National Fire Protection Association urges Carbon community to prepare for disasters

By Sun Advocate

The National Fire Protection Association recommends that local residents start preparing for a disaster.
Get Ready! Preparing Your Community for a Disaster is a comprehensive guide developed by NFPA to make the task more manageable.
The kit was recently sent by the non-profit organization to 30,000 fire departments across the country as a resource to help the community prepare.
“Preparing yourself, your family and your community for the unexpected can be a frightening endeavor, but being caught unprepared in the face of disaster can prove to be deadly,” said Judy Comoletti, assistant vice president of public education for NFPA. “The Get Ready! program is designed to help people develop their emergency plan by putting much needed informational materials at their fingertips.”
Recent disastrous events have served as reminders that there is no single preparedness tool more important than a plan, pointed out the NFPA representative.
The nationwide program provides a foundation for understanding what to do, where to go and how to survive in a disaster.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the informational sheets provide guidance on what to do before, during and after an incident occurs.
Emergency situations addressed by the nationwide program include home fires, blackouts, hurricanes, landslides, thunderstorms, tornadoes, earthquakes, national security, volcanoes, extreme heat, nuclear incidents, wildfires, floods, older adults, winter storms, hazardous materials, people with disabilities and pets.
The guide also provides a lesson plan and presentation materials to make conducting a community preparedness workshop relatively easy.
A family emergency plan is available for download as well as an emergency supplies kit checklist, indicated the National Fire Protection Association representative .
The program was developed by NFPA for fire departments at locations throughout the nation.
The project was funded by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Office of Domestic Preparedness.
NFPA suggests the following tips to keep in mind when preparing for a disaster.
To prepare before a disaster, people should:
•Be informed.
•Make a plan for disaster scenarios.
•Get an emergency kit.
•Volunteer to help others.
Carbon County residents should develop an emergency plan that includes the following.
•Escape and evacuation routes.
•Family communications.
•Utility shut-off and safety.
•Vital records.
•Caring for animals during a disaster.
•Safety skills that family members should know concerning the aftermath.
Local residents should develop an emergency supplies kit that at a minimum includes the following:
•A minimum three-day supply of bottled water.
A seven-day supply is best, with a three-day supply ready to take with the family, noted the National Fire Protection Association.
One gallon of water per family member per day is recommended.
•Food. Avoid foods that cause thirst. Include canned foods, dry mixes, and other nonperishable food. Remember to include a hand can opener.
•A battery-powered radio with extra batteries or a hand-crank radio.
•Flashlights and extra batteries.
•First aid kit.
•Sanitation and hygiene items.
•Matches in a waterproof container.
•A whistle.
•Extra clothing.
•Cooking utensils.
•Photocopies of credit and identification cards
•Cash
•Items for infants in the family.
•A personal pack for children.