Disasters and Emergencies

Things You Can Do

After All Disasters

• Check for injuries and give first aid. Help your neighbors.
• To make water safe, boil it for 5 minutes or add iodine tablets.
• Listen to the radio for information and instructions.

Earthquakes

• Indoors? Get under a door frame or sturdy furniture or next to an inside wall. Stay away from windows.
• Outdoors? Stay away from buildings and overhead wires. In your car? Pull away from overpasses and power lines. Stop and stay in your car.
• Smell gas? Shut off the main supply. Leaking gas can cause fires.
• If you don’t smell gas, don’t turn it off. You will have to wait for a company service person to turn it on again. But to be safe, don’t light matches.

Fire Safety

• Ask your fire department to make a free safety inspection.
• Install smoke alarms and make sure the batteries work.
• Keep at least one ABC-type fire extinguisher in your home. It puts out oil, electrical, paper and wood fires.
• Make a fire escape plan. Practice it with your family.
• If you put bars on windows, make sure they are quick-release.
• If there is a fire, get everyone out. Stay close to the floor to avoid smoke and crawl out of the burning area. Smoke can kill. Call 9-1-1.
• If your clothes catch fire, roll on the floor to put the flames out. If your child’s clothes catch fire, smother the flames with a blanket.
• Cigarettes are a major cause of home fires and burns.

Floods

• To avoid electric shocks, unplug electrical cords before they get wet.
• Have a plan to move to higher ground.
• Leave a note telling where you have gone.
• Do not eat food or drink water that has been exposed to flood water.

Poisoning

If someone has swallowed, inhaled or been exposed to anything toxic, call 9-1-1 or Poison Action Line.