Resources

Emergency Preparedness Resources. Please click into each section for additional information on various potential disasters in our area and what you can do today to prepare yourself.

Current Incidents & Events:

No current incidents or events to report at this time.

The following information explains the program

Winter weather brings with it a multitude of different challenges and concerns for safety. In addition to preparing for extreme cold with the information provided below, you will also find information in the links to Public Safety Power Shutoff, Flood, and General Emergency Preparedness very useful to be prepared for winter related emergencies. What constitutes extreme cold and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions relatively unaccustomed to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered “extreme cold.” Whenever temperatures drop decidedly below normal and as wind speed increases, heat can leave your body more rapidly. Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outside, can cause other serious or life-threatening health problems and anyone can be affected. To keep yourself and your family safe, you should know the early warning signs of hypothermia and what to do to prevent cold-weather health emergencies.

Hypothermia occurs when more heat escapes from your body than your body can produce. Hypothermia usually occurs gradually. Often, people aren’t aware that they need help, much less medical attention. Signs and symptoms of hypothermia may include:

the “-umbles“: Stumbles, Mumbles, Fumbles, Grumbles and/or slurred speechgradual loss of mental and physical abilitiesshivering, which is your body’s attempt to generate heat through muscle activityabnormally slow rate of breathing and cold, pale skinunusual or extreme fatigue, lethargy or apathy.

Persons exhibiting these symptoms need medical attention immediately.

Understand Wind ChillThe Wind Chill index is the temperature your body feels when the air temperature is combined with the wind speed. It is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the effects of wind and cold.

Dressing warmly when it is very cold out is dressing for success. Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton. Stay dry— wet clothing chills the body rapidly. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm.

Additional Resources:

https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather

https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/pdfs/winter-storm/EN_Winter-Storm-Preparedness-Checklist.pdf

Power lines behind the words Public Safety Power Shutoff

Public Safety Power Shut-Offs, also known as PSPS events, are planned power outages run by the power company (in our case, PG&E) to help reduce the possibility of a power related disaster – such as a wildfire. With PSPS events, comes the loss of power that many need to survive.

Losing power can be frustrating and an unwelcome disruption to your life; PG&E has created preparation tips to keep you safe and your life as normal as possible during the PSPS event.

Make sure you have food that is safe to eat.
Make ice ahead of time to store up and keep your refrigerator food cold, and freezer foods at optimal temperature while the power is off.
Make sure to limit the number of times you open your refrigerator and freezer doors to ensure that your food stays colder longer.
Make sure you have food that you can eat that does not require a power source to make the food consumable.
Make sure you have a plan for items in your house that may require a power source.
Make sure you have a back-up key or extra battery pack for locks and other electronics that require power to run.
Ensure you have a radio with a battery or crank that can provide critical updates as needed to ensure you stay up to date.
Make a plan about where you can get free WIFI should you need access to the internet.

Resources:

California Foundation for Independent Living Centers and Disability Disaster Access have partnered together to provide free portable battery back-ups for individuals using medical devices. To sign-up for these resources, please fill out Disability Disaster Access & Resource Application here.Medical Baseline Program – hosted by PG&
E, is an assistance program that provides 2 kinds of assistance to residential customers that depend on power for medical needs. The assistance if in the form of an additional monthly allotment of energy at the lowest price at your current rate, and extra notifications in advance of public safety power shutoffs. Check out PG& E’s website to find out if you are eligible.FEMA has created guidelines and suggestions on how to prepare for a possible power outage. Look at the recommendations for alternative power sources, appliances, food storage and more. Make sure that you know and understand your medical needs to ensure you have a plan in place should you need medications or devices stored at a specific temperature.PG& E Resources for locating Community Resource Centers – where you can access resources such as restrooms, basic medical equipment charging, other non-essential device charging, WIFI, and other amenities while you wait for your power to be restored.

House positioned over the top of the ground split open portraying an extreme earthquake has occurred.

Earthquakes are sudden, rapid shaking of the earth caused by the shifting of rock beneath the earth’s surface. Earthquakes strike without warning, and at any time of the year, day, or night.

During an earthquake:

Remain calm. Do not exit the building. Do not use any elevators while the ground is shaking or after the shaking has ceased, until you know the elevator is safe.
Move away from the perimeter of the building. Stay away from windows, bookcases, other heavy furniture, and any objects that may fall or shatter.
Follow the phrase DROP-COVER-HOLDDrop – to the ground and locate the nearest large shelter item (such as a desk, sturdy table, etc.)Cover – your head and neck underneath your shelter to protect your spine, neck, and head.
Hold- hold onto the bottom of the shelter you are using. The best suggestion is to wrap your arm around a leg of the table or desk. This ensures that as the rolls/waves of the earthquake go through you are not pulled away from your shelter.If you use a mobility device such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair, please take a look at the graphics found on the earthquake country’s website, to identify how you should protect yourself.Individuals using a cane: Recommendation is to Drop – Cover- Hold
Individuals using a walker: Recommendation is to Lock (your walker) – Cover (sit down on your walker (if applicable) and cover your head and neck with anything you have around you) – Hold (onto your walker and anything you are utilizing to cover your head and neck)Individuals using a wheelchair: Recommendation is to Lock (your wheelchair) – Cover (cover your head and neck with anything you have around you) – Hold (onto your wheelchair and anything you are utilizing to cover your head and neck)

After an earthquake:

Be prepared for aftershocks.
Check yourself for injuries and look around yourself before moving from your shelter location, as items may have fallen, and glass may have shattered.
Check for fire, gas, water leaks and electrical shocks. Do not use matches, cigarette lighters or turn on electrical switches for appliances. If you smell gas, contact your gas provider.
Open doors carefully as items may have shifted during the earthquake.

Resources:

Graphic shows the point in which an earthquake occurs under water and causes a cascading effect on the waves that are heading to land causing large waves.

A tsunami is a series of extremely large ocean waves caused by earthquakes, underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, or asteroids. A tsunami can kill or injure people and damage or destroy buildings and infrastructure as waves come in and go out. Tsunamis can travel 20-30 miles per hour with waves 10-100 feet tall. Tsunamis can cause flooding and disrupt transportation, power, communications, and water supply. Tsunamis happen anywhere along the U.S coasts. Coasts that border the Pacific Ocean or Caribbean have the greatest risk.

If you are under a Tsunami Warning:

If a Tsunami is caused by an earthquake, DROP, COVER and HOLD ON to protect yourself from the earthquake first.
Get to high ground as far inland as possible.
Be alert to signs of a tsunami, such as a sudden rise or draining of ocean waters.
Listen to emergency information and alerts. Always follow the instructions from local emergency managers.
If you are outside of the tsunami hazard zone and receive a warning, stay where you are unless officials tell you otherwise.
To find out if you are located within a tsunami inundation zone, see the county specific links below.
Evacuate: DO NOT WAIT! Leave as soon as you see any natural signs of a tsunami or receive an official tsunami warning.
Evacuation routes are often marked by a wave with an arrow in the direction of higher ground.
If you are in a boat, go further out to sea – do not attempt to come to shore.

Resources:

FACILITATOR TRAINING– Imagine SLS, in cooperation with Premiere Health Care Services and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, will host Facilitator Training on the first Wednesday of every month. Click on the flyer for details: SD Program Learning and Professional Development

Emergency Resources

Resources

Winter Weather

General Emergency Preparedness

Heat Wave

Wildfire

Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)/Power Outages

Earthquakes

Flood

Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Incident

Tsunami