August 12, 2009
Jennifer Bailey • August 12, 2009
Though some areas are more prone to certain types of disasters, for example an earthquake in California or terrorist attacks in New York, no area on Earth is completely immune.
As much as people travel these days, you might end up somewhere in a disaster that you never considered before.
There is nothing smarter than being prepared for the unexpected.
There are two types of trauma: physical and mental. Physical trauma includes the body's response to serious injury and threat.
Studies of survivors have found that people who had thought about possible disastrous events in advance reacted faster and better than people who had not. You do not want to have to think during a disaster, you want to react appropriately and quickly.
No one wants to dwell on scary things, but planning evacuation routes out of your home and knowing where you would go is just like knowing where the exits are at the movie theater or having a smoke detector in your home.
Showing posts with label terrorist attack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label terrorist attack. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Preparing for disasters can be simple, economical - Statesman Journal
July 22, 2009
Don't hide your head in the sand.
Is being prepared for an emergency too difficult, too time-consuming, too expensive or just too scary? Would we rather ignore it all and hope for the best?
How long did it take the fire department to educate the public on the need for a smoke detector in the home, and why do we get more preparedness info on an airline flight than we get as citizens about disaster?
I would be very interested in your thoughts on this subject. You tell me — how can I get people to be ready to take care of themselves for at least 72 hours? How can I get them to think through the possibility that they may have to either stay home with no power, water and phone, or may have to leave in a hurry with their pets and possibly on foot?
We might have advance warning of a flood, windstorm, snowstorm or even a pandemic flu, but we won't be warned ahead of time for an earthquake. We won't be warned if a truck carrying chemicals has a wreck on the freeway, a plane crashes on Interstate 5 or if there is a school shooting.
No one is going to tell us the week before to get ready for a terrorist attack.
There are simple and economical things we can do to drastically improve our emergency readiness.
Check out the Oregon Emergency Management blog for a list of items you want to have on hand and please write with any questions you might have. We don't have to be afraid — just ready.
Jennifer Bailey, formerly of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is the Public Affairs Coordinator of Oregon Emergency Management. She may be reached at (503) 378-2911, Ext. 22294, or jbailey@oem.state.or.us.
Please send questions about emergency preparedness to be answered in this column to jbailey@oem.state.or.us. Other information may be found at www.oregon.gov/omd/oem or www.fema.gov.
Don't hide your head in the sand.
Is being prepared for an emergency too difficult, too time-consuming, too expensive or just too scary? Would we rather ignore it all and hope for the best?
How long did it take the fire department to educate the public on the need for a smoke detector in the home, and why do we get more preparedness info on an airline flight than we get as citizens about disaster?
I would be very interested in your thoughts on this subject. You tell me — how can I get people to be ready to take care of themselves for at least 72 hours? How can I get them to think through the possibility that they may have to either stay home with no power, water and phone, or may have to leave in a hurry with their pets and possibly on foot?
We might have advance warning of a flood, windstorm, snowstorm or even a pandemic flu, but we won't be warned ahead of time for an earthquake. We won't be warned if a truck carrying chemicals has a wreck on the freeway, a plane crashes on Interstate 5 or if there is a school shooting.
No one is going to tell us the week before to get ready for a terrorist attack.
There are simple and economical things we can do to drastically improve our emergency readiness.
Check out the Oregon Emergency Management blog for a list of items you want to have on hand and please write with any questions you might have. We don't have to be afraid — just ready.
Jennifer Bailey, formerly of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is the Public Affairs Coordinator of Oregon Emergency Management. She may be reached at (503) 378-2911, Ext. 22294, or jbailey@oem.state.or.us.
Please send questions about emergency preparedness to be answered in this column to jbailey@oem.state.or.us. Other information may be found at www.oregon.gov/omd/oem or www.fema.gov.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Statesman Journal OEM column June 24
June 24, 2009
It's important to be prepared.
All areas are vulnerable to any type of disaster.
The recent thunderstorms and tornado watch was another disaster preparedness wake-up call. Will we pay attention? Will we be ready to care for ourselves when the power goes out and the roads are closed?
It is sometimes difficult for people to understand the importance of being prepared for disasters even though we wouldn't think of living in a home without a smoke detector.
Here are four statements I hear regularly — did any of these come from you?
"If something happens, all I have to do is call 911" — during a major disaster, help is limited and can only get there so fast. Roads often are blocked.
"All I need is a 72-hour kit with a flashlight, some food and water and a radio" — 72 hours is the minimal amount of time you need to be self-sufficient. Two or more weeks would be better.
"Good preparedness is too expensive and too complicated" — If you can't afford to purchase a ready-made kit, purchase one or two items each week with your regular grocery shopping.
"Nothing really bad ever happens here" — You may have noticed that in the past few years, Oregon has had more and more disasters. No area is immune. Consider the possibilities of flood, earthquake, chemical spill, school shooting, thunderstorms, terrorist attack, snow storm, landslides, etc. Any of these could cause you to be isolated at home for several days.
Remember, there will always be someone needier than you and the more prepared you are, the more you free up resources so they can help those less fortunate.
Jennifer Bailey, formerly of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is the Public Affairs Coordinator of Oregon Emergency Management. She may be reached at (503) 378-2911, Ext. 22294, or jbailey@oem.state.or.us. Additional Facts
Learn more
Send questions about emergency preparedness to be answered in this column to jbailey@oem.state.or.us. Other information may be found at www.oregon. gov/omd/oem or www.fema.gov.
It's important to be prepared.
All areas are vulnerable to any type of disaster.
The recent thunderstorms and tornado watch was another disaster preparedness wake-up call. Will we pay attention? Will we be ready to care for ourselves when the power goes out and the roads are closed?
It is sometimes difficult for people to understand the importance of being prepared for disasters even though we wouldn't think of living in a home without a smoke detector.
Here are four statements I hear regularly — did any of these come from you?
"If something happens, all I have to do is call 911" — during a major disaster, help is limited and can only get there so fast. Roads often are blocked.
"All I need is a 72-hour kit with a flashlight, some food and water and a radio" — 72 hours is the minimal amount of time you need to be self-sufficient. Two or more weeks would be better.
"Good preparedness is too expensive and too complicated" — If you can't afford to purchase a ready-made kit, purchase one or two items each week with your regular grocery shopping.
"Nothing really bad ever happens here" — You may have noticed that in the past few years, Oregon has had more and more disasters. No area is immune. Consider the possibilities of flood, earthquake, chemical spill, school shooting, thunderstorms, terrorist attack, snow storm, landslides, etc. Any of these could cause you to be isolated at home for several days.
Remember, there will always be someone needier than you and the more prepared you are, the more you free up resources so they can help those less fortunate.
Jennifer Bailey, formerly of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is the Public Affairs Coordinator of Oregon Emergency Management. She may be reached at (503) 378-2911, Ext. 22294, or jbailey@oem.state.or.us. Additional Facts
Learn more
Send questions about emergency preparedness to be answered in this column to jbailey@oem.state.or.us. Other information may be found at www.oregon. gov/omd/oem or www.fema.gov.
Friday, June 19, 2009
The Cost of being unprepared
I'm finding it difficult to convince individuals and families of the importance of being prepared in advance for a disaster. This is especially difficult during the summer months when the weather is nice, school is out and vacations are planned.
Oregon has been fortunate that we haven't had many terrible disasters, but that is no reason to be apathetic to the dangers and possibilities. Just because you haven't had a house fire doesn't mean you would go without a smoke detector, does it?
I am so passionate about this because I spent six years with FEMA traveling from disaster to disaster all over the country. I have SEEN the unprepared. I have talked to them while they are crying. I spoke to one woman on the phone in Mississippi who was in terrible need but no one could get to her because all road and bridges were destroyed and we were out of helicopters. She wasn't prepared to take care of herself for even a few days.
No matter what you may think of or hear about FEMA as an agency, just remember that those on the ground were doing the best they could with what they were given. The first responders have to prioritize. There are not enough of them to go around. If you can take care of yourself and your family for at least 3 days (72 hours) or more, not only will you be more comfortable, but you will really help your community by not being a burden. The 911 call centers will be overrun, possible down. Power may be out, cell phone too. Please take this small step and get a kit together of the most necessary items and put them in one place.
If you are like me and busy and/or too lazy (me again) to make a kit, order one online. There are many companies out there. Google emergency kits. I have ordered from www.quakedog.com/emergencykits72 and have found their kits to be reasonable and well made.
I could and may tell you many stories about my years with FEMA if it is the only way to get you to understand. There is the possibility here of earthquakes, thunderstorms, floods, chemical spills, terrorist attacks, school shooting, bombings, snow storms, tsunamis, fires, and more. Don't think that just because we haven't had some in the past, we won't have them in the future. Our Katrina is coming. Please be prepared.
Oregon has been fortunate that we haven't had many terrible disasters, but that is no reason to be apathetic to the dangers and possibilities. Just because you haven't had a house fire doesn't mean you would go without a smoke detector, does it?
I am so passionate about this because I spent six years with FEMA traveling from disaster to disaster all over the country. I have SEEN the unprepared. I have talked to them while they are crying. I spoke to one woman on the phone in Mississippi who was in terrible need but no one could get to her because all road and bridges were destroyed and we were out of helicopters. She wasn't prepared to take care of herself for even a few days.
No matter what you may think of or hear about FEMA as an agency, just remember that those on the ground were doing the best they could with what they were given. The first responders have to prioritize. There are not enough of them to go around. If you can take care of yourself and your family for at least 3 days (72 hours) or more, not only will you be more comfortable, but you will really help your community by not being a burden. The 911 call centers will be overrun, possible down. Power may be out, cell phone too. Please take this small step and get a kit together of the most necessary items and put them in one place.
If you are like me and busy and/or too lazy (me again) to make a kit, order one online. There are many companies out there. Google emergency kits. I have ordered from www.quakedog.com/emergencykits72 and have found their kits to be reasonable and well made.
I could and may tell you many stories about my years with FEMA if it is the only way to get you to understand. There is the possibility here of earthquakes, thunderstorms, floods, chemical spills, terrorist attacks, school shooting, bombings, snow storms, tsunamis, fires, and more. Don't think that just because we haven't had some in the past, we won't have them in the future. Our Katrina is coming. Please be prepared.
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