Emergency Preparedness

In an emergency, certain necessities of life may be hard to come by, and you may need special tools to deal with unusual situations. These are a few things you should consider putting in your home emergency kit:

• Photocopies of important records (credit and ID cards, deeds, property records, insurance policies, home inventory)
• A small amount of cash or traveler’s checks
• Medical necessities (medication, wheelchair and hearing-aid batteries, contact lens solution, etc.)
• Supplies for your pets (food, a leash or container, veterinary records)
• Food and water for at least three days (including supplies for any pets). A good rule of thumb for water is one gallon per day per person.
• Cooking necessities (a can opener, paper plates, and plastic utensils)
• Portable, battery-powered or hand-cranked radio
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• First-aid kit and instruction book
• Matches
• Whistle
• Extra clothing
• Pliers or wrench to turn off utilities
• Local maps
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items (moist towelettes, toilet paper, feminine supplies, garbage bags)
• Blankets
• Fire extinguisher

Keep your supplies (particularly food) in air-tight plastic bags, and keep your complete emergency kit in one or two closeable, easily portable containers (such as a camping backpack, duffel bag, ice chest, or unused trash can with a lid). The kit should be stored in a cool, dry place that will be easily accessible in an emergency.

Review your emergency kit at least once per year. Make sure that everything is still fresh and in working order, and update it if your family needs have changed.

Emergency supplies are important, but sometimes a little knowledge is more valuable than anything you might have in your emergency kit. Here are a few tips for making sure your “knowledge kit” in order.

• Find out what kinds of disasters can strike your home. Has there ever been a flood where you live? A mud slide? A major earthquake?
• Learn the danger signs. Do you know how to tell when storm drains are overflowing? or how to find out if a fire is close enough to endanger your home?
• Learn first aid, CPR, and how to operate a fire extinguisher.
• Talk to the experts. Do you know how to shut off your gas and electricity? Because building standards vary, you should consult an expert to find out what action to take in your home.
• Develop a plan of action. Together with your family, decide what you would do if disaster struck. Make sure your plan includes escape routes and a means of staying in contact, and that everyone has all the information they need (where supplies are stored, how to shut off the gas, etc.).

How much water should I keep on hand for emergencies?

After a disaster, it’s critical that you have water on hand in case the water normally provided by Cal Water is unavailable.

Use these guidelines to decide how much water should you set aside for use in an emergency:

• As a general rule, you need at least one gallon of water per person per day (half a gallon for drinking; half a gallon for cooking and cleaning).
• This amount will vary depending on age, activity, physical condition,and diet.
• If it Is hot, you will need more water ? Double the normal amount if it is very hot.
• Children, nursing mothers, and sick people require more water.
• Some additional water should be on hand for medical emergencies.

There are several ways you can make sure your emergency water supply stays fresh.

• Purchase commercially bottled water, keep it sealed, and replace it after its “use by” date.
• Purchase a food-grade water-storage container from a camping supply store, thoroughly clean and rinse it, and fill it with water in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Store your water in a cool, dry place. If you are not using commercially bottled water, replace it every six months.
• Empty large plastic soft-drink bottles (not milk or juice containers, because they may promote bacterial growth), thoroughly clean and rinse them, sanitize them with household chlorine bleach (one teaspoon of non-scented bleach to a quart of water, swished in the bottle so it touches all surfaces), rinse thoroughly with warm water, and fill to the top with tap water. Add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach. Seal tightly using the original cap, being careful not to touch the inside with your fingers. Write the date on the outside of the bottle and store out of direct sunlight.

What do I do in an emergency?

After a disaster, if you hear reports of broken water or sewage lines, or if officials advise you of a water problem, you may want to shut off your water to prevent tainted water from getting into your home. Turning off your house valve also prevents a broken water line from draining your toilet tanks and hot water heater.

Note that the house valve is not the valve in the cement box by the street ? that valve can only be turned off by the water company. The house valve is generally located outside your home near a hose bib.

Here are some tips for managing water in a disaster.

• Never ration water unless authorities recommend doing so, and never drink less than a quart of water a day.
• Don’t drink cloudy or otherwise contaminated water from a faucet, stream, or pond without treating it first, unless you are at risk of dehydration.
• Don’t drink soda or alcohol instead of water.
• To use the water in your pipes after your water is turned off, completely open the lowest faucet in your home and capture water as it trickles out.
• To use the water in your hot-water tank, turn off the electricity and/or gas, open the drain at the bottom of the tank, turn off the water intake valve, and turn on the hot water faucet. Be sure to refill the tank before turning it back on.
• You can also get drinkable water from melted ice, and liquids from canned goods.
• Never drink water from radiators, hot water boilers, water beds, toilets, pools, or spas.