Fire Department
Emergency Preparedness
January 2020 is the 26th anniversary of the Northridge, California earthquake. Some neighbors who lived through the disaster recently showed us pictures of the devastation that occurred in 1994. Being reminded of a disaster brings home the need to be prepared for disasters that may happen where we live. Earthquakes can also happen in southern Utah, and we are susceptible to droughts, floods and man-made disasters. I came across a list of lessons learned from someone who lived through the Northridge earthquake. The author is unknown but here are some of her comments; Keep a bag near your bed containing long pants, shirt, sturdy shoes, gloves and a hat in case you need to leave in the middle of the night. Keep a crow bar under your bed in case the house shifts and doors are wedged shut. Have a tool to shut off the gas meter to your house to prevent a fire if gas lines are ruptured. Purchase emergency lights that continuously charge in the outlet so if the power goes out, they will immediately come on. Bolt mirrors, bookcases and dressers to the wall to prevent them from falling. Secure your water heater to the wall. Keep copies of important documents, medical information, insurance policies and family photos on a hard drive in a water-proof container. Video tape the inside of your home and garage for insurance purposes, including drawers and closets. Designate someone out-of-state as a family contact and gathering point for family information. Phone lines may not work so texting may be a better form of communication. Give a copy of this information to a trusted person out-of-state for safe keeping in case your home is destroyed. We will provide more tips on emergency preparedness throughout the coming year. Happy New Year!
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