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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 10, 2003 - C3 BE READY TO EVACUATE If the emergency is serious enough, you may be asked to leave your home and go to a nearby evacuation centre, like a school gym or a community hall. If you have to evacuate Right after the emergency, you may be confused or disoriented. Stay calm and remember the following procedures. HELP THE INJURED Help anyone who is injured. Get your emergency sur vival kit (the first aid kit should be with it). LISTEN TO THE RADIO Listen to your local radio station on your battery oper ated radio for instructions. DON'T USE THE TELEPHONE Don't use the telephone unless it is absolutely neces sary. Emergency crews will need all available lines. CHECK YOUR HOME Check for damage to your home. Remember the fol lowing points: Use a flashlight - don't light matches or turn on the electrical switches if you suspect damage. Check for fires, fire hazards or other household haz ards. Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell gas, turn off the main gas valve, open windows and get everyone outside quickly. Shut off any other damaged utilities. Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline and other flammable liquids immediately. Wear protective clothing. For major spills or leaks, call in professional help. Confine or secure your pets. Check on your neighbours, especially the elderly or people with disabilities. IF YOU TURN OFF THE GAS, IT SHOULD ONLY BE TURNED BACK ON BY A PROFESSIONAL FROM THE GAS COMPANY. · Leave immediately. · Take your emergency survival kit with you. · Listen to the radio and follow instruc tions from local emergency officials. · If you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and electricity. · Make arrangements for pets. · Wear clothes and shoes appropriate to conditions. · Lock the house How to help your children · Follow the routes specified by the offi Children exposed to a disaster can cials. Don't take shortcuts. A shortcut could take you to a blocked experience a variety of intense emotion or dangerous area. al reactions such as anxiety, fear, nerv · If you have time, leave a note telling ousness, stomachaches, loss of appetite and other reactions. These are normal others when you left and where you went. and temporary reactions to danger. If you have a mailbox you could leave Parents can help relieve such reactions by taking their children's fears seriously, the note there. · If you are evacuated, sign up with the by reassuring them, giving them addi registration centre so you can be con tional attention and hugging them. tacted or reunited with your family and loved ones. A child who feels afraid is really afraid After a disaster, children are · If you have to evacuate your home for a prolonged period most afraid that KNOW what to do during a winter power fail · tbe event will happen again AFTER ure, drain the water from the · someone will get hurt or a Disaster Strikes plumbing system. Starting injured at the top of the house, · they will be separated from the family open all taps and flush toilets several times, and open the drain valve in the · they will be left alone. basement. Drain your hot water tank So comfort and reassure them. Tell by attaching a hose to the tank drain them what you know about the situation. valve and running it to the basement Be honest but gentle. floor drain. (If you drain a gas-fired Encourage them to talk about the disas water tank, the pilot light should be ter. Encourage them to ask question^ turned out - the local gas supplier should be called to re-light it!). about the disaster. Unhook washing machine hoses and drain Give them a real task to do, something EXPECT EMOTIONAL REACTIONS You w on't "act like yo urself" fo r a while Most people caught in a disaster usually feel confused. They may tremble, feel numb, vomit or faint. Immediately after the disaster they often feel bewil dered, shocked, and relieved to be alive. These feelings and reactions are per fectly normal. Later many survivors sleep poorly, have no appetite, are angry with those around them, or panic at the slightest hint of a storm. Children might start thumb sucking or bed wetting. These feelings and reactions are perfectly nor mal too. that gets the family back on its feet. Keep them with you, even if it seems easier to look for housing or help on your own. At a time like this it's important for the whole family to stay together. SURVIVAL KIT TIP Large orange garbage bags make great rain ponchos How to get back on track Here are some suggestions to help get yourself and your family back on track after the disaster. Talk about your feelings. Talk about what's happened. Encourage your children to express their feelings. They may want to do this by drawing or playing instead of talking. Understand that their feelings are real. Recognize that when you suffer a loss, you may grieve. (Yes, you can grieve the loss of a wedding photo or your grandfather's favourite ring.) You may feel apathetic or angry. You may not sleep or eat well. These are normal grief reactions. Do give yourself and family permission to grieve and time to heal. Be prepared - Have a plan Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do before, during and after an emergency. Set up a family meeting this week to discuss how you can best prepare for an emergency. Have a plan. If you live alone, develop a plan for yourself with links to neighbours and friends. Keep Emergency Numbers Handy Keep a list of key telephone numbers and addresses near the phone. Select a per son in another area to be your family's contact person if you get separated dur ing an emergency. Ensure that everyone memorizes this person's name and tele phone number. dog/cat food Equipment Knives, forks, spoons Disposable cups and plates Manual can opener, bottle opener Fuel stove and fuel (Don't use a barbecue indoors.) Waterproof matches Plastic garbage bag Keep these supplies in an easy-tofind spot Flashlight and batteries (in case the lights go out) Radio and batteries or crank radio (so you can listen to news bulletins) Spare batteries (for radio and flashlight) First-aid Kit Candles and matches/lighter Extra car keys and cash (including coins for telephone) Important papers (identification) Food and bottled water Clothing and footware (one change of clothes per person) Blankets or sleeping bags Toilet paper/personal supplies Medication Backpack/duffel bag (to carry the emergency survival kit in, in case you have to evacuate) Whistle (to attract attention) Playing cards, games Check Lists - Car Kit Ice scraper and brush Shovel Sand (or kitty litter) Blanket Candles in a deep can Matches Tow chain Warning light or flares Flashlight Hat, extra warm clothes/footwear Energy bars Booster cables First-aid kit kit with seatbelt cutter. Road maps Methyl hydrate to de-ice the fuel line Fire extinguisher Emergency Preparedness A Priority Through Halton Region The City of Burlington, the Towns of Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville, the Halton Regional Service and the Region of Halton all have com prehensive Emergency Plans ready to be imple mented in the event of an emergency. Depending on the severity and scope of the emergency, the local Municipality or the Region may activate their Plan. Continuous testing, train ing and updating ensures the plans are capable of addressing any emergency that occurs in our communities. Emergency food and water kit Have at least a three-day supply of food and water on hand. At least one litre per person per day Choose ready-to-eat foods that your family likes. And choose food that does n't need refrigeration. Food Canned food: soups, stews, baked beans, pasta, meat, poultry, fish, veg etables, fruits Crackers and biscuits Honey, peanut butter, syrup, jam, salt and pepper, sugar, instant coffee, tea Think of any special needs that some one in your family might have. Include any other items that your family would need. Here are some suggestions. Babies/toddlers diapers, bottled milk, toys, crayons and paper Other fam ily members prescription medication, extra eye glasses (keep at least one week supply of medication in your emergency kit and include copies of prescriptions for your medicine and glasses.) As part of the on-going preparations for emer gency situations, Municipal and Regional Emergency Planning Committees meet regularly to develop effective emergency management programs that ensure a co-operative and consis tent response, capable of meeting any crisis. The committees comprise professionals who are trained to co-ordinate emergency response serv ices quickly and efficiently in the event of any large scale emergency. The local Municipal and Regional Emergency Plans are comprehensive guides and plans of action to address any emergency - natural and man-made - while ensuring that the daily servic es provided to the citizen continue uninterrupted. Emergency - Dial 9-1-1 Non-Emergency Numbers Halton Region TTY (Teletype): Toll Free: 905-825-6000 905-827-9833 1-866-442-5866 905-845-6601 905-845-7114 www.hrps.on.ca TDD: 1-800-990-8199 (1-800-222-8477) (1-866-4HALTON) www.town.oakville.on.ca The Regional Municipality of Halton A Partnership That Works! www.region.halton.on.ca Town of Oakville Oakville Fire Department Important W est Nile Virus Information Risk o f West Nile virus infection increasing Local monitoring indicates that the risk of Halton residents becoming infected with West Nile virus has increased, particularly in south Burlington and south Oakville. Therefore, it is especially important to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Although many people associate Labour Day with the end of summer, mosquitoes continue to pose a threat until colder weather sets in. For more information about personal protective measures, please call: T h e H a lto n R egion H e a lth D e p a rtm e n t a t 905-825-6000 e x t 6187 o r v is it th e H e a lth D e p a rtm e n t's W e b site a t w w w .re g io n .h a lto n .o n .c a /h e a lth . Halton Regional Police Service 905-878-5511 905-825-4747 Automated Attendant Crimestoppers 1-800-222-TIPS Emergency Hazardous Spill Response: To report an emergency involving a spill of any material, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency incidents, contact Hatton's Emergency Spill Response Team on a 24-hour basis at 905-825-6000 {Toll Free: 1-866-442-5866). Rail Safety: To report an emergency involving rail traffic, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency incidents, call Canadian National Railway at 1-800-601-7630, or Canadian Pacific Railway at 1-800-795-7851. Pipeline Safety: To report emergency situations, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency incidents, call 1-888-982-7222. Call Before You Dig!: Weather Information Roads Report: Telehealth: 1-800-400-2255 416-661-0123 1-800-268-1376 1-866-797-0000 1151 Bronte Road, O akville, ON L6M 3L1 905-825-6000 Toll fre e : 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866) TTY: 905-827-9833 or v is it us a t: w w w .reg io n .h a lton .o n.ca