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Disaster Preparedness

No one can predict when and how long you might be displaced from your home when disaster strikes. Being prepared will lessen the stress.

 

Create a Plan

  • Discuss with family members a contact plan and place.
  • Identify responsibilities of each member of the household.
  • Develop a contingency plan for family members with disabilities or special medical needs.
  • Identify an out-of-town contact person or place, or local community shelter, where you might go, if you must vacate your home.

 

Make an Emergency Kit

  • Flashlights and extra batteries
  • Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio
  • Three day supply of non-perishable food items
  • Water, 3 gallons per person
  • Medications and first-aid supplies
  • Sanitation and personal hygiene items
  • Multi-purpose tool
  • Copies of personal documents and forms of identification
  • Cell phone chargers
  • Cash
  • Blankets
  • Pet supplies

 

Portable Generators

  • Operate generators outdoors in a well-ventilated area, away from doors, windows, and vents, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Do not run a generator in a garage, even with the door open.
  • Observe the generator manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation.
  • Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as “backfeeding.” This creates an electrocution risk and is extremely dangerous for utility workers and neighbors served by the same electric transformer.
  • Notify CU that you have a generator when reporting an outage.

 

Avoid Carbon Monoxide

  • DO NOT use a charcoal grill indoors, even in a fireplace.
  • DO NOT sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.
  • DO NOT use a gas range or oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
  • DO NOT ignore symptoms of illness, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness and die if you do nothing.
  • DO NOT strike any matches until you are certain there are no gas leaks.

 

Other Emergency Management Resources