Fwd: MEMA News Release Family Hurricane Preparedness

MEMA OFFERS TIPS FOR FAMILY HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

 

"As we enter the 2013 Hurricane Season, which has been forecasted to be very active, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is offering personal preparedness tips for the all of the citizens of the Commonwealth," stated MEMA Director Kurt Schwartz.  "The three key areas are to build a kit, create a plan and stay informed." 

 

Build an Emergency Kit

Every home and business should have a stocked basic emergency supply kit that could be used for any emergency, regardless of the time of year. Everyone should keep certain items around the house and workplace in the event you are isolated for three to five days without power or unable to go to a store. While some items, such as bottled water, food, flashlight, radio and extra batteries, a first aid kit, sanitation items and clothing should be in everyone's kit, it is important to customize the kit for the needs of you and your family.  Consider adding medications, extra eyeglasses, contact lenses, dentures, extra batteries for hearing aids, wheelchairs, or other medical equipment, oxygen tanks, children's items, food & supplies for pets and service animals and any other items your family might need. A list of allergies, medications and dosages, medical insurance information, medical records and serial numbers of medical devices will provide additional information during an emergency. See attached emergency kit for full list.

 

You may also consider making a mobile "go-bag" version of your emergency kit in case you need to evacuate to a shelter or other location, as an emergency shelter may not have all the items you need. At least annually, check your kit for any food, water, batteries, or other items that may need to be replaced or have expired.

 

Create a Family Emergency Communications Plan

Develop a Family Emergency Communications Plan in case family members are separated from one another during an emergency (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school, camp or at a friend's house). This plan should also address reunification after the immediate crisis passes.

Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the Family Emergency Communications Plan contact person.  During and immediately after a disaster occurs, it is often easier to access a long distance  telephone number than a local one. Also, calling outside a disaster area is usually easier than calling into the same area. Text messages and the internet often have the ability to work in the event of phone service disruption or congestion.

·       Keep a list of important contact phone numbers (particularly if your cell phone is lost or dead). Make sure everyone knows the name, address and telephone number of the Family Emergency Communications Plan contact person. Children should know their parent/ caregiver's full name, home address, and an emergency contact number.

·       Create a personal support network and a list of contacts that include caregivers, friends, family, neighbors, service/ care providers, and others who might be able to assist during an emergency.

·       Designate two meeting areas for family members – one within your community (your primary location), and one outside of your community (your alternate location). Sometimes an emergency could impact your neighborhood or small section of the community, so a second location outside of your community would be more accessible to all family members.

·       Know the emergency plans of locations where your family might be (work, school, daycare) to understand what might happen during an emergency.

A Family Emergency Communications Plan can help reassure everyone's safety and minimize the stress associated with emergencies.

 

Stay Informed

Know what potential risks your community and neighborhood are susceptible to in a hurricane, such as storm surge, flooding, road or bridge closures, etc. Learn how local authorities will warn you of a pending or current disaster situation and how they will provide information to you before, during and after a disaster. Remember that if their plan is not perfect then your personal plan will need to fill those gaps. Carefully monitor the media and promptly follow instructions from public safety officials as a storm approaches. Be aware of severe weather warnings and watches, which can be obtained from media sources, the National Weather Service, a NOAA all-hazards radio, and on your cell phone. In addition, sign up for your community's emergency alerting system to get local information.

 

Mass 2-1-1 is the Commonwealth's primary telephone call center during times of an emergency and is able to provide information on emergency resources. This system is free to the public, available 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week, confidential, multilingual, and TTY compatible. Consider all the ways you might get information during an incident (radio, TV, internet, cell phone, landline, etc) in case one or more of those systems stops working.

 

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and Preparedness, go to www.mass.gov/mema. Also, continue to follow MEMA updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MassEMA; Facebook at www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA. Download the free ping4alert! app to your Smartphone to receive important weather alerts and emergency messages from MEMA.  Easy instructions are available at www.mass.gov/mema/mobileappp.

 

SUGGESTED ALL-HAZARDS EMERGENCY KIT

 

q  Bottled water (1 gallon per person/per day for 3 days)

q  Canned goods and nonperishable foods, particularly those that do not need cooking:

·       Canned meats and fish

·       Canned fruits and vegetables

·       Canned soups and puddings

·       Canned fruit juices

·       Dried fruit and nuts

·       Bread, cookies and crackers

·       Peanut butter and jelly

·       Coffee and tea

q  Manual can opener

q  Radio (battery-powered or hand crank), NOAA Weather Radio and extra batteries

q  Flashlight or lantern, with extra batteries

q  First aid kit

q  Diapers, wipes, baby food, formula, if needed

q  Pet food, supplies, tag, crates, if needed

q  Prescription medications (2-week supply)

q  Extra eyeglasses, contact lenses, and dentures

q  Extra batteries for hearing aids, wheelchairs, or other medical equipment,

q  Medical oxygen tanks

q  Whistle to signal for help

q  Moist towelettes, garbage bags, soap, sanitizer, and other personal hygiene items

q  Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

q  Watch or battery operated clock

q  Copies of important documents and IDs

q  Cell phone and charger (also an auto, solar, or crank charger in case power is out)

q  Cash

q  Water purification tablets and household chlorine bleach

q  Camp stove or grill (outdoor use only) with fuel or Sterno and waterproof matches or lighter

q  Change of clothes and sturdy shoes

q  Sleeping bags or blankets

q  Disposable plates, cups, and utensils

q  Seasonal items such as warm clothes, hat and gloves for winter and sunscreen for summer

q  Books, games, puzzles and other comfort items

q  Duct tape

q  Plastic sheeting or tarp