Disaster Happens. Prepared by David O\'Brien

1. Emergency
Preparedness
at Home
New Mexico State University
Cooporative Extension

2. Are you prepared?
DISASTERS HAPPEN

3. Hatch Flood
Hatch Flood,
August 2006
Floodwaters breached
an arroyo
Hatch and other Dona
Ana County floods
•Costs: $20 billion
•Including county’s
dams and
stormwater
facilities repair
costs

4. USDA Designates Seven Counties
in New Mexico as Primary Natural
August 14, 2009 Disaster Areas
• Counties with primary natural disaster areas due
to losses caused by drought and high winds that
occurred after October 1, 2008:
– Chaves, Eddy, Lincoln, Roosevelt, DeBaca, Lea, and
Otero
• Farm operators in the these counties in New
Mexico also qualify for natural disaster benefits
due to their neighboring status:
– Curry, Guadalupe, Sierra, Torrence, Dona Ana, Quay,
and Socorro

5. The Bear Fire
Gila National
Forest, July 3, 2006
•Two-week
fire
• Burned
51,307 acres
of mixed
conifer

6. Emergency Preparedness at Home
1. Find Out What Disasters Could
Happen to You
2. Create a Disaster Plan
3. Put Your Plan into Action
4. Keeping Your Plan Current

7. 1. Possible Disasters
• Research what types of disasters are
most likely to happen in your area.
• Find out about your community’s warning
signals
– what they sound like
– what you should do when you hear them.
• Learn which radio stations will provide
emergency information for your area.

8. Possible Disasters
Types of disasters and preparations:
• Earthquake • Thunderstorms and
• Extreme Heat Lightning
• Fire • Tornado
• Flood • Wildfire
• Hazardous Materials • Winter Storms and Extreme
• Household Hazardous Cold
Waste Emergency • Pandemic Influenza
• Terrorism • Other: Landslide and
– Explosions, Biological Volcanoes
Threats, Nuclear
Blast, Chemical
Threats, Radioactive
Fallout, Electromagnetic
Pulse (EMP), Radiological
Dispersion Device.

9. Explain basic plan to all?

10. 2. Create a Disaster Plan
• Meet with your family and discuss why you need
to prepare for disaster. Discuss
– The types of disasters that could happen
– Explain what to do in each case
• Make two evacuation plans
1. Specific to your home
2. If your entire neighborhood is affected
• Have an action plan for your pets
• Contact an out of area relative or friend to be your
“family contact.”
– Explain to them their responsibility

11. 3. Put Your Plan into Action
• Post emergency telephone numbers by all telephones
• Teach children how and when to call 911 for help
• Create your home emergency supply kit
• Find safe spots in your home for each type of disaster.
• Determine the best escape routes from your home – find
two ways out of each room
• Ensure smoke detectors on each level of your home
• Keep NFPA approved general purpose dry chemical type
household fire extinguisher
• Check for adequate insurance coverage
• Take photos or videotape your home and belongings
• Take a first aid and CPR class

12. Emergency Supply Kit
• Water: Drinking and • Battery-powered radio
sanitation. • Flashlight
– 1 gallon/person/day • Batteries: for radio and flashlight
• Food • First Aid kit
– Lasts for a long time • Whistle
– Manual can opener
• Dust mask
– Eating & drinking utensils.
• Moist towelettes. E.g. baby
• Medication – 1 year wipes
• Warmth – a sleeping bag or • Basic tools: Wrench or pliers
warm blanket for each person.
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Special Items
– Pack infant • Good walking shoes
formula, bottles, diapers, baby • Garbage bags
food, pet food, feminine hygiene • Plastic sheeting and duct tape
supplies, comfort
items, books, paper, pens, and
other forms of entertainment.

13. Important Family Documents
Keep these records in a fireproof & waterproof container:
• Will, Insurance • Passports, Social
Policies, Security
• Contracts, Deeds, Sto Cards, Immunization
cks and Bonds Records
• Bank Account • Credit Card Account
Numbers Numbers and
• Inventory of Valuable Companies
Goods • Family Records
• Important Telephone (birth, marriage, and
Numbers death certificates)

14. 4. Keeping Your Plan Current
• Practice, practice, practice – review your
plan once a month.
• Conduct fire and emergency evacuation
drills.
• Test and recharge your fire extinguishers
according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Test your smoke detectors monthly – change
the batteries every six months, when the time
changes.
• Replace emergency supply kit stored water
and food every six months.