EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Emergency responders rescue residents whose homes were flooded during the May 2010 floods. JENNIFER EASTON/FILE Consult with your local emergency management office and learn about the hazards that might strike your area and how your community is prepared to respond to emergencies.
Develop a family disaster plan that addresses the following: » Draw a floor map of your home with two escape routes from each room and post copies at several locations; define a meeting place outside.
» Plan how family members will contact one another if separated: phones, radios, information cards. » Make sure you know how to properly shut off utilities such as natural gas, water and electricity.
Preserving property » Consider purchasing the appropriate (tornado/flood/ earthquake) insurance to reduce losses. » Make a record, take interior photo or a video of your belongings for insurance purposes. » Store important docu-
mentation in a safety deposit box outside home. » Consider saving money in a separate account for use during crisis. » Check with emergency services how to assist family members with special needs. » Make sure family members know how to administer first aid, CPR and use a fire extinguisher. » Prepare supplies, carriers and leashes to quickly evacuate pets. » Assemble disaster supply kit: prepare food, water, clothing and other supplies for at least three days. » Know where the closest
shelter is and the safest way to reach it; avoid vehicles. » Get constant weather updates from radio or TV. » The plan must be practiced regularly. Ask questions to make sure family members remember meeting places, phone numbers and safety rules; conduct drills such as drop, cover and hold on for earthquakes; test fire alarms; replace and update supplies. For more information, call the Sumner County Emergency Management Agency at 452-7584 or visit sumnerema.org.
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