Just in Case (40 page)

• Never drive into a flooded area. You do not know what the surface is like under the water.

• If flood waters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Six inches of water will reach the bottom of a passenger car. Your car may then stall and you can quickly become trapped. Only one foot of water will float many cars. Two feet of rushing water will sweep away even a heavy SUV or pickup truck.

AFTER THE FLOOD:

• Do not drink from your municipal water supply or from well water from a flooded area until you know it is safe.

• Avoid standing water. It will likely be contaminated with raw sewage. It is even possible that downed power lines may cause standing water to be electrically charged.

• Approach all animals with extreme caution. Fear may cause even normally docile pets to become aggressive.

• Stay out of a building that has been surrounded by floodwaters. The foundation could be damaged and the whole structure unsafe.

• Do not return home until local authorities have declared it safe to do so.

• Clean and disinfect everything that got wet before using it. A ten-to-one water/bleach solution can be sprayed on colorfast, solid surfaces. Wash clothing and other fabrics in hot water with a strong detergent. Dry at the highest temperature possible.

WILDFIRES

T
HE WILDFIRES THAT
ate through much of California in the summer of 2007, causing more than a dozen fatalities and destroying many homes, serve to remind us that wildfire is a very real danger in today’s environment. Though wildfires tend to be common only in certain areas of the continent — and if you live in one of these areas, you’re sure to know it — they are possible just about anywhere. You are particularly vulnerable to wildfires if your house is located on a wide expanse of open field or in a remote location with abundant vegetation. Nevertheless, wildfires spread so quickly, especially in hot, dry, windy conditions, that even living in the suburbs is no guarantee of protection.

SAFE BURNING

Most wildfires are triggered by lightning or accident, but an unfortunate number are caused by a disregard of local burning ordinances. No matter where you live, follow local fire and burning laws. These laws were designed not to make your life more difficult but to protect homeowners and property.

When you do burn, make sure you have a fire extinguisher or garden hose on hand. And always have two adults present. One can burn and the other can watch to ensure that no flames escape. If you have a problem, one person can stay to fight the fire, if he or she can safely do so, and the other can summon help.

IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA AT RISK FOR WILDFIRES:

• Make sure the entrance to your home has appropriate, easy-to-see signage so emergency vehicles can find you if necessary.

• Keep your lawn trimmed. Rake and dispose of leaves, lawn trimmings, and brush piles. Do not allow dead limbs to accumulate.

• Stack firewood well away from your home.

• Thin trees and brush within thirty feet of your home. Beyond that, remove dead wood and low tree branches.

• Plant fire-resistant vegetation. Check with a local nursery for appropriate choices. In general, evergreens are more likely to burn than hardwood trees.

• Ensure that water sources such as swimming pools, ponds, and fire hydrants are accessible to firefighters.

• If you’re building, consider using brick, stone, and metal, which are noncombustible.

• Cover all exterior vents and eaves with J^-inch metal mesh screens, which can keep sparks out.

• Consider installing fireproof shutters to protect your windows from radiant heat.

• If you have attic or ground vents, obtain covers for them. You can purchase premade covers or you can cut them from plywood.

• Be particularly careful of storing flammable items. Keep them in appropriate containers in a shed or outbuilding at least thirty feet away from your home and other wooden structures such as fences.

IF YOUR HOME IS IN THE PATH OF A WILDFIRE, TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS, IF TIME PERMITS:

Fire travels fast and can be unpredictable. Err always on the side of caution.

• Shut off gas at the meter. (Note that you will need to call a qualified technician to have it turned back on later.)

• Seal attic and ground vents with covers.

• Turn off propane tanks. If you have a gas grill, position it well away from your residence, preferably in a distant shed.

• Connect your garden hose and lawn sprinklers. Turn them on and position them to wet your roof and fuel tanks.

• Wet shrubs near your home or cut them away.

• Open the fireplace damper but close the screens. Close windows and doors. Take down any combustible drapes.

• Move furniture to the center of rooms, away from windows. Close all interior doors and vents. Your object is to slow the spread of fire as much as possible.

• Pack your evacuation kits in the car, along with any other essentials. Corral your pets so that you can grab them on a moment’s notice. Park your car facing the street, with the garage door open, and keep the keys in your pocket.

• Heed calls for evacuation. Drive away from the fire, keeping your eye on changes in wind speed or direction.

If you find yourself trapped by a wildfire, a pool, pond, stream, or any large body of water will be the safest location. Submerge yourself as much as possible in the water. Place a wet cloth over your face to protect your nose, mouth, and eyes from smoke.

THUNDERSTORMS

T
HUNDERSTORMS MAY NOT
have the drama of hurricanes or tornadoes, but they can still be very dangerous. They can reduce visibility, making driving hazardous. They produce lightning, which is a very real hazard; each year, an average of 300 people are injured by lightning, and about 80 people a year die from lightning strikes. Thunderstorms can also cause flash flooding.

Thunderstorms occur primarily in warm, humid weather in the late afternoon. They may occur singly or in a cluster. Though thunderstorms may occasionally affect one location for an extended period of time, they typically produce heavy rain for less than an hour. About 10 percent of thunderstorms are classified as severe, meaning that they have winds of 58 mph or higher and often are accompanied by large hail.

Lightning, the most dangerous part of a thunderstorm, may occur as far as ten miles away from any rainfall. Heat lightning is actually the lightning from a thunderstorm that is too far away to be heard. However, pay attention to it, because the storm may be moving in your direction.

There is often little time between when a watch changes to a warning and when a storm actually hits. Treat a watch like a warning and take necessary steps to protect yourself and your family as soon as one is issued.

IF A THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED:

• Get inside, if possible.

• If you are in your car, stay in it. Your car will provide some protection from lightning. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the rubber tires that provide protection, but rather the steel frame, as long as you’re not touching metal.

• If you are in a forest, look for shelter in a low area or in a thick growth of small trees.

• If you are stranded in the open, find a low place, such as a valley or ditch, but be alert for flash floods.

• Do not stay in open water. Get to land, and find shelter immediately.

• Avoid natural lightning rods such as isolated tall trees, any open area such as a beach or field, small structures in open areas such as a boat on the water, or anything metal such as golf clubs, bicycles, and metal-framed backpacks.

• Close windows and doors.

• Avoid showering or bathing. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity.

• Avoid corded telephones. Cordless and cellular telephones are safe to use, but a corded telephone can conduct electricity and should be used only for emergencies.

• Unplug televisions, computers, air conditioners, and other home electronics to protect them from a power surge that can occur with a lightning strike.

• Prepare for a power outage by assembling your emergency supplies.

• Stay tuned to your NOAA weather radio or local radio and television stations for updates.

If lightning is striking near you, crouch low to the ground, make yourself the smallest possible target, and minimize your contact with the ground. Do not lie flat.

If you have been hit by lightning, get medical attention, even if you are feeling well. Lightning strikes can disrupt heart rhythms and cause burns that can become infected.

LANDSLIDES

L
ANDSLIDES CAUSE ROCK,
earth, or other debris to move down a slope. A landslide can be large or small. Its descent may be quite slow and then suddenly accelerate. Slides can be caused by a number of things, such as storms, earthquakes, and soil erosion. Sometimes the debris becomes saturated with water during a storm or in a rapid snowmelt. As the flow moves, it picks up speed and can accumulate huge amounts of debris.

The best defense is a good offense. Do not buy or build a home located at the base of a steep slope or in a natural erosion valley. Check with a professional if there is a question about your site’s vulnerability to landslides.

Landslides are often preceded by warnings. These include changes to the landscape, such as small slides, leaning trees, and obvious signs of storm-water drainage. Ground at the base of a slope may begin to bulge. Fences, walls, trees, and utility poles begin to tilt. In your home, doors and windows beginning to jam or new cracks in the walls may indicate a shift in the foundation. Widening cracks may appear in paved surfaces. All of these changes can signify dangerous ground shifts. If you see any of these indications, contact local authorities. Early intervention can lessen the impact on your property and even save your life.

If a slide begins, you may hear a rumble as it approaches, and the ground may begin to slope or shift. If you notice these signs, evacuate to a safe location until engineers assess the safety of the location. If there is time, shut off utilities if instructed to do so.

TORNADOES

T
ORNADOES ARE ONE
of nature’s most violent weather events. A tornado is a rapidly rotating tunnel of air that extends from the bottom of a thundercloud and drops to the ground. The whirling winds can reach speeds of 300 miles per hour. When tornadoes occur over open water, they are called waterspouts.

A tornado can be nearly transparent until it has picked up enough ground debris to look like the dark funnel you see on television. It may touch down on the ground for a minute, for several minutes, or not at all. The devastation is unpredictable. Some tornadoes seem to jump around, leveling one street and leaving houses on the next block untouched. Tornado paths can be over a mile wide and fifty miles long.

Every state has some risk for tornado activity, but the areas of greatest risk are east of the Rocky Mountains during the spring and summer. In the north, a tornado is most likely in late spring and early summer. In the southern states, March through May is the most active time. And though late afternoon into early evening is the most likely time to see a twister touch down, it is important to note that one can occur any time.

Certain phenomena have been associated with tornadoes. The winds may die down and the air become unnaturally still. The sky will darken and may appear greenish. There is often a large, dark, low-lying cloud visible on the horizon and large hail. An approaching tornado may sound like a freight train. If you notice any of these signs, prepare to take cover immediately, even if a warning has not been issued. Tornadoes require you to make split-second life-and-death decisions. Being prepared mentally as well as physically will take you a long way toward staying safe.

• Hold tornado drills with your family. Know exactly where you will go should a tornado threaten.

• Take a first-aid course. Consider additional training such as EMT or first-responder classes.

• If you do not have access to a storm cellar, prepare a safe room (see page 135).

Devise a good family communication plan (see
chapter 5
).

• Contact your children’s school to obtain its emergency plan to shelter in place. If the school does not have such a plan, petition the school board to put one in place.

• Check with your place of employment to obtain its emergency plan to shelter in place.

IF A TORNADO WATCH IS ISSUED:

• Keep your emergency pack at arm’s reach.

• Avoid places with large expanses of flat roofing, such as malls. These can collapse under the assault of high winds.

• Bring in outdoor furniture and toys that can become airborne in high winds.

• Carry a flashlight and a whistle on your person. These can be used to signal for help if you are trapped in a building and need assistance.

• Gather family and pets and prepare to go to your shelter or safe room.