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Survival-Storms : Surviving the Aftermath of a Hurricane, Tornado, or Floods
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From: MSN NicknameUSAPatriot_Wizard  (Original Message)Sent: 8/11/2005 7:45 PM
 
Surviving the Aftermath of a Hurricane, Tornado, or Floods

CPSC Warns of Post-Storm Hazards from Generators, Candles, and Wet Appliances
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. �?The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns of dangers from generators, candles, and wet appliances after a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, or flood knocks out electricity.
 
The Commission offers these safety tips:
Never use a generator indoors, including garages, basements, and crawlspaces, even with ventilation. Exhaust fumes contain high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) which can be deadly if inhaled. Use a portable generator outdoors in a dry area away from doors, windows, and vents that could allow CO to come indoors. Never store gasoline in the home or near a fuel-burning appliance, such as a natural gas water heater in a garage where gasoline fumes could be ignited. CPSC has more details about safe use of generators at: www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/portgen.pdf
 
Plug individual appliances into heavy duty, outdoor-rated extension cords and plug the cords into the generator. Check that the extension cords have a wire gauge adequate for the appliance loads. Make sure that each cord is free of cuts or tears and its plug has all three prongs, especially a grounding pin.
 
Do not use electrical or gas appliances that have been wet and do not turn on damaged appliances because of the hazards of electric shock or fire. Do not use gas appliances that have been submerged because silt can make valves inoperable, leading to a gas leak or fire.
 
Never use charcoal indoors because burning charcoal produces high levels of carbon monoxide that can reach lethal levels in enclosed spaces.
 
Make sure the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm are fresh. Test these alarms to make sure they are working.
 
Exercise caution when using candles. Use flashlights instead. If you must use candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Keep burning candles away from drafts. Never leave burning candles unattended.
 
Extinguish candles when you leave the room.


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From: MSN NicknameUSAPatriot_WizardSent: 8/11/2005 7:46 PM

Why Prepare for a Disaster?

Disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Each disaster has lasting effects-people are seriously injured, some are killed, and property damage runs into the billions of dollars.

If a disaster occurs in your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations try to help you. But you need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere.

Being prepared and understanding what to do can reduce fear, anxiety and losses that accompany disasters. Communities, families and individuals should know what to do in a fire and where to seek shelter in a tornado. They should be ready to evacuate their homes, take refuge in public shelters and know how to care for their basic medical needs.

People can also reduce the impact of disasters (flood proofing, elevating a home-or moving a home out of harms way, securing items that could shake loose in an earthquake) and sometimes avoid the danger altogether.

You should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster that could occur in your area-hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme cold or flooding. You should also be ready to be self sufficient for at least three days. This may mean providing for your own shelter, first aid, food, water and sanitation.

 When under stress, people can become irritable, fatigued, hyperactive, angry and withdrawn. Children and older adults are especially vulnerable to post-disaster psychological effects.

d. Include everyone in the planning process. Teach children how to respond to emergencies. Give them a sense of what to expect. Being prepared, understanding your risks and taking steps to reduce those risks can reduce the damages caused by hazards.

What You Should Do

First, ask your local emergency management office which disasters could strike your community. They will know your community's risks. You may be aware of some of them; others may surprise you. Also ask for any information that might help you prepare and possibly reduce the risks you face. Consider getting involved in local emergency preparedness and response activities by volunteering in your community. One way is to participate as a Citizen Corps community volunteer.