Disaster Prep Guide by SB Independent

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

PREP

2020

DISASTER

GUIDE

Choose the Primary Care

Urgent Emergency Care

Care

Best Care Right Time at the

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

Our goal is to help you access the most appropriate and most affordable healthcare services when you need them. Visiting your Primary Care Provider with a same day appointment or Sansum Clinic’s Urgent Care instead of an ER could save you hundreds of dollars in potential co-pay and other out-of pocket expenses. This information can assist you in making the right choice when it comes to your health, ensuring that you receive the right care at the right time in the right place.

Urgent

ary PriCm are

Most often your Primary Care Provider (PCP) should be your first choice for healthcare because your own doctor is familiar with your medical history and because a scheduled office visit is the most practical and effective method of care. We currently have male and female Internists, Family Practitioners, Pediatricians and Obstetricians/Gynecologists at various locations who are accepting new patients.

When to Seek Primary Care l Illness or infections l Chronic disease

management

l Adult immunizations

l Childhood immunizations l Annual physical

examinations

l Employment physicals l School, sports, and

camp physicals

l Health screenings (blood

tests, TB tests, etc.)

l Sore throat

l Nausea

l Diarrhea l Asthma

l Allergic reactions

Like our Facebook page facebook.com/sansum

l Fever or infections

l Persistent vomiting

l Minor injuries to

l Severe back pain or

limbs (sprains, simple fractures of bones)

l Persistent diarrhea

migraine

l Small lacerations (cuts) l Concussions

MyChart

l Urinary tract infection

l Cough

Some Symptoms Treated at Urgent Care

diet, smoking cessation

l Fever

l Earache

Urgent Care is an option for when same day appointments with your doctor are unavailable or if you need immediate treatment outside of office hours. Our urgent care clinic can handle a number of medical conditions that are unplanned, and that need to be treated right away but are not a life or limbthreatening emergency.

l Advice: weight loss,

Several of our primary care locations offer same day appointments for when unplanned conditions occur, such as:

l Rash

l Referrals to specialists

Same Day Appointments

l Cold and flu symptoms

cy Emeragreen

Care

My Life, My Health, My Way, MyChart.

If you aren’t already on MyChart, sign up for our secure patient portal to gain direct online access to key parts of your medical records, such as lab results, appointment information, medications, immunization records and details about doctor visits – from anywhere at any time. mychart.sansumclinic.org For help choosing your doctor and scheduling an appointment, please call 1 (800) 4-SANSUM or visit www.sansumclinic.org

Watch our latest videos youtube.com/user/sansumclinic

linkedin.com/company/sansum-clinic

Share with us on Instagram instagram.com/sansumclinic

The hospital emergency department or “emergency room” (ER) is the right choice when you need immediate life, limb or eyesight-saving care. If you are ever in doubt it is better to be safe and go to the closest ER.

Conditions that Require Emergency Care l Severe persistent

chest pain or shortness of breath

l Difficulty speaking,

altered mental status or confusion

l Sudden severe

headache

l Loss of vision l Serious injury or

trauma

When to call 911

Sometimes driving yourself or a loved one to the emergency room won’t get you to the medical care you need fast enough. If you are in doubt, please call 911. Do not drive if you are having severe chest pain or severe bleeding, if feel like you might faint or if your vision is impaired. For certain medical emergencies, such as a heart attack or stroke, taking an ambulance is safer because paramedics can deliver life-saving care on the way to the hospital.

DISASTER WRITTEN AND EDITED BY KEITH HAMM AND TYLER HAYDEN DESIGNED BY ALEX DRAKE AND CAITLIN FITCH

anta Barbara is coastal, mountainous, semiarid, and situated close to fault lines. As such, the region has a long history of natural disasters, including storms, wildfire, and earthquakes. Worsened by drought and high winds, wildfire is our most common natural disaster. In the past three years alone, wildfires have burned hundreds of thousands of acres countywide, costing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and firefighting costs. After those fires burn away the grasses, chaparral, and trees, then come the debris flows, precipitated by oceanborn rainstorms that intensify as they collide with steep mountainsides. We will never forget January 9, 2018. In the smoldering wake of the Thomas Fire — then the largest wildfire in the history of state recordkeeping — a historic storm triggered the deadly 1/9 Debris Flow. And just two months ago, the Cave Fire, which raced down Highway 154 and caused evacuations from Ontare all the way to Fairview, created a new threat of debris flows for neighborhoods along creeks below the burn scar.

Translation services generously provided by the City of Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Services.

All of this isn’t to strike fear into the hearts of Santa Barbarans. It’s only to remind us that we all should prepare ourselves for the inevitable next natural disaster. Don’t think it can’t happen here. It has. It does. It will again. Fortunately, we are a community full of helpful individuals and public, private, and nonprofit leaders dedicated to making disaster preparedness straightforward and affordable. This guide aims to gather many of those resources into a handy booklet that’s easy to understand.

The first and best — and likely the easiest — thing you can do for yourself (and those around you) is to sign up for emergency alerts through readysbc.org. There you will find a step-by-step process to register phone numbers (both cellular and landline) and email addresses to receive warnings, updates, and evacuation notices sent out by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office or Office of Emergency Management. If you need help signing up, please call (805) 681-5526 or email oem@sbcoem.org.

Get set . . . Another important step to take is to put together a go-bag or emergency supply kit. This booklet breaks that down on page 4. Think of it as a creative project that will help reduce stress during an evacuation. Don’t forget to put this booklet in your kit.

GO! Have a plan. Have a backup plan. And maybe even another. When it’s time to evacuate, you and each member of your household should have an agreed-upon plan on what to do and, if separated, where to meet. Brainstorm different scenarios. Think about where you can spend the night if you have to leave home. Get on the same page; maybe even use the blank space in this booklet to write it down. Above all, look out for each other, connect with your neighbors, and educate yourself and others.

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

PREP GUIDE

Get ready . . .

Sources: City of Santa Barbara, County of Santa Barbara, American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, National Weather Service, Santa Barbara Humane Society

The

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

Bag

FEMA calls them emergency supply kits; they’re also referred to as go-bags. Either way, the concept is the same: In case of emergency — which could include utility outages, communication disruptions, sheltering in place, or evacuations — it’s important to have a cache of water, food, clothing, and related supplies assembled and easy to access. Because there will be delays in service, plan to be on your own for at least 72 hours. Duffels and plastic tubs with lids both work well as go-bags.

tips: Make sure your go-bags are personalized. You can purchase them fully stocked or build your own. Either way, it’s important to have essential and personal supplies geared toward the health, safety, and comfort of you and your family. If you have to leave your home in a hurry and don’t have time to pack clothing, grab your dirty clothes basket — it’s filled with favorite clothes that fit. Keep the gas tank in your vehicle at least half full at all times. Have a go-bag for home, work, and, in case you get stranded on the road during a disaster, in your vehicle.

Maintain your go-bag by reviewing it twice a year, usually when you change the batteries in your home clocks and smoke detectors. Replace expired items as needed and update the bag with different items as your family’s needs change. Keep canned food in a cool, dry place and store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.

SHELTER + Tent + Rope + Sleeping bags or warm blankets + Emergency blanket + Tarp and duct tape + Camp stove and fuel

+ Dust mask + Work gloves + Wrench or pair of pliers + Fire extinguisher + Utility knife + Matches in waterproof container

COMMUNICATION + Battery-powered and/or hand-

crank radio, with extra batteries Flashlight and extra batteries + + Local roadmaps + Whistle (if you need to signal for help) + Set of house and car keys + Phone charger and external power bank

+ Contact info for emergency services,

and moist towelettes + Garbage bags and plastic ties + Extra diapers, infant food, and formula (if necessary) + Feminine hygiene items least one change of clothing and + At hard-soled shoes

Two pairs of non-Latex or other sterile gloves Scissors Sterile dressings

MEDICAL

Soap and antibiotic towelettes Antibiotic ointment

+ First aid kit, with nonprescription

pain reliever and Benadryl + Sunblock and bug protection + Extra prescription eyewear, prescription medication, and a copy of any written prescriptions + Backup battery for electrical medical devices

Burn ointment Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes Eye wash solution Thermometer Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever Anti-diarrhea medication

FOOD & WATER

Antacids

+ One gallon of water per person per day + Three-day supply of nonperishable food

and a manuel can opener + Mess kit, kitchen items, disposable plates, cups, and utensils + Plain household bleach and a dropper to disinfect water + Water purification tablets

HOW TO Treat Drinking water

HYGIENE + Towels + Paper towels, toilet paper,

FIRST AID KIT ITEMS:

family, and friends; include an out-of-state and out-of-area contact + Copies of important family documents, such as insurance policies, passports, and other identification, in a sealed plastic baggie; you can also scan your important documents and put them on an encrypted flash drive + Cash (small bills), coins, and travelers checks + Books, games, pens, and paper + Written disaster and transportation plan for vulnerable friends and family who will need help

DROPS OF BLEACH

PER GALLON OF WATER

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

TOOLS

DOCUMENTS

HEAT TO A ROLLING BOIL FOR

SECONDS 5

Protect yourself. Protect your family. Have an emergency plan. JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

An emergency can happen at any time. There are some simple and basic steps you can take, like having a preparedness plan, some basic supplies and staying informed. Whether a storm, an earthquake, a wildfire or a flood comes our way, preparedness will help everyone cope better and stay safer.

STAY INFORMED During an emergency, Santa Barbara officials and members of the media communicate information and instructions to the public in a number of ways. Here’s a list of reliable sources. But remember: Be aware of your surroundings, and if you ever feel in danger, DO NOT wait for an alert to protect yourself.

DIGITAL AND ANALOG

RADIO

WEBSITES

APPS

ReadySBC Alerts: This is the county’s main public-alert tool. It sends warnings to residents via text messages, emails, cell phone calls, and landline calls. In order to receive these official messages, you must sign up at readysbc.org. Click the red “Register for Alerts” icon at the top of the page. As county officials say: “If we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you.”

Radio Ready: When the power is out and the

There are only a handful to remember:

internet is down, a radio may be your last hope for receiving critical information. The county partners with a network of Radio Ready stations to broadcast emergency notices with the help of generators and satellite equipment. Be sure you own a hand-crank or battery-operated radio, and keep extra batteries handy.

Life360: In a disaster situation, this app

ReadySBC.org: The clearinghouse + for all official county information. It

Nixle: Nixle is a community information

FM Stations: Santa Barbara/South Coast—KCLU 88.3 and 102.3; KOSJ 94.1; KTYD 99.9 Santa Maria—KCLU 89.7 and 92.1; KCBX 99.5 Lompoc—KCBX 95.1 Santa Ynez/Solvang—KCBX 90.9; KSYV 96.7; KRAZ 105.9 Countywide—KSPE 94.5; KIST 107.7 *Spanish

MyShake: Developed by the UC Berkeley Seismology Lab, MyShake provides early earthquake warnings across California. It sends alerts for magnitude 4.5 quakes or higher, gives damage and shaking reports submitted by other users, and offers the latest information from the U.S. Geological Survey.

GasBuddy: It’s hard to escape disaster without gas. GasBuddy lets you locate the nearest working pump despite the weather and the congestion.

Nextdoor: A fast and easy way to connect with neighbors to share information and, more importantly, give and receive help.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): WEA is a federal public-messaging tool that allows residents with certain wireless phones and other mobile devices to receive geographically targeted, text-like messages that warn of imminent safety threats. You don’t need to sign up for WEA—cell phone companies volunteer to participate in the system, so check with yours to find out if they do.

Emergency Alert System (EAS): EAS messages are transmitted via radio and television by participating broadcasters. They contain an audio message and/or scrolling text. You don’t have to sign up to receive these types of alerts, but you do need to be tuned in to a local TV channel or radio station to get them.

MEDIA Santa Barbara news agencies report on emergencies and frequently re-broadcast official county messages. Here are the region’s most trusted sources:

Television: KEYT (Channel 3), KSBY (Channel 6), KKFX (Channel 11), and KCOY (Channel 12)

Print and Online: Santa Barbara Independent (independent.com), EdHat (edhat .com), Santa Maria Times (santamariatimes .com), Noozhawk (noozhawk.com)

Radio: KCLU (FM 88.3), KDRW (FM 88.7), KCSB (FM 91.9), KIST (FM 107.7 *Spanish)

AM Stations: Santa Barbara/South Coast—KOSJ 1490; KZSB 1290; KCLU 1340 Santa Maria—KTMS 990; KUHL 1440

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR): NWR is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. To receive the Santa Barbara County broadcast, tune your weather radio to the SAME code: 006083.

SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter is often the most timely social media tool in a disaster. Here are the accounts to follow:

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

service used across the U.S. that contracts with local public-safety agencies to send alerts to residents through text messages and social media networks. To sign up, simply text your zip code to 888777. Spanish translation is available.

contains a ton of resources, from guides to maps to important phone numbers and addresses. Whether you’re in the mode of disaster prep or recovery, all roads lead to ReadySBC.org. SantaBarbaraCA.gov: The City of Santa Barbara’s Office of Emergency Services features helpful suggestions on assembling supply kits, preparing your business, shutting off utilities, and so on. RedCross.org: Perhaps your best source for general health and safety information in crisis situations. Be sure to search through the Central California Region section as well. Ready.gov: The Department of Homeland Security’s user-friendly site focused entirely on helping you prepare yourself and your family for any type of disaster. EarthquakeCountry.org: The in-depth website for the Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA), a public-private partnership of people, organizations, and regional associations devoted to helping residents get ready for and survive the next Big One.

will track your movements and automatically send texts to friends and family when you’re on the road and when you’ve reached your destination.

Office of Emergency Management + (@SBCountyOEM) County of Santa Barbara + (@countyofsb)

County of Santa Barbara *Spanish + (@csbenespanol)

Barbara County Fire Depart+ Santa(@SBCOUNTYFIRE) ment + Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office (@sbsheriff)

Weather Service, Los + National(@NWSLosAngeles) Angeles + CHP Coastal Division (@CHP_Coastal) 7

62300 English

RECYCLING COLLECTION What is Recyclable?

ALL ITEMS MUST BE EMPTY, CLEAN, & DRY OK to put in

PLASTIC

• • •

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

• • •

PAPER & CARDBOARD

METAL

Bottles with Caps On Buckets Large Plastic Tubs Empty Laundry Detergent Bottles Plastic Flower Pots & Trays Plastic Toys Rigid Plastics Greater Than 6”

Saran Wrap & Packaging Wrap Food Bags & Wrappers • Plastic Labeled “Compostable” or “Biodegradable” • •

•

Takeout Items: Plastic Straws, Cups, Containers, & Utensils

OK to put in NOT OK to put in Paper Bags • Paper Food & Beverage Containers NEW • Milk Cartons, Tetrapack, & Aseptic • Non Waxed Cardboard Containers • Cereal Boxes & Paperboard • Pizza Boxes (clean or dirty) • Computer & Office Paper • Waxed Cardboard • Envelopes • Napkins & Paper Towels • Junk Mail • Newspaper • Packing & Kraft Paper • Phonebooks •

OK to put in Aluminum Cans • Aluminum Foil & Trays • Caps & Lids From Bottles, Jars & Steel Cans •

• • •

GLASS

NOT OK to put in • Styrofoam • Plastic Bags & Film Plastic • Plastic Food Containers NEW (Yogurt, Salsa, Berries, etc.)

• Empty Beverage & Household

Empty Paint Cans Empty Spray Cans Scrap Metal & Metal Parts

OK to put in Bottles • Jars •

NOT OK to put in Kitchen Glassware & Other Tempered Glass

•

Window Glass

BATTERIES ARE ACCEPTABLE IN A SEALED PLASTIC BAG PLACED ON TOP OF THE RECYCLE CART

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RECYCLING: CITY OF SANTA BARBARA MARBORG INDUSTRIES 805-564-5631 805-963-1852 www.SBRecycles.org www.marborg.com/recycle

Power Shutoff Readiness

Santa Barbara’s power utilities — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in North County, and Southern California Edison (SCE) in South County — recently developed plans to shut off power during critically hot, dry, and windy weather to reduce the risk of wildfires. A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) will last as long as the potentially dangerous weather conditions exist, plus the amount of time it takes for utility workers to inspect and repair their equipment in the affected area(s). Residents need to be prepared to endure power outages lasting 5-7 days.

SHUTTING OFF UTILITIES GAS: Turn off your gas only if you smell or hear it. If your meter doesn’t have an automatic shutoff, use a wrench and carefully give the valve a quarter turn in either direction so that the bar on the valve is perpendicular to the pipe. ELECTRICITY:

To shut off the electricity to your home, turn off individual breakers first, starting from the bottom, then flip the main switch. To turn back on, turn on the main switch first, then the breakers. Do not flip any switches if a gas leak is suspected.

basement, crawl space, or garage, or outside the home by the foundation. While some valves can simply be turned by hand, many require a wrench or a meter key.

Outages will disrupt phone and internet communications, water and sanitation services, air conditioning, security systems, and transportation. They will also force the closure of retail businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, ATMs, and banks; spoil food and prevent the use of medical devices such as oxygen concentrators; and render useless elevators, garage doors, and electric gates.

BEFORE AN OUTAGE: + Buy batteries to meet your needs + Gather five days’ worth of nonperishable food and water + Keep cell phones charged and gas tanks full + Have flashlights on hand and avoid using candles + Check if your landline works without power; if it doesn’t, contact your provider Have an outage plan for your electronic medical devices + + Install carbon monoxide detectors + Monitor the weather and sign up for emergency alerts

DURING AN OUTAGE: + Turn off and unplug electrical devices to avoid surge damage + Keep fridge and freezer doors closed + Eat food from fridge first, freezer second, and nonperishable items last + Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning—no BBQs or generators indoors! + Check on elderly neighbors + Keep emergency lines open; only dial 9-1-1 if you are having an emergency

AFTER AN OUTAGE: + Food —when in doubt, throw it out! + Discard refrigerated medicine after 24 hours, unless otherwise advised by the label or your pharmacist

To learn more, visit readysbc.org, or contact your power company: + Southern California Edison (SCE), sce.com/PSPS, 1 (800) 655-4555 + Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), pge.com/wildfiresafety, 1 (866) 743-6589

Insurance Review

Now’s the time to make sure your insurance needs are in order, especially your homeowners or renters’ policies. Here are a handful of suggestions to get your started: a home inventory and store it in a safe loca+ Create tion away from your house or apartment. It should include photos of your belongings; information on their make, model, serial number, and purchase price; as well as appraisals of jewelry and art. your home inventory, store copies of your + With insurance policy with contact details for your insurance agent

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

WATER: Your shutoff valve is typically located in your

out whether your policy includes replacement + Find cost or actual cash value (ACV) for losses

Talk with your agent to make sure you don’t have too much or too little homeowners or renter’s insurance

if you need a separate flood insurance + Determine policy out if, following a disaster, your policy requires + Find you to file a claim within a certain timeframe all correspondence and a log of when you + Keep speak with your agent or an insurance company representative, and contact the state insurance department if you feel you are being treated unfairly.

We Need Your Help

Our First Responders need support from their community, just as they are always here for us!

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

Much of the high-tech and safety equipment needed is beyond their budgets, as are services provided by the At Ease counseling program. One805 is now offering membership programs so that individuals and businesses can become ongoing supporters. Your involvement will help all three Fire, Police and Sheriff departments within Santa Barbara County. Please consider joining One805 to help with funding emergency equipment, counseling services and community preparedness and educational programs.

The One805 Advisory Council comprised of representatives from each Santa Barbara City and County Fire, Police and Sheriff Departments

What began with the Kick Ash Bash... has grown into

To learn about the upcoming One805 Live! Benefit Concert and how to support One805, visit www.one805.org and follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @One805SB and Facebook at @One805 to see the ways you can help. One805 is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving Santa Barbara County’s First Responders.

The One805 Live! Benefit Concert

Visit www.one805.org and become a member today!

Saturday Stomach Ache? Use your smartphone, tablet or computer to enter your symptoms and a Cottage Health provider will respond online with a treatment plan within an hour, or it’s free. Should medication be required, prescriptions are automatically sent to your preferred pharmacy. Choose between: Online interview $29

Video visit $39

Emergency Care – Available 24/7 If you are in a life-threatening emergency, or suspect you are having a stroke or heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Connect virtually with a Cottage clinician

24/7/365

Our virtual clinic is always open at cottagehealth.org/carenow

Cottage Health’s three emergency departments are always open to help you. Our emergency services are located within our Goleta, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez hospitals.

DO YOU LIVE IN A

RED ZONE?

Following the Thomas Fire, Santa Barbara County developed interactive storm impact awareness maps that pinpoint properties in “red zones” at risk for flooding and debris flows. Find them at readysbc.org. The sizes of red zones in the Thomas Fire impact map have been greatly reduced from previous years thanks to a healthy regrowth of vegetation. This is not an evacuation map, officials stress. Evacuation areas may include some, none, or all of the red zones, depending on the severity of weather event.

The National Weather Service sends out four different types of alerts related to flooding and flash flooding. Santa Barbara’s Office of Emergency Management often rebroadcasts these messages. Know the differences: ADVISORY: Issued when + FLOOD flooding may become a nuisance or significant inconvenience. Be aware. WATCH: Issued when condi+ FLOOD tions are more favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible. Be prepared. WARNING: Issued when serious + FLOOD flooding is imminent or occurring. Take action.

Take action.

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

FLOOD WARNING: Issued when a + FLASH flash flood is imminent or occurring.

SPEC

when

disaster strikes

santa barbara When Disaster Strikes Santa Barbara We're here for our community!!

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re 24 hours- 7 days a week Tune into our local stations logo KTYD- 99.9 logo KSBL - KLITE 101.7 FM logo KIST - Radio Bronco - 107.7 FM logo KSPE - La Musical - 94.5 FM

Here

for our community 24 hours â&#x20AC;˘ 7 days a week

Wildfire Smoke Preparedness Tips Wildfire smoke causes poor air quality. Even if your home is physically safe from nearby fires, it's important to plan for poor air quality during wildfires. Inhaling smoke can cause coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and nausea. Children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with medical conditions are especially sensitive. If you see or smell smoke, follow these steps to stay safe.

Before a Wildfire:

MAKE A CLEAN AIR ROOM Keep windows and doors closed when smoke is present.

GET A BLOWER DOOR TEST If possible, look into using

Choose a shared space in your

professional services for a

home to run a HEPA (High

blower-door test to detect air

Efficiency Particulate Air)

leaks in your home.

Purifier.

This information can help you

A low-cost option involves

to properly seal your home in

attaching a MERV-rated filter

the event of poor air quality

to a standard box fan.

conditions.

During a Wildfire:

CHECK THE AQI The AQI (Air Quality Index) is a tool for measuring the severity of air pollution in a certain area. Up-to-date AQI levels, air quality forecasts, and more resources are available on our website: www.OurAir.org

LIMIT EXPOSURE USE N-95 MASKS PROPERLY You should modify your outdoor activity depending on AQI

If you absolutely need to be

conditions.

outside, use N-95 masks correctly.

Don't burn candles or use wood-

Scarves, bandanas, and surgical

burning stoves, fireplaces, tobacco

masks are not effective and

products, or aerosol spray. All of

should not be used.

these can increase air pollution

Masks must fit snugly around the

indoors.

nose and chin to function

Reduce smoke in your vehicle by

properly.

closing windows and running the air conditioner in recirculate mode.

www.ourair.org @OurAirSBC

Here are a few tips for helping children cope more long-term:

Give them extra time and attention — Kids need attention to know they’re + safe. Talk, play, and, most importantly, listen. TV time — While it’s important for adults to stay informed about the disas+ Limit ter, TV images and reports may be confusing and frightening for children. your own behavior — Make a point of being sensitive to those impacted + byWatch the disaster. This is an opportunity to teach your kids that we all need to help each other.

+ Take a slow breath in through your

nose (for about 4 seconds) + Hold your breath for 1 or 2 seconds + Exhale slowly through your mouth (over about 4 seconds) + Wait 2-3 seconds before taking another breath + Repeat for at least 5-10 breaths

WHERE TO GET HELP Beyond feeling tense, anxiety and depression are common symptoms of trauma-induced stress. Other psychological signs are irritability or anger; self-blame or blaming others; isolation and withdrawal; denial; fear of recurrence; feeling stunned, numb, or overwhelmed; feeling helpless; concentration and memory issues; and relationship problems or marital discord. Physiological symptoms include loss of appetite, headaches, chest pain, diarrhea or nausea, hyperactivity, nightmares, and insomnia. Help is available:

your children return to a normal routine — Children usually benefit + Help from routine activities such as set eating times, bedtime, and playing with others.

IMMEDIATE RESPONSE

kids in volunteer work — Helping others can give children a sense of + Involve control and security.

Toll-Free 24-Hour Access Line + Santa Barbara Response Network — Contact: Jina Carvalho, (805) 452-6457 + American Red Cross — (805) 687-1331 + Hospice of Santa Barbara — (805) 563-8820

A Calming Kit can temporarily soothe children in tough situations. (Children should have a small go-bag at school as well.) Items to include are:

+ Puzzles + Small chalkboard or Etch A Sketch + Play-Doh or Silly Putty + Scratch-and-sniff stickers + Snow globe + Noise-canceling headphones + Small blanket + Family photo

Wellness + Santa Barbara County Behavioral —(888) 868-1649

SHORT-TERM SUPPORT

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

Mental Wellness and Childcare

It’s normal to feel tense after a disaster. There’s no easy solution for coping, but taking the time to calm yourself with relaxation exercises can help you get through the day. You can meditate, stretch, swim, pray, listen to music, spend time in nature, and so on. Here’s a quick breathing exercise that helps, too:

+ Santa Barbara County Psychological Association — sbcpa.org Family Service of Greater Santa Barbara + —Jewish Contact: Ruth Steinberg, (805) 957-1116 + Cottage Health — (805) 569-7501; cottagehealth.org + Hospice of Santa Barbara — (805) 563-8820 LONG-TERM SUPPORT

+ Santa Barbara County Psychological Association — sbcpa.org Family Service of Greater Santa Barbara + —Jewish Contact: Ruth Steinberg, (805) 957-1116 + Cottage Health — (805) 569-7501; cottagehealth.org for Congregational Trauma and Growth + —Institute Contact: Kate Wiebe, kwiebe@ictg.org

62299 English

New Year….New Job…New Team

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

We are actively recruiting for jobs at our sister company MarBorg Recovery-new state-of-theart recycling center located at the Tajiguas Landfill. Interested in making a difference by reducing waste and generating renewable energy?

Positions Available: • Line Supervisors • Heavy Equipment Operators • FE Loader/Forklift Operators

• Sorters • Electrician/Instrumentation • Mechanics & Helpers

Reclaim your career and join MarBorg Recovery team for the long haul.

Email us your resume at HR@marborgrecovery.com or apply online at www.marborg.com. Please reference Tajiguas.

Delivering a modern real estate experience to Santa Barbara and its coastal communities.

Angie Guiberteau — REALTOR® 805.699.1149 angie@angieguiberteau.com DRE 02040148 Angie Guiberteau is a licensed REALTOR® by the state of California affiliated with Compass. Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License number 01991628.

Evacuating Your Pets They Need a Plan, Too

Preparing supplies and arranging safe pet transportation in advance can save critical time during a disaster or evacuation.

CAT & DOG CHECKLIST medical conditions or behavioral tendencies, these should be noted too.

Tags/Identification: Make sure your

Food, Water, Medicine: Put together a 3-5-day supply of food, water, and, if needed, medicine, with brief instructions.

Waste: Have supplies to dispose of waste, including plastic bags, litter, and scoopers.

Transportation: Make sure you have a kennel or carrying case handy. It should be labeled with your name and contact info, as well as the name of your pet, in case you get sepa separated. Include necessary leashes or harnesses. If your pet has any critical

Veterinary Records: Pack a copy of your pet’s veterinary records, including vaccination and medical history, as well as your vet’s contact info.

Picture: Keep an image of your pet with you for identification purposes in case you get separated.

Lodging: Identify a safe place you can take your pet in case of evacuation. Communicate

with local hotels or animal facilities about their emergency boarding policies. Make sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations, or it may be turned away from boarding facilities. Identify at least one family member or close friend that could take custody of your pet in case of an emergency.

Comfort Item: Pack your pet’s favorite stuffed animal, toy, or blanket to comfort them and keep them occupied. Pets will be distressed in an emergency just like humans. Emergency Rescue Sticker: These stickers should be placed on the doors of your home to indicate there may be pets inside that need rescuing. They can be ordered online through the ASPCA at aspca.org.

More Resources (*Offers emergency boarding services)

County Animal Services*:

(805) 681-5285; countyofsb.org

County Animal Services Emergency Hotline:

(805) 681-4332

Communication Tips is best when using a mobile + Text phone. If you have to make a call,

Santa Barbara Humane Society*:

(805) 964-4777; sbhumanesociety.org

keep it brief. This will minimize network congestion and conserve battery power. Wait 10 seconds before redialing a number. If you redial too quickly, the data from the handset to the cell sites does not have enough time to clear, which clogs the network.

Santa Barbara Humane Society Emergency Hotline:

(805) 330-3330

City of Santa Barbara Animal Control*:

(805) 963-1513; santabarbaraca.gov

Earl Warren Showgrounds*:

(805) 687-0766; earlwarren.com

BUNS (Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter)*: (805) 683-0521; bunssb.org

VCA Care Specialty and Emergency Animal Hospital:

Conserve your mobile phone + battery by reducing the brightness of your screen, placing your phone in airplane mode, and closing apps you do not need. Keep charged external batteries, a car phone charger, and/or a solar charger available for backup power.

(805) 899-2273; vcahospitals.com/care

Advanced Veterinary Specialists:

(805) 729-4460; avs4pets.com

LOST YOUR PET? Call Santa Barbara County Animal Services at (805) 681-5285. After business hours, call the Santa Barbara Humane Society at (805) 564-6862. Online, report your lost pet at countyofsb.org. Visit PetHarbor.com to create lost reports or look for stray animals.

Maintain a household landline and analog phone (with battery backup if it has a cordless receiver) that

can be used when mobile service is unavailable. you evacuate and have a + Ifcall-forwarding feature on your

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

pet is wearing all its identification tags, including name, rabies tag, and regis registration. Consider microchipping your pet so it can be identified if it ends up at a shelter or veterinary office.

home landline, forward your home line to your mobile phone. the internet to communicate by + Use email, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media networks. The internet can also be used for telephone calls through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). If you do not have a mobile + phone, buy and keep a prepaid phone card a pay phone if available. + Use The line may be less congested because pay phones don’t rely on electricity or mobile networks.

GET INVOLVED, GET TRAINED There’s no shortage of volunteer opportunities around. It’s the same with CPR, First Aid, and CERT trainings. You just need to know where to look:

CERT TRAINING

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

The CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program trains people in basic disaster-response skills, including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and medical operations. Using classroom trainings and in-person exercises, CERT members can help neighbors or coworkers in an emergency when professional responders are not immediately available.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department + mike.eliason@sbcfire.com; (805) 681-5556 Barbara City Fire Department + Santa ymcglinchey@santabarbaraca.gov; (805) 564-5711 Santa Barbara/Isla Vista + UC james.caesar@ucsb.edu; (805) 450-1437 City of Carpinteria + mimia@ci.carpinteria.ca.gov; (805) 755-4401 of Goleta + City cert@cityofgoleta.org; (805) 690-5119

+ City of Lompoc

C_Ruda@ci.lompoc.ca.gov; (805) 736-4513

+ City of Santa Maria/City of Guadalupe rdugger@cityofsantamaria.org; (805) 925-0951

CPR AND FIRST AID TRAINING Central + American Red Cross, redcross.org; (805) 687-1331 California Region + Channel Islands YMCA Association (805) 569-1109; ciymca.org

+ REI (805)-560-1938 + Stop the Bleed: Safety Matters Certified Training

cprtrainingsb.com; (805) 705-9222

VOLUNTEER Barbara County Promoters Network + Santa sbcpromotersnetwork.weebly.com

+ Direct Relief International directrelief.org American Red Cross, Central California Region + redcross.org; (805) 687-1331 for Humanity for Southern Santa Barbara County + Habitat sbhabitat.org; (805) 692-2226

+ Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade sbbucketbrigade.org Barbara Response Network + Santa sbresponsenetwork.org; (805) 699-5608

LISTOS TRAINING

Action + Montecito Emergency Response & Recoverymerrag.org

Listos is a basic public education program in emergency and disaster preparedness for Spanish-speaking communities, with a

+ Foodbank of Santa Barbara County foodbanksbc.org/disasterrelief/

2019

BEST Santa Barbara

WINNER

focus on individuals, their families, and their homes. cfalistos.org; (805) 284-2045

Group, or MERRAG, pronounced “mirage”

Over $1 million to local nonprofits in the aftermath of the 1/9 Debris Flow for recovery & preparedness efforts.

Learn more at SBFoundation.org/WeCare

Safety Training Builds Resilience

Santa Barbara

Learn Life Saving Skills

CPR/AED/ Basic Life Support Basic First Aid Opioid Overdose & Bystander Use of Naloxone

Advanced Bleeding Control Internet RCP/DEA y Primeros Auxilios CON CERTIFICACIÃ&#x201C;N

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

The Santa Barbara Foundation understands the long-term impact of disasters and continues to support our community and our neighbors.

Visit www.CPRtrainingsb.com or call 805-705-9222 Located at 4141 State St. in the El Mercado Plaza

Extra copies of this guide are available

is online at independent.com/disasterprep2020

INDY HQ, 12 EAST FIGUEROA STREET FOR GROUP REQUESTS, PLEASE EMAIL

GRAHAM@INDEPENDENT.COM 17

Family Emergency Plan

Dangerous weather and wildfire can catch anyone off guard. If you and your home face imminent danger, the best course of action is to leave right away. However, there’s often enough time to pack your bags and follow a plan. You just need to come up with one first. Follow these 10 steps to create your Family Emergency Plan.

Select your emergency contacts:

Identify the threats in your specific area:  Fire  Flooding  Debris Flow  Tsunami  Extreme heat or cold

JANUARY 30, 2O20 + DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE + SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

 Neighborhood hazards (overhead electrical lines, gas pipelines, chemical storage tanks, etc.)

Pick meeting places: Outside your home:

Local

Out of area

Name:

Address:

Cell phone:

Home phone:

Email:

Out of state

Outside your neighborhood:

Name: Address:

Know your evacuation route:

Cell phone: Home phone: Email:

Know the location of utility shutoffs: Water:

Gas:

Electricity:

Know the emergency policies of schools and adult-care centers:

Find safe spots in each room to take cover (under study tables or desks, against interior walls, etc.) Master bedroom: Kitchen:

Kids’ room(s):

Living room:

Dining room:

Identify critical medications and medical equipment: Make special provisions for: Children:

Seniors:

People with disabilities:

Schedule an annual date to update and drill your plan:

Pets: Non-English speaking: