Disaster Preparedness
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Northampton County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) met today (July 8) in preparation for hurricane season. Just as emergency responders must be prepared for disasters, so must the citizens of the Roanoke Chowan area.
The time to prepare for a disaster is before it strikes. While a hurricane is the first to come to mind when a disaster is mentioned, the wildfires in Eastern North Carolina and California serve as a reminder that disasters come in many forms.
The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) has a number of fact sheets and other information on disaster readiness, response and recovery.
Being prepared is the first step. Your family needs to be able to cope with an emergency until help arrives or the power comes back on.
Water is most critical. Store water in plastic containers, changing it every six months. Have a minimum of one gallon of water per person stored, but two gallons is ideal. If you have the space keep a three-day supply for each person in your home.
Keep a two-week supply of nonperishable food, choosing foods that do not require refrigeration, cooking or water. Buy smaller containers that can be eaten in one meal; it may seem wiser to purchase a larger container but if you don’t have refrigeration you won’t be able to store the container once opened.
Suggested foods include ready-to-eat canned fruits and vegetables, canned juices and soup, high-energy foods such as peanut butter, crackers and trail mix, comfort foods like cookies and instant coffee, and canned meats.
If the power goes out you may not have heat or air conditioning so have clothing that is appropriate for the weather conditions.
A first aid kit should be kept where everyone knows its location. Just for everyday occurrences you should have one in your house and in each vehicle but during a disaster that kit becomes even more important. For a list of recommended items, check the website listed at the end of my column.
Other items that may come in handy during a disaster are a battery operated radio (with extra batteries), flashlights or candles, fully charged cell phones, a household phone that is not cordless, duct tape, matches stored in a ziplock baggie or other waterproof container and cash. A more complete list is available online.
Don’t forget your pets when making a disaster plan. I have a friend that keeps extra pillow cases in her closet in case she has to evacuate her house quickly – she can just put her cats in a pillow case instead of taking time to get them in a carrier – the carrier can come later.
You pet should have a collar with a current rabies tag and a tag with your contact information. Extra pet food, water and other needs (litter, shavings, etc.) should be stored. It is generally best to take your pet with you should an evacuation be necessary but not all shelters accept pets. Plan ahead and contact friends or relatives or locate pet-friendly hotels.
If you must leave your pet at home, leave them inside the house away from windows. Fill the bathtub with water and provide access to high places. Never leave a dog tethered to a chain – many animals that perished in Hurricane Katrina drowned because they were chained in the yard.
The EDEN website is a valuable resource with information on protecting your valuable records, preparing food after a power failure, evacuation disaster kits and more. Now is the time to think about printing this information – not when the power goes off and you can’t access the Internet.
For more information on disaster planning contact your local Cooperative Extension office or log on to the EDEN website at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/disaster/.
Heather Odom is an Agriculture Agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Northampton County. She can be reached at 252-534-2711 or heather_odom@ncsu.edu.