CANDY CANES, MISTLETOE AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS?

Resolving to be Ready in 2011 - Important Gifts for Important People

SEATTLE – From winter storms, floods and even pandemic contagion— all disasters have one thing in common: they remind us of the importance of pre-disaster preparedness. But good intentions need to turn into tangible deeds, and according to FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy, there’s no time like the holidays to start, by resolving to be ready before disaster strikes.
“The holiday season is a great time to give important, inexpensive gifts that say: ‘I want you to be safe!’ and reduce risk exposure for friends and loved ones,” said Murphy. “Gifts that can save lives are a wonderful way of welcoming in 2011. The dialogue and the mindset that goes along with it may mean even more than the gift itself.”
The Resolve to be Ready in 2011 initiative is led by FEMA’s Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council. For more information on the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov.
Emergency and preparedness items that might make great gifts this Holiday Season include:
• Portable, battery powered radio with NOAA Weather Radio channels, and extra batteries.
• Enrollment in a CPR or first-aid class.
• GPS units for vehicles.
• Emergency generators.
• Emergency cell phones.
• Carbon Monoxide and Smoke detectors.
• Appropriate fire extinguishers (kitchen, garage, car).
• Disaster kits for homes, offices and autos (first aid kits, food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours, eyeglasses, extra clothing, blankets, flashlights, spare batteries, heavy-duty work gloves, and sturdy pair of shoes).
• Emergency escape ladders for second-story exit in a fire.
• Car kits (emergency flares, shovels, ice scrapers, flashlights and fluorescent distress flags).
• Pet Disaster kits (food, water, leashes, dishes and carrying case or crate).
• A camp stove with extra fuel.
• The gift of a gardener to cut back combustible vegetation from wildfire-vulnerable homes.
• National Flood Insurance.

-MORE-
Resolving to be Ready//Add One

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

What to do when the power goes out

Loss of electric power is very common in some areas of Oregon especially during winter storms. When the power goes out in the winter there are a few things you need to remember.

If the power is out all over the neighborhood or there are downed power lines, call the utility company to report the danger. Do NOT go near downed power lines and only call 9-1-1 if there is an emergency.

Listen to your battery-powered or car radio for news to find out when power might be restored and to get any other weather related instructions. Do not run your car in a closed garage.

Dress in layers and don’t forget that you lose heat through your hands and the top of your head. Wear gloves and a warm hat.

If you have a regular wood stove or fireplace, you can use it for heat. However, DO NOT USE kerosene heaters, BBQs, or any outdoor type heater inside. Such devices create poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas given off by combustion and could kill.

To avoid a power surge when the electricity returns, turn off major appliances, computers, TVs, stereos and other electronic equipment at the power source. Leave a light switch in the on position so you'll know when the power is restored.

If you have a generator, do not connect it to your home's power system unless it has been properly installed and disconnects you from the main power grid when it is operating. If you do not disconnect from the power grid, you can be sending electricity back down the lines; not just to your home. That could be deadly for power company workers.