The Neighbor to Neighbor Connection
To Pahranagat Valley Individuals and Families: Emergency Preparedness
Are You Ready?
This letter is to introduce the Valley Emergency Plan that is under the umbrella of the Pahranagat Valley Fire District in conjunction with the County Emergency plan. This emergency preparedness plan services all of Pahranagat Valley. We encourage each person or family to look at where each stands regarding emergency preparedness. We are enclosing a “How is My Preparedness?” list which will help all of us individually assess our family or personal needs in these troubling times.
Power Shortages
Every one of us has particular needs and particular abilities. We need to start our preparations for three days first, three weeks second then three months and then one year. On the FEMA site (www.fema.gov), there is a great deal of information on the many types of emergencies that individuals could deal with. For our valley, our list is smaller in some ways. The biggest problem that we could face at any time is a loss of power that could go beyond 24 hours. The event might not be anything that starts in our valley; in fact, it could be caused by power issues in other states, but would definitely affect our valley.
Regardless of what might happen, we have to be better prepared as a people .Because of all the differences in individuals and families, we, serving as your preparedness committee, have decided to take several approaches to the Valley needs. The first is to ask each family or single person to read this letter and take the survey. This should give you an idea of what your needs are and how we can help each other in general, service those needs.
The second is to ask you to consider some of the following areas:
- Do you have any one in your household that has special needs?
- Needs Special Medications or foods;
- If you needed to evacuate, do you have plans on how that would work, and what you would take.
- If the power went out for more than two days, could you survive? There are many different scenarios to look at!
You are probably taking a deep breath now… but we can each do something according to our individual needs. Start with just gathering water (in used pop bottles) and making sure you have the ability to survive for three days without the store. If it is cold, how will you survive and if it is hot, how will you survive? Then move on to getting more and more prepared. Crackers and peanut butter work if we are financially strapped. The Neighbor to Neighbor Connection: Watching out for Each Other
We also need to be mindful of each other. We have neighbors. If each neighbor checks in with the neighbor in front, on the sides, and behind, we should be able to immediately help if there is a need. It can take hours before all the organizations can be fully involved. So let us prepare, become as self-sufficient as possible, as well as checking and helping our neighbors as necessary. Since they will also be doing the same, it should provide a good safety net.
The Valley and County Preparedness: There are plans in Place
In the valley and the county there are many plans, required by law to be in place for emergencies. There has been a great deal of work upon the part of both valley and county agencies. We have some supplies put away for a short-term emergency while we wait for the county and state agencies to help. Many different emergency scenarios have been looked at and planned for. What we need to do is be part of that overall plan. The more we are prepared individually the easier it becomes for all of us to work together in times of an emergency. The schools, churches, and all the leaders of the valley will work together to help all within the valley. So, do your part, watch out for your neighbor, and: when an emergency comes, be prepared to not only help yourself, but to possibly help others who are not able to help themselves, or to help those who might be stranded who need our help as well. Thank you.
How is My Preparedness???
In looking at this list that will follow, first view it for three days, than three weeks to begin with:
- Do I have enough water for myself and each of my family members that live with me for three days? (A gallon per day, per person).
- If I have a baby, do I have enough formula, diapers, etc.?
- Do I have enough food for each member of my family? Would they eat what I have?
- Do I have the ability to provide light for my home if the power went out?
- Do I have the ability to cook if the power went out?
- Do I have the ability to be warm if the power went out? To stay cool if the power went out?
- Do I have enough medications either prescription (if taken daily) or other if needed?
- Do I have a first aid kit? Do I have alternate plan if toilets can’t be used?
- Do I know how to turn off my main power and my main water?
Preparedness breaks down into two main areas: Stay put or evacuate. Staying put has one whole set of preparedness guidelines, and evacuating is miniaturizing the home plan with a couple of added notes:
- Do I have cash/credit cards/the ability to get gas and leave?
- Would I need help from others to help me leave? (This is important for many who have any disability or transportation issues), if so, do I have someone connected whom I can call and have them pick me up with all of my preparedness belongings?
- Do I have a seventy-two hour back pack ready? One for each of my family members?
- Do I have water that I can grab and travel with? ( They make water packets that will fit in backpacks)
- Do I have my medications easy to grab and go with?
- If an organized evacuation, we will be directed where to go and how; do you try to keep your gas level at least always half full?
- Do you have a place in mind that you would go, once the going was your own responsibility?
- In the winter, is your car ready for winter weather with blankets, etc.?
- In the summer, is your car ready for summer weather with ability to be protected in extreme heat?
- Do you have the ability to grab your most essential papers? Birth Certificates, Passports, Marriage Certificates; Property deeds, Insurance Papers, etc.? .
- Last thought: Start small; Keep it Simple, and Build as you can. If we start simple, and then add more, we can honestly say, “Yes, I do have the ability to take care of myself and/or my family for three days. This is where we start! Thank you for preparing!!
Pahranagat Valley Emergency Committee: Roberta Park, Lonny Walch, Trevor Poulsen, Steve Meldrum
LC. Emergency Manager Eric Holt