Saturday, March 4, 2023

Emergency Shelter- March 2023

 Last month we put together first aid kits. This month we will learn about evacuating to an emergency shelter.

Week #1—Know When to Evacuate

Nationally, fires and floods cause the most evacuations. However, the biggest concern for our neighborhood is a large earthquake, hazardous chemical spill, or major winter storm. Leave your home if…

·      Local officials tell you to evacuate

·      Your home is severely damaged

·      Power, water, or gas are out for several days

Week #2—Know Where to Go

During small emergencies, you can choose to stay in a hotel or with a friend or relative. However, in large emergencies you may have to stay in an emergency shelter. Which church or school our neighborhood will use will depend on the size of the emergency and if any buildings are damaged. To find the closest emergency shelter to Zip Code 84123, Text “Shelter 84123” to 43362 (4FEMA).

Week #3—Know What to Take

Even though a shelter will probably open quickly, you will need your own food and water for the first few days. Bring your 72-hour kit with you.  You can prepare children for this major change by watching this 3-minute video.

Week #4—Evacuation Tips

If you need to evacuate, do the following:

·      Listen carefully to instructions given by local officials

·      Evacuate immediately when told to do so

·      Lock your doors and windows before you leave

·      If damage forces you to walk to the shelter, put your 72-hour kits in the large green Murray City recycling bin.

·      Notify shelter staff of any special needs

·      Offer to help out at the shelter

·      Be patient waiting in long lines

Extra Credit—Shelter in Place

If it is safe, staying at your home has several advantages— you can watch over your property, have more privacy than staying with lots of other people, and have all of your stuff close by. However, you need to be totally self-sufficient.

Add the following items into your 72-hour kit:

·      Tent (large), trailer, or camper

·      Sleeping bags (warm)

·      Pillows (small)

·      Air mattress or foam pads

·      Change of clothes

GMRS & amateur radio frequencies

  More information about radio frequencies here: https://noji.com/hamradio/frequencies.php