Earthquake Preparedness: Chief Henderson Advises to Plan for 72-Hours

The damage from Sunday’s 6.0 earthquake in American Canyon should serve as a reminder that folks in East County should be prepared at all times in case of an emergency.

According to East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Chief Hugh Henderson, he recommends having an earthquake kit readily available that could last a family 72-hours while also remembering to take into consideration pets and other special needs.

“Everyone needs to be prepared for 72 hours having those essential items for you and your family to be self-sufficient,” said Henderson.

Henderson explained that part of being prepared is having multiple disaster plans in place. One plan should be “Plan A” which is when everybody is home and together while “Plan B” consists of family members being in different locations and creating rendezvous points to meet.

The earthquake occurred just six-miles south of Napa which destroyed buildings, roadways, caused water mains to burst, destroyed homes and caused fires just to name a few of the issues. In those types of situations, rendezvous points become very important.

In East County, in the event of a disaster, resources would be extremely thin with four fire stations covering 250-square miles—remember one residential fire requires 5-engines. In the event of an earthquake, neighboring districts may not be available because they would be busy responding to their own calls.

Henderson admits outside resources would be required in both a residential fire and a disaster going forward as in a best case scenario, only 4 to 5 families in could get help at a time due to the number of available units until outside assistance is available.

“Resources are going be extremely short in a natural disaster the importance of mutual aid throughout the County and the State of California becomes very evident in a natural disaster. Napa County is a good example of how many extra resources are needed in times of natural disasters. Those emergency resources include law enforcement, emergency medical services and of course the fire service,” explained Henderson.

If you need help and firefighters, law enforcement or AMR is not available Henderson recommends working with those nearby.

“Neighbors helping neighbors using the expertise within our communities we live. You may have a neighbor that’s electrician that can help electrical emergencies as an example,” said Henderson.

Henderson also said it’s important to share with children what to do in the event of an earthquake or disaster.

“Our children need to always be prepared for natural disasters. Knowing rendezvous points and safety zones both at home and at school. We can never over prepare for natural disasters,” said Henderson.

Here is some information from the FEMA Earthquake Safety Handbook

Have on Hand for Any Emergency – Ideas for Home, Workplace, and Car

• Water: Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day and be prepared for a 72-hour period. A normally active person needs at least ½ gallon of water daily just for drinking.
• Food: It’s always a practical idea to keep a supply of non-perishable food on hand that can be rotated into your diet and replenished on a regular basis. Have a sufficient supply of canned or dehydrated food, powdered milk, and canned juices for at least 72 hours. Dried cereals and fruits and non-salted nuts are good sources of nutrition. Keep the following points in mind :Avoid foods that will make you thirsty. Choose salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals, and canned goods with high liquid content. Stock foods that do not require refrigeration, cooking, water, or special preparation
• Flashlights and spare batteries: Keep a flashlight beside your bed, at your place of work, and in your car. Do not use matches or candles after an earthquake until you are certain that no gas leaks exist. Use a wind-up powered generator to have unlimited emergency power
• Portable, battery-powered radio or television and spare batteries: Most telephones will be out of order or used for emergency purposes, so portable radios or portable digital televisions will be your best source of information. You may also want to have a battery-powered CB, other two-way radio, or wind-up powered radio.
• First aid kit and manual: Keep a first aid kit at home and in your car. Also, have a manual such as Standard First Aid & Personal Safety by the American Red Cross. Have members of your household take basic first aid and CPR courses.
• Fire extinguishers: Keep a fire extinguisher at home and in your car. Some extinguishers are good only for certain types of fires — electrical, grease, or gas. Class ABC extinguishers are designed for safe use on any type of fire. Your fire department can show you how to properly use an extinguisher.
• Special needs: Keep a supply of special needs items, such as medications, extra eyeglasses, contact lens solutions, hearing aid batteries, items for infants (formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers), sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper), and any items unique to your family’s needs.
• Prepare customized emergency plans for people with disabilities in advance: Whether small or widespread, emergencies can pose special challenges for individuals with disabilities. Make more than one exit from your home wheelchair-accessible in case the primary exit is blocked in a disaster.
• Important papers and cash: Be sure to have a supply of cash for use if ATMs, banks, and credit card systems are not operating Also, keep copies of credit and identification cards and important documents, such as insurance policies and financial records.
• Tools: In addition to a pipe wrench and crescent/adjustable wrench (for turning off gas and water valves), you should have a lighter, a supply of matches in a waterproof container, and a whistle for signaling rescue workers
• Clothes: If you live in a cold climate, you must think about warmth. You might not have heat after an earthquake. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies. Be sure to have one complete change of clothing and shoes per person, including the following:
  • jacket or coat
  • long pants
  • long sleeve shirt
  • sturdy shoes
  • hat, mittens or gloves, and scarf
  • sleeping bag or warm blanket (per person)

• Pet needs: Identify a shelter area for your pet, gather the necessary supplies, ensure that your pet has proper ID and up-to-date veterinarian records, and make sure you have a pet carrier and a leash.

Besides having supplies readily available, you should also check your utilities such as gas, water, appliances for damages before using them as well as checking for small fires.

For the full FEMA Earthquake Safety Guide, visit FEMA at:
https://www.washington.edu/emergency/files/documents/FEMA_Earthquake_Safety.pdf