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Citizens of Saco: Are You Ready?
Disaster resilient communities are comprised of citizens who have taken the initiative to develop a plan and have made preparations for such occurrences. Saco Emergency Management, Fire, Police and Public Works officials continually strive to have up-to-date emergency response and all-hazards plans, instilling our commitment to community preparedness. Part of this includes educating and encouraging citizens to self-sufficiency during the first 72 hours of a disaster. You can begin the process by gathering family members and making sure everyone is well informed of the potential hazards that affect our area and what community plans have been developed for such occurrences. Discuss with them what to do if family members are not at home when a warning is issued. Additionally, your family plan should address the following: Escape Routes Draw a floor plan of your home. Use a separate sheet of paper for each floor. Designate and mark two means of escape from each room. Make sure all family members understand these drawings and practice the plans often. Post copies at eye level in each room of the house. Establish a safe place to meet in the event of an emergency such as a fire, and record that location in your escape plans. Evacuation Plans In the event an evacuation becomes necessary, Saco officials will provide citizen notification thru one or more of the following methods: Reverse 911; the Emergency Alert System; the Fire Department Warning Siren; television; radio and face to face contact. Evacuation recommendations are not uncommon and your cooperation is appreciated should such a request be made of you. Safety Skills Learn first aid and CPR. These classes are scheduled on a regular basis by the American Red Cross. They are offered locally, can be fun to learn, and you may save a life! Attending classes with neighbors and relatives can be a great way to build better relationships and make our community stronger, and have a little fun at the same time. Learn how to properly use fire extinguishers. Many people don't know that the extinguisher should always be pointed at the base of the fire, not into the flames.
You may not be together or you may become separated when an emergency or disaster strikes. Have a plan in place on how you will contact one another. Develop a contact card that includes phone numbers, a meeting place and out of state contact information. Provide each family member with a copy to keep with them. Remember that cellular phones are not always reliable during major disasters. Have a backup plan in place. Building a kit In the aftermath of a disaster, the usual services we take for granted such as running water, electricity, telephone etc. may be compromised. As we mentioned earlier a good rule of thumb is to be prepared to be self sufficient for at least 3 days (72 hours). Store your disaster kit in a water- and airtight container that is easily accessible. A container with wheels that can be moved easily is a good choice. Your basic emergency kit should contain the following:
We hope you have a safe and happy summer and encourage you to visit us at www.sacomaine.org/departments/ema/ema.shtml. |
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