The title refers to the first 72 hours after a disastrous event—like a wildland fire or the destruction of your home after earthquake or fire—when basic services are unavailable and police and fire are overwhelmed. Everyone should prepare for this three day period. JANUARY / F E B R UARY 2 0 1 4 53 Firewise in Napa County by Dave Robertson 3 DAYS IN ABox Be ready for the first 72 hours after a disaster “All residents in this area are required to leave under a mandatory evacuation order. Please leave your homes now.” Most of us think we’ll never hear such a thing. Not here. That happens overseas in cyclone-ridden areas or rural areas where access to adequate emergency services isn’t readily available. Yet with the Soda Canyon Fire just a few weeks ago, some Napa residents had to leave their homes to shelter in the Napa High gym. Thankfully the fire was expertly handled, resulting in no injuries and little to no damage to buildings, and it also meant that time away from their homes was limited to less than a day for the displaced residents. As mentioned in last month’s article about rural fire safety, though, living in an area as earthquake-prone and as semi-rural (i.e., high probability for wildland fire) as Napa, the chances of disaster striking and displacing you for a number of days are high and, some believe, are a matter of “when” not “if.” But merely surviving a disaster versus being safe, somewhat comfortable, and self-sufficient for those critical post-disaster three days are two very different things. The surviving part results not only from the good training and readiness of local authorities and first responders, but also from the attentiveness and willingness of affected citizens to stay calm and listen to the authorities. Managing oneself safely during a disaster is a matter of preparedness. Preparedness comes in many forms. Most are easy to attain or obtain. Perusing the California Office of Emergency Services site will provide much valuable information. The www.ready.gov site is specific to citizen emergency preparedness. Attending local C.E.R.T. training (free-of-charge training to become a member of the “Citizen Emergency Response Team”) covers emergency first aid and basic rescue fire training (see www.napavalleycert.com). But one of the soundest ways to be self-sufficient for three days is to create an emergency kit. emergency Kit The kit needs to be several things. It should be an airtight container (Rubbermaid type), well marked, and should be kept in an easily accessible location. In the kit there should be: • Food: energy bars or military style MRE rations work well. Pet food, too! • Water : one gallon a day per person. Don’t forget water for pets. • First Aid Kit: bandages, antibiotic cream, and over-the-counter pain killers. Contact your doctor for extra prescription meds. • Flashlights with extra batteries or “wind-up” style emergency flashlight. (NOTE: gas leaks occur after disasters like earthquakes. DON’T use matches, lighters or candles.) • Portable radio with extra batteries (again a wind-up style works well). • Extra blankets, clothing, shoes (assume it’s going to be cold) and money. NOTE: Food and water need to be rotated or expiry date checked every few months. Daylight savings is a good reminder. A kit for your car trunk if you commute or travel is also a good idea. Lastly , STAY CALM. Any emergency or disaster situation will need you to make sound decisions. Sound decisions are never made in panic. Stop, think, listen to the authorities, then move forward in getting to a safe place. (Oh yeah, and grab your emergency kit!) For more information, or with any questions, you can refer to the following organizations: • Red Cross: 707-257-2900 or www.redcross.org (an excellent resource for disaster preparedness classes as well as supplies) • Napa Fire Department: 707-257-9593 • County Fire Department: 707-253-4940
NVLife_Feb_2014
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