Emergency Preparedness

for Farm workers

Robert Halman Ag/ Small farms Extension Agent

UF/IFAS Extension

Natural Disasters

flood, fire, earthquake,

tornado and windstorm affect thousands of people every year.

By learning about these specific threats, you are preparing yourself to react in an emergency.

Remember

Family comes FIRST

Make assignments

Preparing Your Family

Target is the Founding Sponsor

of the National Emergency

Child Locater Center.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, forcing an unprecedented 411,000 people to evacuate. More than 5,000 children

were separated from their families.

Within hours, the U.S. Department of Justice requested that NCMEC establish a hotline to handle calls of displaced children and adults. NCMEC also

deployed thirty Team Adam Consultants to the affected areas.

As a result of NCMEC’s efforts, the last of the 5,192 children displaced by the storm was reunited with her family in Houston, TX in March 2006.

Rembering Katrina Photo Gallery

Know the Rules...Safety Tips for Children Displaced in Natural Distasters and Their Caregivers

•Know where your kids are at all times.

•Stay together.

•Take photos of your children with you when

evacuated

•. Give children identification information to carry

with them

•E-mail digital photos of all family members.

•Photocopy important documents

• Make a plan

Support system

Neighbors

Emergency Preparedness

for all family members

Get a Family Plan

Especially for

escape routes

Your Disaster Kit

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

First aid kit

Flashlight and extra batteries

Battery-powered or hand crank radio and

a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

Water one gallon of water per

person per day for at least three days,

for drinking and sanitation

To determine your water needs:

Children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more water.

A medical emergency might require additional water.

In very hot temperatures, water needs can double.

Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person.

3 for 1

- Water Preparations-

Following a disaster

Clean drinking water may not be available.

How Much Water Do I Need?

One Gallon of water per person per day.

individual needs vary, depending on age, physical condition, activity, diet and climate.

Water- for

drinking and

sanitation

Children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more water.

A medical emergency might require additional water.

Preparing Your Own Containers of

Water

Use only food grade water storage

containers.

clean the containers with

dishwashing soap and water and

rinse completely so there is no

residual soap.

Do not use plastic jugs or

cardboard containers that have

had milk or fruit juice in them.

Do not use glass containers,

because they can break and are

heavy

Using old plastic bottles

Thoroughly clean the bottles with dishwashing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap.

Sanitize the bottles by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water. Mix the sanitizing solution in the bottle so that it touches all surfaces. After sanitizing the bottle, thoroughly rinse out the sanitizing solution with clean water.

Fill the bottle to the top with regular tap water. If the tap water has been commercially treated from a water utility with chlorine, you do not need to add anything else to the water to keep it clean. If the water you are using comes from a well or water source that is not treated with chlorine, add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to the water. Let the water stand for 30 minutes before using.

Using old plastic bottles-

continued

A slight chlorine odor should be noticeable in the water, if not, add another dose of bleach and allow the water to stand another 15 minutes.

Tightly close the container using the original cap

Place a date on the outside of the container so you can know when you filled it. Store in cool, dark place.

Water storage

How Should I Store Water?

Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open until you need to use it. Observe the expiration or “use by” date. Store in cool, dark place.

Food:

Selecting Emergency Supplies

Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables and a can opener

Protein or fruit bars

Dry cereal or granola

Peanut butter

Dried fruit

Nuts

Crackers

Canned juices

Non-perishable pasteurized milk

High energy foods

Vitamins

Food for infants

Comfort/stress foods

Food Preparation Choose foods your family will eat.

Remember any special dietary

needs.

Avoid foods that will make you

thirsty.

Choose salt-free crackers, whole

grain cereals and canned foods with

high liquid content.

. Stock canned foods, dry mixes and

other staples that do not require

refrigeration, cooking, water or

special preparation.

Be sure to include a manual can

opener and eating utensils.

Consider keeping a disaster kit

at work or in your car

Ask yourself "What could I not do without if I

were stranded at work?"

Vehicle Kits

Jumper cables

Flashlights and extra batteries

First aid kit and necessary medications in case you are away from home

for a prolonged time

Food items containing protein such as nuts and energy bars; canned fruit

and a portable can opener

Water for each person and pet in your car

AM/FM radio to listen to traffic reports and emergency messages

Cat litter or sand for better tire traction

Shovel

Warm clothes, gloves, hat, sturdy boots, jacket and an extra change of

clothes

Blankets or sleeping bags

Protect your Records

.

Money needs

Family Communications

Communication Tips

Identify a contact

Be sure every member of your family knows

the phone number and has a cell phone,

coins or a prepaid phone card to call the

emergency contact

“ICE”- In Case Of Emergency

Teach family members how to use text

messaging .

Update your skills

Take a first aid and CPR class

Official certification by the American Red

Cross provides, under the “good Samaritan”

law, protection for those giving first aid

Fire Extinguisher

Make sure you have one or more up-to-date

fire extinguishers

Everyone knows where they are kept and

how to use them.

Prepare your computer

equipment for a storm

Use Electrical Safety Awareness

During Summer Storms

Take care when stepping into flooded.

Stay away from downed power lines and anything

touching them.

If you see someone who is in contact with a downed

power line, do not touch the person. You could become

the next victim. Instead, call 911.

Do not drive over downed power lines.

Keep the generator dry and do not operate it in enclosed

or partially enclosed areas.

Do not use electrical wiring or equipment that has been

wet..

Use Electrical Safety Awareness

During Summer Storms

To avoid lightning strikes, go indoors during electrical storms and stay away from windows.

If outdoors during electrical storms, move to a low point. Stay away from metal items, including sports equipment, buildings, clotheslines, poles and fences. Avoid trees.

During electrical storms, do not use corded telephones except for emergencies.

Avoid contact with water and plumbing during electrical storms.

.

PRE-DISASTER ACTIVITIES

Take pictures

The National Emergency Child Locator Center (NECLC).

Emergency Weather Links

http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes

Shut off

utilities

Water shut off

Before an emergency happens, locate the shut-off valve for the water line that enters your house and label this valve with a tag for easy identification.

Make sure all household members know where it is located.

Cracked lines may pollute the water supply to your house. It is wise to shut off your water until you hear from authorities that it is safe for drinking.

The effects of gravity may drain the water in your hot water heater and toilet tanks

Do: Keep food in covered containers.

Keep cooking and eating utensils clean.

Keep garbage in closed containers and dispose outside, burying garbage if necessary.

Keep your hands clean by washing them frequently with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected.

Food safety

Discard any food that has come into contact

with contaminated floodwater.

Discard any food that has been at room

temperature for two hours or more.

Discard any food that has an unusual odor,

color or texture

Food Safety - Don’t: Eat foods from cans that are swollen, dented

or corroded, even though the product may

look safe to eat.

Eat any food that looks or smells abnormal,

even if the can looks normal.

Let garbage accumulate inside, both for fire

and sanitation reasons.

“When in doubt, throw it out.”

Note: Thawed food usually can be eaten if it

is still “refrigerator cold.” It can be re-frozen if

it still contains ice crystals.

Alternative cooking

To heat food in a can:

Remove the label.

Thoroughly wash and disinfect the can. (Use a diluted solution of one part bleach to ten parts water.)

Open the can before heating.

Charcoal grills and camp stoves are for outdoor use

only.

Commercially canned food may

be eaten out of the can without warming.

When the Power Goes Out:

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors

closed as much as possible.

The refrigerator will keep food cold for about

4 hours if it is unopened.

Refrigerators should be kept at 40° F or

below for proper food storage

Once the Power is Restored:

Investigate all areas

Dry Ice

Under normal circumstances you should not keep dry ice in your freezer.

Twenty-five pounds of dry ice will keep a 10-cubic-foot freezer below freezing for 3-4 days.

Use care when handling dry ice, wear dry, heavy gloves to avoid injury

Also consider:

A fully-charged cell phone and phone charger

Flares or reflective triangle

Baby formula and diapers if you have a small child

Be prepared for an emergency by keeping your gas tank full and if you find yourself stranded, be safe and stay in your car, put on your flashers, call for help and wait until it arrives.

Text Alerts

Many communities now have systems that

will send instant text alerts

Warning Systems & Signals

The Emergency Alert System (EAS)

can address the entire nation on very

short notice in case of a grave threat or

national emergency

Wireless Emergency Alerts

(WEA

What types of WEA messages will the National Weather Service send? Tsunami Warnings Tornado and Flash Flood Warnings Hurricane, Typhoon, Dust Storm and Extreme Wind Warnings Blizzard, Ice Storm, and Lake Effect Snow Warnings

Returning home:

Be Cautious

Recovery

- returning home- Outside

Walk carefully around the outside and check for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage..

Use the phone only to report life-threatening emergencies.

As you return home, watch for fallen objects; downed electrical wires; and weakened walls, bridges, roads and sidewalks.

Returning Home:

Do not enter if:

You smell gas.

Floodwaters remain around the

building.

Returning Home after a

disaster

Natural gas. If you smell gas or hear a hissing or blowing sound, open a

window and leave immediately.

Turn off the main gas valve from the outside, if you can.

Call the gas company from a neighbor’s residence

Returning Home after a

disaster

Water and sewage systems..

Pump out wells

Have the water tested by authorities before drinking.

Do not flush toilets until you know that sewage lines are intact.

Food and other supplies.

Returning Home after a

disaster

Appliances. If appliances are wet, turn off the

electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker.

Open cabinets. Be alert for objects that may fall.

Returning Home after a

disaster

Clean up household chemical spills. Disinfect

items that may have been contaminated by raw

sewage, bacteria, or chemicals. Also clean

salvageable items.

Call your insurance agent. Take pictures of

damages.

Keep good records of repair and cleaning costs.

Doghouses are not safe from

lightning. Chained animals

can easily become victims of

lightning. Take insurance

papers, vaccines, medicines,

etc.

Don’t forget pets during

thunderstorms.

Caution: Animals and

Disasters

Do not corner wild animals or try to rescue

them.

Call your local animal control office or wildlife

resource office.

Wild animals often seek higher ground which,

during floods

Caution: Animals and

Disasters

Do not approach wild animals that have taken refuge in your home.

Do not attempt to move a dead animal.

.

Know Your Risks

References

www.electrical-safety.org

RedCross.org

Recommended Supply list

http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/docu

ments/files/checklist_1.pdf

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio

(NWR)

Video travelling

http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_rec

ords/5546#share_player