Emergency Preparedness
Any number of emergencies can
strike here in Richfield. Severe thunderstorms, blizzards,
tornadoes,
hazardous material leaks are but a few. Unlike a house fire, these emergencies
can affect an entire community. That’s why it pays to be prepared. It
doesn’t take much to get you and your family ready in case disaster strikes;
there are four basic steps to follow:
Know The Hazards
Understand the hazards
that can affect you and your family. The most common hazard encountered in
Minnesota is severe weather. Additionally, it’s important to understand how
those hazards can affect you.
Create A Family Emergency Plan
Create your emergency
plan. Designate two family meeting spots in case of an emergency or
disaster. The first should be outside your home and used in case of an
emergency in your home such as a fire. The second should be outside your
neighborhood in case you can’t return home as in the case of a tornado or
chemical spill. You should also designate a “family check in contact”
located out of state in case you get separated.
Put Your Plan In Place
Put your plan in place by
doing the following:
- Post emergency numbers by
telephones.
- Install smoke & carbon monoxide
detectors in your home and test them regularly.
- Look around your home for hazards,
fire hazards, trip/fall hazards and correct them.
- Learn CPR & First Aid.
- Learn where your shutoffs for
electricity, gas and water are located in your home and how/when to shut
them off.
- Teach your children how and when to
call 911.
- Assemble a disaster supplies kit
with enough supplies to supply you and your family for three days. Keep
these items in sturdy, easy to carry containers.
- Keep copies of important family
documents in a waterproof container.
Practice And Maintain Your Plan
Check
phone numbers regularly, practice a fire drill in your home, test your smoke
detectors and replace/restore the materials in your disaster supply kit
regularly.
Additional Information
Minnesota
CodeReady Initiative
Ready.Gov
FEMA Emergency
Management Citizen Course on Disaster Preparedness