Emergency Preparedness Fair

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January 30, Booths Open at 5:30 pm
Castle Dale Stake Center
Booths will provide valuable emergency preparedness information to all who attend
Emergency-How well prepared are you and your family?
August 2003-power blackout struck much of northeastern United States and southern Canada. Some areas were without power for three days. The blackout was the largest loss of power in the history of the US, effecting an estimated 50 million people.
August 2003-swift moving forest fire swept through British Columbia, Canada, causing the evacuation of an estimated 30,000 people.
September 2003-a rare category five, Hurricane Isabel, churned out winds of 161 MPH before weakening on it slow path to the East Coast of the US.
October 2003-fires ravaged southern California, thousands evacuated, homes lost, etc.
Dec. 23-28, 2003-seven earthquakes, magnitude 3.0-3.8, central Utah.
An Emergency Preparedness Fair will be held Jan. 30; it is free to the public and everyone is welcome. Booths will open at 5:30 p.m. in the cultural hall of the Castle Dale Stake Center, located at 10 East Main, with information and handouts. Special presentations will begin at 6 p.m. from “The Earthquake Lady,” Maralin Y. Hoff, and from Sgt. Martin Wilson of the Emery County Sheriff’s Office.
Booths will be from: Utah Power, Questar, Castle Valley Special Services, Emery Telcom, Neighborhood Watch, Castle Dale City, Orangeville City, Castle Dale Elementary, Orangeville Elementary, Castle Dale Fire Department, Orangeville Fire Department, Emery Medical Center, EMTs, Castle Dale Dry Pack Cannery, meal preparation from dry pack cannery, SouthEastern Utah Health Department, Emery County Sheriff’s Office, mine rescue, Utah State Extension Office, Emery County Senior Citizens, military surplus, Emery Animal Health and the Earthquake Lady.
You never know when you or a loved one will be stranded in your car. Do you know what you need in case of an emergency? Do you have a car emergency kit?
Do your children know how to handle an emergency? They are never too young to learn. What would your family do in a prolonged power outage? What would you do for heat, preparing food, storing food, etc.? Come to the Emergency Preparedness Fair to find out more. Bring your neighbors. Everyone is welcome.
Emergency? A test of personal and family preparedness. As you work through a trail, you will find resilience and resourcefulness you did not know you had. Your children will always remember how you acted and how you handled a terrible situation. Families come to the Emergency Preparedness Fair on Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. for important information.
Local LDS Cannery Offers Solution to Food Storage
The LDS Church maintains a dry-pack cannery in Castle Dale. Dry foods such as potato pearls, wheat, beans, flour, sugar, dry milk, and pudding mix may either be purchased there in bulk or brought in and sealed in 10# cans. This facility is available to the public. The only charge is for the product and the cans.
A recent article in the Deseret Morning News (Homeland Security for U.S. food) pointed out that the food we eat travels on average about 1300 miles. Our food supply is far more vulnerable than we realize.
Some reasons for an extended food storage are the following:
• Grocery stores do not back-stock. All products are on the shelves and would be quickly depleted in an emergency.
• Transportation can be interrupted by natural disasters that destroy roads or bridges, strikes or a decrease in the oil supply.
• A nuclear attack or accident will cause massive deaths by starvation within the first year.
• Adverse weather conditions, and plant and animal diseases can devastate our food supply.
• If, for any reason, the food supply goes down, prices will go up. (During the recent eastern blackout, water was selling in some stores for $9 a gallon.)
• You save money buying on sale.
• There is a tremendous peace of mind in knowing that your family will not go hungry if there is a long term need.
It isn’t as difficult or costly as you might suppose. For more information or to schedule an appointment call, Betty or Von Frandsen at 381-2588 or Janet or Jack Magnuson at 381-2592.
Why a 72-Hour Kit?
Disasters can happen anytime and anywhere. When disaster strikes, you may not have time to respond.
After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone. You could get help in hours, or it may take days. Would your family be prepared to cope with the emergency until help arrives?
Your family will cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supplies Kit. Once disaster hits, you won’t have time to shop or search for supplies. If you’ve gathered supplies in advance, your family can endure an evacuation or home confinement.
In the event of a disaster, you may be without any services such as water or electricity for up to 72 hours. You must be prepared with water and food that needs no preparation to get you by until services are restored. It may also be necessary to evacuate from where you are. These supplies need to be stored in a sturdy, easy to carry container like a backpack or duffle bag.
Items that should be included in the kit include:
A three day supply of water (one gallon per person per day).
Food that won’t spoil, and does not need to be cooked such as ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables, canned juices, milk and soup (if powdered store extra water), staples – sugar, salt and pepper, high energy foods like peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, vitamins, foods for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets, comfort/stress foods – cookies, hard candies, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee and tea bags.
Clothing & Bedding: include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person, sturdy shoes or work boots; rain gear, blankets or sleeping bags, hat and gloves, thermal underwear and sunglasses.
A first aid kit that includes any prescription medications for each family member, as well as assorted sterile adhesive bandages, assorted gauze pads, hypoallergenic adhesive tape, triangular bandages, assorted sterile roll bandages, scissors, tweezers, needle, moistened towelettes, antiseptic, thermometer, tongue depres sors (2), tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant, assorted sizes of safety pins, latex gloves (2 pair), sunscreen and insect repellant.
Extra set of car keys, credit card, or preferably cash, also some change.
Sanitation supplies: toilet paper, towelettes, soap, liquid detergent, hand sanitizer, feminine supplies, personal hygiene items, toothbrush & toothpaste, mouthwash, plastic garbage bags with ties (for personal sanitation uses), disinfectant, household chlorine bleach; towels and washcloths.
Special needs items (such as needed for infants, disabled or elderly).
Pet food, water and any pet supplies necessary.
Tools and other supplies: mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, emergency preparedness manual, battery operated radio, flashlight and extra batteries, non-electric can opener, utility knife, fire extinguisher, small canister ABC type, tent or tube tent, pliers, duct tape, compass, matches in a waterproof container, aluminum foil, plastic storage containers, signal flare, paper, pencil, needles, thread, medicine dropper, shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water, whistle; plastic sheeting and map of area (for locating shelters).
Special items: remember family members with special needs such as infants and elderly or disabled persons. For baby: formula, diapers, bottles, powdered milk, medications. For adults: heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin, prescription drugs; denture needs, contact lenses and supplies, extra eye glasses. Entertainment: games and book. Important family documents: keep these records in a waterproof, portable container; Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks, and bonds, bank account numbers, credit card account numbers and companies. Inventory of valuable household goods and important telephone numbers. Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates).
Some other suggestions and reminders: store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk of your car. Keep items in air tight plastic bags. Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Rotate your stored food every six months. Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc. Ask your physician about storing prescription medications.
Meet with your family and discuss the types of disasters that could occur. Explain how to prepare and respond. Discuss what to do if you are advised to evacuate. And most importantly, practice what you have discussed.
Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by a disaster. Pick two meeting places, one that is a location a safe distance from your home in case of a fire, and the other a place outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Choose an out-of-state friend as a “Check-in Contact” for everyone to call.
Post emergency phone numbers by every phone. Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas and electricity at main switches. Install a smoke detector on every level of your home, especially near bedrooms; test monthly and change the batteries two times a year. Contact your local fire department to learn more about home fire hazards. Learn first aid and CPR. Contact your local Red Cross chapter for information and training.
Meet with your neighbors and plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster. Know your neighbors’ skills (medical, technical). Consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans for child care in case parents can’t get home.
Remember to practice and maintain your plan.