RESPONSE

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 During some emergencies, it may be safest to stay at home, rather than evacuate to a family member’s house or an emergency shelter. Sheltering in place can range from staying put in your home during a severe winter storm to pitching a tent in your front yard after an earthquake damages your house.
 

Planning to Shelter-In-Place

• Keep enough supplies on hand for your family and pets for at least three days, up to seven days If possible.
• Be sure to store shelf-stable foods, and one gallon of water per day for each person or pet.
• NEVER ration water unless told to do so by authorities.
• Store the items in an easily accessible place, and in quantities that are easy to handle.
• Keep an extra supply of important items such as medications, baby supplies, pet supplies, special dietary items, etc.
• Remember to rotate your stored items every six months.
• Be sure to listen to your radio to stay updated on the emergency. Authorities will inform you about the status of the emergency, and issue any special instructions such as a boil water advisory.
• Plan to have activities for your children such as coloring books, board games or puzzles.
   

Extended Sheltering In Place

Professionals in emergency management recommend that everyone be prepared to shelter in place for longer than three days. Some even recommend storing a month or more of essential supplies. Plan for as long as you realistically can. Winter storms can result in trees and limbs across many roads, heavy snow pack, or major flooding. Many natural disasters could result in a power outage or disruption of other essential service for an extended period.

• Think about the supplies you have stored and how long they would last.
• Are there additional supplies you need to store if power or water were out for a month or more?
• Identify your dependencies on electrical power and water, and decide how long you can realistically shelter in place, or make a plan to work around these dependencies.
• How will you ensure sanitation in your home?
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about ensuring adequate supplies of your prescription medications.

During certain types of disasters, such as wildfires or floods, you may need to leave your home in order to remain safe. Your family disaster plan should include locations to which you and your animals can evacuate (which might include an emergency shelter) and a way for family members to stay in contact. Be sure to sign up for Everbridge - Reverse 911 to get notifications about emergencies near your home, business, school or other locations.

It is important to know that entry to evacuated areas will likely be denied until conditions are safe. In cases where some entry is allowed, residents will need proof of their address (such as a government-issued ID). Although you will not be forced to evacuate your home, if you choose to leave you may not be allowed to return until the danger has passed. In order to keep everyone safe, citizens need to stay out of the evacuated area so that emergency workers can do their best to minimize the impact to homes and businesses.

Evacuating when asked to do so allows emergency workers to focus on the controlling disaster instead of saving the lives of people who have chosen to stay. Be sure to take your animals with you when you evacuate. Remember – if it’s not safe for you, then it’s not safe for them! In fact, animals can distract or harm the emergency workers who are trying to save homes and property.

In 2014, the State of Oregon adopted a three-level evacuation process. It’s important to understand what these levels mean in case you are ever asked to evacuate.

LEVEL 1 evacuation means “BE READY” for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. This is the time for preparation and precautionary movement of persons with special needs, mobile property and (under certain circumstances) pets and livestock. If conditions worsen, emergency services personnel may contact you via an emergency notification system.

LEVEL 2 evacuation means “BE SET” to evacuate. This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Residents MAY have time to gather necessary items, but doing so is at their own risk. THIS MAY BE THE ONLY NOTICE THAT YOU RECEIVE! Emergency services cannot guarantee that they will be able to notify you if conditions rapidly deteriorate. Area media services will be asked to broadcast periodic updates.

LEVEL 3 evacuation means that you need to LEAVE IMMEDIATELY! Danger to your area is current or imminent, and you should evacuate immediately. If you choose to ignore this advisement, you must understand that emergency services may not be available to assist you further. DO NOT delay leaving to gather any belongings or make efforts to protect your home.

An emergency shelter is a place for people to live temporarily when they cannot live in their home. Even though mass care shelters often provide water, food and basic sanitary facilities, you should plan to take your disaster supplies kit with you so you will have the supplies you require. Although shelter staff may be able to help you get in touch with a doctor to see bout replacing your prescription medications, its best to plan to bring your own supply.

There are many sites throughout Curry County that are suitable for emergency shelters. It’s important to remember that emergency shelter locations are only opened based on the needs of an ongoing event. Curry County doesn’t have ‘pre-designated’ shelters prior to disasters. 

Rather, the number and locations of shelters opened will be based on the incident and available resources after the disaster occurs.

Mass care sheltering can involve living with many people in a confined space, which can be difficult and unpleasant. To avoid conflicts in the stressful situation, it is important to cooperate with shelter managers and others assisting them. Alcoholic beverages and weapons are forbidden in emergency shelters, and smoking is restricted.

The American Red Cross Safe and Well program provides additional information for you.

When disasters strike, loved ones can become separated. If you have been affected by a disaster, you can register yourself on the Safe and Well website, where your loved ones can search for information about you. If you are having trouble reaching your loved ones in a disaster area, you can search on Safe and Well to see if they have registered.

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