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Alpine County Citizen’s Emergency Preparedness Handbook ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Disclaimer This booklet was written and produced by the Alpine County Sheriff’s Office. No part of this booklet may be reproduced or transferred in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the written permission of the Alpine County Sheriff’s Office. This booklet was produced as a public service for informational purposes only, to aid in disaster preparedness. This booklet is provided “as is.” While reasonable efforts were made to ensure the completeness, accuracy, and utility of this booklet and its contents when published, no warranties or guarantees are made with respect to the completeness, accuracy, or utility of the information and opinions stated herein. Nor is the information or opinions presented herein guaranteed or warranted to produce any particular results. The information and opinions stated herein may not be applicable to or suitable for every individual or situation. Neither Alpine County, nor any entity connected with or that distributes this booklet, including, but not limited to first responders, shall be responsible to any user of this booklet for any injury, loss, or damage of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be sustained as a consequence of the use and application of any information or opinions presented in this work. In no event shall Alpine County be liable for any action taken or not taken by any person in reliance, directly or indirectly, upon the information and opinions presented herein. This booklet is provided with the understanding that Alpine County is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal or other professional advice or expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be obtained. iii All persons and entities using this booklet and/or the information and opinions provided herein do so at their own risk and they hereby waive any and all claims against the Alpine County Sheriff’s Office and the County of Alpine. Such waiver includes any and all claims arising in contract or tort, and all forms of equitable relief and damages including without limitation compensatory, general, special, and consequential damages. Without limiting any other disclaimer provided herein, neither Alpine County, nor the Alpine County Sheriff’s Office endorse, warranty, or guarantee the goods or services of any provider that advertises goods or services in connection with this booklet and under no circumstances shall Alpine County or the Alpine County Sheriff’s Office be liable for any injury, loss, or damage of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be sustained as a result of any person’s use of such goods and services. Information in this booklet relates to a subject that changes periodically due to changes in the law, industry practices, and technology. All users of this booklet acknowledge this disclaimer and agree to the limitations of liability stated above. Do not use this booklet if you do not agree with this disclaimer and its limitations of liability as reasonable. If any portion of this disclaimer is found to be unenforceable under applicable law, the remainder of the disclaimer will remain enforceable. iv ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Emergency Phone Numbers In all cases which pose a threat to the safety of lives or property, call 9-1-1. Remember that in a large scale disaster, the 9-1-1 system and First Responders may be overwhelmed. This list contains most of the emergency numbers in Alpine County. We suggest you know who your various providers are and highlight the ones which apply to you, such as gas provider, electricity provider, etc. Bear Valley Fire: (209) 753-2232 Woodfords Fire: (530) 694-2922 Kirkwood Fire: (209) 258-4444 Markleeville Fire: (530) 694-2223 Ebbetts Pass Gas Service: (209) 795-1391 NV Energy, (Liberty Energy): (775) 901-2063 or 2064 (800) 743-5000 Lake Alpine Water District: (209) 753-6241 Kirkwood Public Utility District: Emergency Gas or Electric: (775) 901-1565 Emergency Water: (209) 296-8668 1 Emergency Phone Numbers Find out who your Providers are and list their emergency numbers here. Gas: Electricity: Water: Sewer: Doctor: Health Insurance: Home Insurance: Car Insurance: In the case of a disaster, the phone system may not work. Texting, email, and other alternatives may have to be used. Have the email addresses and cell phone numbers of your contacts written down as well. 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Have a Plan If you remember, in the Introduction of this booklet, we defined “mitigation” as doing things ahead of time, (preparing), so as to lessen the effects of a disastrous event. Here are some things that you can begin to do NOW to help yourself if a disaster occurs. Scout out and select good evacuation routes and write them down. Select a few routes, because you do not know if your first choice will be open, depending on what the disaster is. Know your evacuation routes out of your own home or building. Practice them with your family. Decide on a meeting place outside of the evacuation area for your family to reunite. Know good contact numbers for family and important friends, and have them written down somewhere, (like the Emergency Contact section of this booklet!). Know ahead of time what you will take with you, (See list of suggestions in this booklet). Know how to turn off power, water, and gas to your home if necessary, (See section on these items in this booklet). Video record the entire contents of your home for insurance purposes. Store the video in a safe place other than your home. 7 If a disaster occurs, local Emergency Services may be overwhelmed. The more you can do to help yourself, the safer and better off you will be. Designated meeting, (Reunion) locations: Inside House Outside House Outside of Evacuation Area There is nothing wrong with conducting family “drills” to practice what you would need to do in the case of an evacuation. You may notice something your plan was missing. It is always good to make sure you are all on the same page as to what you would do, especially if there are children involved. Before an incident occurs is also the best time to research which radio stations, T.V. stations, and websites provide you with the best and most accurate information in your area. These will be relied upon heavily during an incident. 8 ---PAGE BREAK--- What To Bring If You Need To Evacuate It is important to re-emphasize that it would be too late to prepare for a disaster after it occurs. This is another area where a little time spent now will save you a great deal of stress later. This list is not all-inclusive, but merely some suggestions of things you might want to gather before it is necessary to evacuate. If possible, gather important family documents and place them in a waterproof, portable container. Examples include: Insurance policies, wills, contracts, deeds, stock certificates, etc. Passports, Social Security cards, immunization records. Bank account information. Credit card information Family records such as Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, etc. Valuable and/or sentimental photographs. Medical insurance cards. For insurance purposes, and peace of mind, it is helpful to create a video inventory of valuable household items which would have to be left behind. Make, model number, serial number, and approximate value of each item would be helpful to your insurance and to law enforcement in the case of theft. 9 Disaster Kit Here is a checklist of some items it would be important for you to take with you if you are forced to leave. Essential prescription and non-prescription medicines. First Aid Kit and manual. Flashlight, radio, and extra batteries. 3 day supply of non-perishable food and water, (1 gallon per person/day. Plates, utensils, etc. Baby supplies if applicable. All-purpose knife and/or can opener. Toiletries, including toilet paper and feminine items. Personal hygiene items, (soap, toothbrush, etc.). Contact lens or denture supplies if applicable. Pet food and supplies. Complete change of clothes, (including shoes). Cash. (ATM machines might not work). Portable stove, cooking supplies, and water filter. To see an example of a “Disaster Kit” you can come by the Sheriff’s Office and we’ll show you one of ours. 10 ---PAGE BREAK--- How to Turn Off Utilities if Necessary It is important that you learn the particulars of your systems. There are several different types. Learn what YOU have and how to operate it ahead of time, so it is easier in panic mode. You might even want to practice a few times to make sure you have it down. Gas: There is usually an in-line valve on the line that leads from the tank or main pipe. The valve is usually a lever type valve. If it is pointing perpendicular to the gas line, the valve is in the “off” position. If the lever is parallel to the gas line, the valve is “open”. CAUTION: You should not “practice” opening and closing gas valves because when you turn the gas off, all your pilot lights will go out, and they will have to each be re-lit by hand. Sometimes, when pilot lights go out, gas will continue to flow, and create a possibly explosive situation. Remember; in an emergency you do not want to shut off your gas unless you suspect you have a leak. It could take several days or more for the gas company to come to your home to turn your gas back on and re-light your pilot lights. 11 Water: The main water valve is usually located outside, in front of your house, near your well, if you have well water, or near the street, if you have city or county water. Water valves are almost all screw-in types, just like most outside spigots. Tighten to close the valve, loosen to open it. Remember, “Righty-Tighty, Lefty-Loosie” or, for you grown-ups, clockwise to tighten, (close), and counter-clockwise to loosen, (open). If you are going to be away from your home for an extended period of time, and the weather is expected to be cold, it is wise to close your water valve, and then drain your system to prevent pipes from bursting due to the cold. Electricity: Electricity is not something to be fooled with. If you are not sure what you are doing, contact a licensed electrician to consult with first. Locate your main electrical panel. There is either a main switch, (usually a lever type switch), on the outside of the box, or one or two large circuit breakers inside the box that should be labeled “main”. Flip this switch to turn the power off or on. 12 ---PAGE BREAK--- Fire There are two major types of fires which are possible in Alpine County: Structure fires and wildland fires. Structure Fires: Structure fires occur in buildings such as homes and offices. They occur with little or no warning, and can come from a variety of causes. There is often not much time to escape, and even less time to grab belongings. Things you can do ahead of time: Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Check batteries regularly. Have evacuation plans, routes, and reunion, (meeting places), ready ahead of time and practice them. Plan at least 2 escape routes from each room and building and neighborhood, in case a route is blocked by fire. Have your household equipped with a sprinkler system, and, at minimum, one fire extinguisher. Know how to use the fire extinguisher. Many local fire departments will show you how to operate an extinguisher if you are unsure. Keep flammable liquids and other chemicals in a secure location, away from any heat source. 13 During a structure fire: If you see or smell smoke or fire, get out first, call 9-1-1. Remember the Stop, Drop, and Roll technique. Close all doors and windows before you leave to slow the growth of the fire, (if there is time). Before opening any door, feel it with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, chose another exit. If the door is cool, then check under the door to see if there is smoke coming through. When you open the door, be on your knees, and have your face turned away from the door. Open it slowly, for only a small distance, then check to see if it is clear to proceed. Crawl low, beneath the smoke if possible to escape. Use the stairs, not an elevator. If you cannot escape, cover your face with a cloth, and place wet towels at the bottom of doors to keep smoke out as long as possible. Stay low, and try to attract attention through a window. Never go back inside a burning building for any reason! Remember, during a structure fire, there is little time to react. The more things you have done ahead of time to prepare, the better off you will be. 14 ---PAGE BREAK--- Flood If there is a “nice thing” about floods, is that in this technological age, most of them are predictable, and there is usually a fair amount of advanced warning. However, not all things are perfect, so there could be some “surprise” flooding in Alpine County. We do have a few reservoirs which could experience some kind of dam failure. There are summer thunder storms which can produce flash floods. There could be some type of failure of a water main causing localized flooding. It would be wise to prepare for a flood situation. Things you can do to prepare ahead of time. Learn the history of flooding in your area, including areas prone to flooding, what has been done in previous floods to fight then, and what others have done in your area to mitigate future floods. Consider consulting a licensed engineer or contractor to evaluate your property and give recommendations. If you live in a flood prone area, acquire a supply of sandbags, and keep them handy in case they are needed. This will save you a lot of time during an event. Have an Evacuation Plan in place, and practice it. Keep a Disaster Kit ready to grab and go. 17 During a flood: Listen to the radio, or TV, or online to check for the latest information on weather, road conditions and evacuation notices. (www.weather.gov is the National Weather Service / NOAA website). Get your emergency supplies, and Disaster Kit ready to go. Notify someone outside the affected area and let them know what your plans are. If you are outside the evacuation area, when the order is given to evacuate, do not try to get back inside the area to retrieve your belongings. This only puts you back in danger, and possible puts you in the way of emergency crews. Turn off electricity prior to evacuating. Leave low-lying areas immediately and seek higher ground. Do not attempt to cross areas of flowing water. It may be deeper than you think, or the roadway may be washed out underneath the water. 18 ---PAGE BREAK--- Earthquake Unlike severe weather, floods, and in some cases, even fires, earthquakes are not predictable. There is little or no warning at all, and we live in an earthquake prone area. . Things you can to do ahead of time: On the personal level, there are a few things we can do to try to “be ready” for an earthquake. Bolt down items such as your water heater, china cabinets, entertainment centers, and other large household pieces so they do not fall over during an earthquake. (There are some good instructional sites online for you do-it-yourselfers). Consider having a licensed engineer or contractor who specialized in earthquake readiness come and evaluate your property. They can make recommendations of specific things you can do to be ready, and expose potential weaknesses in your house or property. Have an Evacuation Plan and practice it. Have a Disaster Kit packed and ready to go. The best action may be for you to “shelter in place,” so you should have a good supply of non-perishable food items, and enough water to last for up to a week, (at least 1 gallon per person per day). 19 During an Earthquake: Stay Calm Duck or drop to the floor, and take cover under a sturdy desk or piece of furniture. Avoid dangerous spots, such as near windows, under hanging items, or near large pieces of furniture that may fall. Be prepared for aftershocks. Listen to the radio, or TV, or online to check for the latest information on conditions. Get your emergency supplies, and Disaster Kit ready to go. See if you need to evacuate. It may be best to “shelter in place.” Notify someone outside the affected area and let them know what your plans are. If you are outside the evacuation area, and an order is given to evacuate, do not try to get back inside the area to retrieve your belongings. This only puts you back in danger, and possibly puts you in the way of emergency crews. Re-check to be sure all flammable materials are away from your house prior to evacuating. Turn off electricity prior to evacuating. 20 ---PAGE BREAK--- Strapping Your Water Heater If you strap your water heater and fit it with a flexible gas supply line, you will reduce the risk of a fire or explosion from a gas leak after an earthquake. If your water heater does not have a flexible gas supply line as shown on the diagram (item contact a licensed plumber to install one. Follow these instructions to install a water heater restraint for a water heater on a straight wall. 1. 1. Wrap a 1-1/2" wide, 16-gauge metal strap around the top of the water heater and bolt the ends together. 2. 2. Do the same about 1/3 of the way down the side of the water heater. 3. Take four of EMT electrical conduit, each no longer than 30 inches and flatten the ends. 4. Bolt one end to the metal strap as shown Screw the other end to a 2-inch by 4-inch stud in the wall using a 5/16- inch by 3-inch lag screw. Using these same principals, it would be wise to strap all your other large pieces in similar fashion. This could include: china cabinets, entertainment centers, large televisions, free-standing shelving units, among other items. 21 This page intentionally left blank 22 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Resources U.S. Department of Homeland Security: www.ready.gov Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA): www.fema.gov Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov American Red Cross: www.redcross.org The Salvation Army: www.salvationarmyusa.org Alpine County: www.alpinecountyca.gov National Weather Service www.weather.gov CAL FIRE (CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) www.fire.ca.gov 29 This page intentionally left blank 30 ---PAGE BREAK---