call 2-1-1 (it’s free!)

Whether preparing for a disaster, being in one, or seeking social services in calmer times, 2-1-1 Maine is your free and confidential source of information with over 8,000 services. Don’t confuse it with 411, which might cost money and not have needed info.

In emergencies, 2-1-1 Maine’s database is constantly updated. It’s the go-to resource for disaster information, and entities like MEMA and the Red Cross give 2-1-1 up-to-the-minute information on things like shelters, evacuation information, cleanwater sources, damages registration, and much more. Finding available services is as easy as dialing 2-1-1, or you can visit www.211maine.org and research on your own.

Originated as a United Way project in Atlanta in 1997, 2-1-1 quickly spread nationwide. Most states are covered, some to varying degrees. Maine has been 100 percent covered since July 2006.

In 11 months of operation in 2006, 2-1-1 Maine fielded 17,405 calls. That number more than dou-

bled in 2007, to 38,946. It doubled again in 2008, and has averaged 75,000 calls per year since. 2-1-1 Maine provides after-hours 2-1-1 service for Vermont and Rhode Island, including assisting both states during the recent Hurricane Irene. And all New England 2-1-1 services are working towards a mutual-aid program.

The service runs lean, with a staff of just 18, plus six contracted resource staff at United Ways across Maine. There’s also a volunteer program, as 2-1-1 can always use help during emergencies.

If you’re interested in volunteering, 2-1-1 could use your help. If you’re interested, call 2-1-1 Maine Executive Director Karen Turgeon. You already know her number.

2-1-1 Maine phone workers in Portland in 2008. (Bangor Daily News File Photo)

Businesses: Make disaster plans, stay involved to protect investment, jobs

Jan. 1, 2013, FCC narrowbanding deadline: You’d better be ready!

Businesses can be vulnerable during disasters.

National chains often have disaster plans, but small businesses frequently don’t — and in the U.S. they account for 99 percent of all companies with employees, 50 percent of private-sector workers, and 45 percent of the payroll. Failure to plan could result in loss of revenue or jobs, or bankruptcy. But preparing is easy, and involves three key ideas.

Plan to Stay in Business. Be informed; know what

Narrowbanding is the federally mandated conversion of communications frequencies from the 25 KHz range to 12.5 KHz for two-way radios.

The purpose is to create more channels. We all have to do it by Jan. 1, 2013 — or else face hefty federal fines and even criminal charges.

Public-sector organizations have long known about narrowbanding. They need to do it to be legally compliant, but also to be able to communicate with other agencies. But the private sector may be lagging. If your company uses two-ways for any reason, you must get moving on your conversion and license upgrade. If not, you will lose your FCC license, and using your radios will be a violation of federal law.

There are some exemptions, such as marine radios, citizen-band radios, recreational walkietalkies, pagers, cell phones, and cordless phones.

Any other device that constitutes a two-way radio must be converted.

Added “Line A” challenge. Maine, like many northern border states, has an added challenge.

Because U.S. and Canadian airwaves overlap, Maine licensees using their radios beyond the socalled “Line A” just north of Bangor also need Canadian approval. It will take about four to six weeks to upgrade your existing license, even if Canada is in the mix. But if you’re applying for a new license, expect a wait time of six to 18

emergencies are likely to affect your company. Assess how your company functions, internally and externally. Plan for everything, and address unlikely scenarios. Fire is the most common business disaster, but consider everything from extreme weather to floods to terrorist activity and beyond. Finally, have contingencies for situations when you must stay at the business during an emergency; have emergency and medical supplies, and food and water, on hand.

Talk to Your People. Emergencies threaten your employees’ safety and job security, so involve them in the planning. Make key personnel part of your planning team, and have supervisors meet with their subordinates and report ideas to the team. Be sure everyone understands the plan, and do regular drills. Update the plan annually to account for changes in the community, your business, and your building.

Protect Your Investment. Have a strategy in place to ensure that a disaster won’t destroy your business. Many of the things you can do to protect your business cost nothing or are inexpensive. Simple actions can lead to great benefits; it costs nothing to meet with your insurance company, and very little to change your coverage as needed for better protection.

Having a focused, written plan is vital. Visit www.Ready.gov for plenty of materials to help you make a plan for your business.

We’re ready, and we want you to be ready, too!

When severe weather damages our electricity delivery system and knocks power out, our crews will work around the clock to get your power back on as quickly as possible.

For a Free Storm Safety Guide visit www.cmpco.com.

Jim Wright Transmission Operations and Maintenance

months.

The process is just three easy steps: upgrade your FCC license for about $80; reprogram your radios; and replace older radios that aren’t reprogrammable. Run, don’t walk, to your two-wayradio provider, who will have all the details. Get it done now, before it’s too late!

8, Friday | September 30, 2011, Maine Emergency Management Agency - www.MainePrepares.com

How do emergency shelters work?

Quick and easy energy-saving tips

If you have to leave your home during a disaster, where do you go? What do you do?

Dial 2-1-1: During a disaster, call the free 2-1-1 service for updated information on local shelters.

Warming/cooling shelters: They give people breaks from the too-hot or too-cold homes, or give them somewhere to go if they’re afraid to stay home. They’re also points of contact for fur-

Concerned about high heating costs and electricity waste? Here are tips for any household.

• Lower the thermostat at night; use an extra blanket or two to stay comfortable.

• Weather-strip and caulk around all doors and windows.

• Placed rolled-up rugs or towels across door bottoms to keep out drafts.

• Keep registers and baseboards clean and unobstructed.

• Close heating elements in unused rooms.

• Turn off unused electronics and appliances; unplug them if you’ll be away for an extended time.

• Use three-way light bulbs whenever possible; they’ll enable you to use less electricity when you don’t need brighter lights..

• Don’t put hot foods into the fridge; the inside will heat, and the fridge will work harder to cool the interior. Keep fridge seals tight, and keep fridge coils vacuumed to aid in proper heat venting.

• Only run a full dishwater; it will use the same water and power as a half load.

• Use cold water for laundry. It generally cleans just as well as hot.

• Clean your dryer’s lint screen after each use.

For more information, visit the following Consumer Energy Tips at www.energysavers.gov and oil

ther services.

Overnight shelters: The Red Cross, local communities, and other entities manage these. They provide food, water, and possibly showers. Bring your own toiletries (they should be in your Disaster Kit; see page 3). The Red Cross may assist or take over shelters if communities request it.

Animal shelters: Not all shelters allow non-service animals. Those that do may have strict rules regarding animals. With your pet, bring pet food, medications, bedding, chew toys, spare leashes, kennels and carriers, etc. Most of these things should be in a Pet Disaster Kit (see page 3), so you can grab it quickly during a disaster.

Other animals. During a disaster, officials may have plans for evacuating livestock to special farm-animal shelters. Contact your County Animal Response Team to be sure they’re aware of your farm animals.

ADA compliance: All shelters must be ADA-compliant, so people with access and functional needs will be able to shelter there as well.

Language: If someone doesn’t speak English, Red Cross shelters will provide access to the AT&T language service. Users can call that line with help from shelter personnel to get information they need in languages they understand.

Heating Tips at www.maineenergymarketers.com

Calculate Your Electricity Usage What uses the electricity in your home? Central Maine Power’s Web-based Energy Calculator lets you choose the appliances you have and how often you use them. Enter your kilowatt-hour cost (you don’t have to be a CMP customer), and the calculator will sum it all up for you. The result shows where your usage is coming from, and potentially shows you ways to cut your bill down.

To use the Energy Calculator, visit www.CMPCo.com and search for “calculator.”