Portland Now, Emergency Preparedness Plan

Safety Tips

Safety Tip #1

The following information is found in the publication, “Are You Ready?” which was compiled by Homeland Security, FEMA, and Citizen Corps.


All households should have a prepared emergency kit located in an easily accessible area.
The following items should be included:
• 3 day supply of non-perishable food
• 3 day supply of drinking water—one gallon per person per day
• Portable battery operated radio or television and extra batteries
• First Aid kit and manual
• Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper)
• Matches and waterproof container
• Whistle
• Extra clothing
• Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils including a manual can opener
• Photo copies of credit cards and identification cards
• Special needs items such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solution and hearing aid batteries.
• Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles and pacifiers
• Other items to meet your family needs
• If a disaster/emergency occurs during cold weather you also need to include winter clothing and shoes as well as blankets or sleeping bags (per person)
• Plastic sheeting, duct tape and scissors is also desirable

Safety Tip #2

Hazardous material spills or releases:
• When asked to stay indoors or “shelter-in-place” do so
• If evacuation is ordered do so immediately, take your emergency supplies with you and follow broadcast information
• Locate a room, above ground, in your home that has few windows, exterior doors or openings
• Turn off all heating and air conditioning equipment, close vents, fireplace dampers and many interior doors as possible
• If spill or release is severe you will need to cover each window, doorway and vent with plastic sheeting and duct tape, Use material to fill cracks and holes in the room such as those around pipes

Safety Tip #3

Tornado safety
Take protective measures;
• Be alert to changing weather conditions
• Listen to NOAA weather radio, or to commercial radio or television newscasts. (In Metro Louisville radio station 1610 AM is the local emergency broadcast station)
• Look for approaching storms
The following danger signs may be present:
• Dark often greenish sky
• Large hail
• A large, dark, low lying cloud (particularly if rotating)
• Loud roar similar to a freight train



If you see an approaching storm or a tornado warning is issued:
• Go to pre-designated shelter such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar or the lowest building level
• If there is no basement, cellar or safe room
• Go to the center of an interior room on the lowest building level, (closet, interior hallway), away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls.
• Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside
• Get under a sturdy table and use you arms to protect your head and neck
• DO NOT open windows and doors.

For more information:
www.fema.gov
www.ready.gov
www.citizencorps.gov.
Resource: “Are You Ready?” publication

Email us portlandnowinc@yahoo.com

For More Information

FEMA
Citizen Corps
Ready (Homeland Security)