Being Prepared

for an Emergency

In Utah

By: Aubrianna Tawzer, Gabriel Rogel Cuevas, Jamal Sadeq, Jarded

Wallenmeyer, and Jesse Larsen

Overview

Table of contents

What would you do if you were faced with a major disaster? Would you be prepared? Would

you know what to do? Along the Wasatch Front, we are at risk for such things as wind,

snow, rain, flooding, earthquakes, and fire. It’s important to know what may affect you and

your family. When you know what risks you face, you can begin to prepare.

This booklet is a quick reference guide to help you know what to be aware of and how to begin to

prepare for these situations. We have also included a checklist for an emergency 72-hour kit, and a

page of references where you can find more complete information on how to plan and prepare.

Once a plan is in place, hold a meeting with your family to discuss evacuation routes, meeting plac-

es, and who to contact outside the immediate area in case local communication is down. It’s also

important that all responsible people in the home know how to shut off gas, water, and power in an

emergency, and ensure paths to those places are accessible and free of clutter.

Fire pg. 4

Windy Conditions pg. 5

Storms and Blizzards pg. 6

Earthquakes pg. 7

Medical Emergencies pg. 8

Other Emergencies pg. 8

Home Emergency Kit pg. 9

Car Emergency Kit pg. 9

Tips pg. 10

Useful Sites pg. 10

Notes pg. 11

Fire

Make your home fire safe

Install a battery-powered smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on

each additional level of your home.

Check each smoke detector once a month. Replace batteries at least once a

year.

Have a working fire extinguisher. Be trained how to use it.

Have written instructions on how to turn off utilities at your

house.

Conduct periodic fire drills, review what to do when there is

Fire causes more deaths than any other type of disaster. But fire doesn't have to be deadly if you

have an early warning from a smoke detector and everyone in your family knows how to escape

calmly. Be proactive!

Plan your escape routes

Have two ways to escape from every

room of your home. If you must use an

escape ladder, know how to use it

properly.

Select a location outside your home

where everyone would meet after es-

caping.

Practice your escape plan at least twice

a year.

Escape safely

If you are escaping through a closed door, feel the

door before opening it. If it is hot, use your second

way out.

If flames block your exit routes, stay in the room

with the door closed. Signal for help using a bright-

colored cloth at the widow.

If there is a telephone in the room, call the fire de-

partment and tell them where you are.

If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the

smoke to escape.

Windy Conditions

High Wind Driving Safety Tips

Plan ahead, leave early, leave extra

time

Always wear a seatbelt

Drive at a safe speed and turn on

headlights for lower visibility

Keep your hands firmly on the wheel

Be aware of and maintain safe

distances from other vehicles near you

Watch for objects that could potentially

blow into the roadway

When arriving at your destination, avoid

parking near trees, downed power lines

and buildings

High Wind Home Safety Tips

Anchor down anything that can become

a missile or move inside

Replace gravel and rock landscaping

Trim trees and shrubberies

Keep supplies and tools for cleanup

and repairs

High winds are an often overlooked driving

danger that can cause crashes. High winds

are not unusual in Utah, and extreme

caution should be used when driving a car

in high winds or any type of severe

weather.

High winds due to thunderstorms, tornadoes and other wind events are not just a coastal issue and

cause millions of dollars in property damage each year.

Storms and Blizzards

Lightning

You are in danger of lightning if you can hear

thunder. Lightning can strike as far away as ten

miles from rain.

Protect yourself during a thunderstorm or light-

ning storm. Stay away from open doors, fire-

places, radiators, stoves, metal pipes, sinks,

appliances.

If you're outside and don't have time to get in-

doors, be sure to avoid isolated trees or struc-

tures. Stay away from water or anything metal.

Keep low to the ground but don’t lie flat!

If you feel an electrical charge – if your hair

stands on end or your skin tingles – squat low to

the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your

hands over your ears and your head between

your knees.

Snowstorms

Before a storm

Arrange for emergency heat supply in case of power failure.

Blankets, candles, wood-burning or gas fireplace.

Caution: never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other

gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning devices

indoors

During and after the storm

If you are home, stay in your house. Use emergency supplies kit.

Avoid travel. Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerous-

ly low temperatures. Wear layers. Cover your mouth and nose to

protect your lungs from extremely cold air. Avoid overexertion.

Heart attacks are a major cause of death during and after winter

storms. Be prepared for isolation in case you are stuck in your

home for a week or two.

If Trapped in Your Car

Stay with your car for visibility and warmth. Use a candle to keep

warm. Run the motor for only 10 minutes each hour for heat with a

rear window open slightly for ventilation. Make sure the exhaust

pipe isn’t blocked.

Flood

Before a flood

Know the elevation of your property in relation to flood plains, streams and other waterways.

Plan what to do and know where to go, in case of flood. Have 72 hour kits available.

Consider flood insurance.

In Case of Evacuation

Listen to local TV or radio for weather information and local evacuation shelters. If evacuated, shut off main power switch,

main gas valve, and water valve. Follow local evacuation routes. Never attempt to drive over a flooded road. Watch out for

damaged roads, mudslides and fallen wires. Abandon your vehicle immediately if it stalls and seek higher ground. Do not

attempt to cross a stream on foot where water is above your knees.

After a flood

Stay away from the evacuated area until given approval to return. Check for structural damage before entering. Do not use

food contaminated by flood water. Have a test kit to test drinking water for suitability. Avoid walking or playing in flood water.

Earthquake

How do I prepare for an earthquake?

Secure items that could potentially fall during shaking like mirrors, bookshelves and water heaters

Practice and know where you would drop and cover at either at home or your place of work.

Store critical supplies like food, water, clothing, toiletries

This can be done by buying two of things at the beginning and cycling through them using the oldest first.

What do I do during the quake?

Drop to the ground and crawl to safety. The ground will be shaking way too much to walk/run

How do I recover from a quake?

When the shaking stops, if you are in a public place get out to open air. There may be aftershocks that would cause more damage

If you are trapped under debris remain calm and do not try to get free. You may cause more damage by trying to muscle your way

out. Wait for assistance as long as possible and remain calm

Messages will travel better through text than call. A lot of people will be calling and it bogs down the phone lines and will be hard to

stay connected. Texting travels faster and requires less data connection to function.

If you have an emergency radio use it to listen to broadcasts and receive information that can be life saving

Surviving long after the quake

Use your regular food first before breaking into your emergency food

If you don’t have back up water or run out, your water heater can be used to drink. It is clean safe water.

Other Emergencies

Medical Emergencies

Breathing Difficulties - Difficulty breathing may be caused by a number of medical problems, including asthma or allergic

reaction. A victim of an allergic reaction may experience swelling especially of the face, breathing difficulty, an itching rash, shock and even death. Call 911

You may be able to assist the victim under the following conditions:

The victim states he/she is having an asthma attack and has medication or an inhaler.

The medication is prescribed to the victim.

The victim identifies his/her medication but is unable to administer it without assistance.

Seizures - The objectives during a seizure are to prevent further injury and to help maintain an open airway. Most seizures will

stop on their own after a few seconds. Do not restrain the victim during the seizure.

Move furniture away to protect the head.

Do not place anything in the victim’s mouth.

Placing something in the victim’s mouth is futile to prevent tongue injury, and may cause the victim to choke.

After a seizure the victim may be unconscious, confused or lethargic.

Place the victim on their side to allow oral secretions to drain out, and reassure the victim.

Heart Attacks - A heart attack is normally characterized as severe chest pain, but may be indicated by a number of other, more

subtle signs.

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that

goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck,

jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, vomiting or lightheadedness.

Other Emergencies Amber Alerts – Amber alert programs have helped save the lives of 495 children nationwide. Over 90 percent of those recover-

ies have occurred since October 2002.

Law enforcement must confirm that an abduction has taken place

The child is at risk of serious injury or death

There is sufficient descriptive information of child, captor or captor's vehicle to issue an amber alert.

Active Shooter - An active shooter is an individual killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. Typical-

ly, there is no pattern in the selection of victims in an active shooter incident. Common motives include, anger, revenge, ideology, and untreated mental illness.

Run

Warn individuals not to enter an area where the active shooter may be.

Have an escape route and plan in mind. Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.

Hide

Lock the door. Blockade the door with heavy furniture. Close, cover, and move away from windows.

Fight

Act as aggressively as possible against him/her. Throw items and improvise weapons. Yell. Commit to your actions.

Home Emergency Kit

Car Emergency Kit

Radio – Battery powered or multiple power source.

Maps – Keep maps specific to your location and circle shelter areas.

First aid kit – This should include items that can treat most minor occurrences.

Whistle – Can be used to signal for help.

Flashlights – Keep enough for everyone to have one. Maintain with fresh batteries.

Water – You should have at least 72 hours of water per person.

Water filter – You always need more clean water than less.

Fire starters – Fire can be used for many things beneficial to your situation.

Fire extinguisher – Prevent out of hand fires and can be used as a signal.

Food – You need to maintain a fresh supply of at least 72 hours.

Knives and Utensils – Protection, cooking, cleaning, and opening cans and packages.

Small stove or grill – Have appropriate amount of fuel to prepare your food.

Tool bag - Complete with anything you would need to repurpose or repair items.

Personal hygiene products – Anything needed to stay clean and healthy.

Trash bags – These may be used for many things so keep a large supply.

Personal documents – Keep copies of documents in a waterproof container.

Jumper Cables

Small Tool Kit

First Aid Kit

Road Flares

Warning Triangles

Compressed Tire Sealant

Fire Extinguisher

Flashlight with plenty of batteries

Gloves

Rags

Tow Strap

Snacks

Drinking Water

Extra change of clothes

Blanket

Kitty Litter--

Hand Warmers

Multi-purpose Knife

Tips and Useful sites

Tips Designate two meeting places to meet after a disaster. Choose one right outside your home, in

case of a sudden house emergency. The second place you choose needs to be outside your neighborhood, in case that it is not safe to stay near or return home. Find at least two ways out of each room, from your home.

Choose an emergency contact out of state you and love ones can contact. The contact can share

with other family members where you are; how you are doing; and how to get in contact with you. Find out in advance how to care for your pets and working animals. Have a 90 day supply of medication needed for serious health problems. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together during an emergency. Find out if anyone

has specialized equipment like a power generator, or expertise such as medical knowledge. Choose food for your kit that have a long shelf-life and will not spoil and you and your family like,

do not require cooking, and can be easily stored. Choose foods the have a low salt content as salty foods will make you thirstier. The kit should also have high energy foods, such as granola bars, raisins and peanut butter.

Locate the electric, gas and water shut-off valves. Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-

off valves. Teach adult family members how to turn off utilities. Put a reminder on your calendar to check every six months your plan, update numbers, and

check supplies to be sure nothing has expired, spoiled, or changed. Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person in your emergency sup-

ply kit. long pants and long sleeves for additional protection after an emergency are recommend-ed along with sturdy shoes, rain gear, blankets or sleeping bags.

Useful sites www.hsus.org www.ready.gov www.bereadyutah.gov www.emergency.cdc.gov www.redcross.org/prepare www.lds.org/topics/food-storage www.beprepared.com

Notes

This section has been reserved for taking notes specific to your personal needs.