Resolve to be Ready for a Winter Emergency

Beacon Hose, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), want you to always “Resolve to be Ready” for an emergency, especially during the winter.

Taking preparedness actions can save lives and protect property anywhere — at home, in schools, in your neighborhood and in the workplace. We highlight the importance of planning ahead to protect our families and secure our community and homes for disasters. For these reasons, we are asking you to Resolve to be Ready by knowing your risk and taking action.

Learn what hazards pose a risk where you live and work and their potential impact on you, your family and the community. Once you understand your risk, you are better equipped to take preparations.

In the winter, of course, we could face a blizzard the likes we saw in 1978 and 2013. That could mean days of being stranded in your home with no way of traveling for supplies. It could mean losing power and heat for up to a week. It could mean treacherous driving conditions during the storm. It’s worth planning ahead.

Here are a few items we have to help you Resolve to be Ready for a winter emergency:

How to Prepare for a Winter Storm

Our friends at FEMA have put together a document with helpful advice, reminders and statistics to help guide your preparation for a potential emergency.

It includes advice on how to know your risk, how to protect yourself and your family, how to develop a communication plan, how to build emergency kits for your home and your car, how to prepare your home for a storm, and how to spot medical emergencies that could arise during a storm.

How to Make a Family Emergency Plan

Emergencies can happen at any time of year, whether it’s a debilitating winter storm or a mid-summer house fire. It’s useful to create a family emergency plan in case.

This includes a list of important contact information and biographical information for each person in the family, as well as information about your home’s evacuation plan and meeting place in case of a fire. (Remember: There should be at least two ways out of every room, and everyone in your home should practice escaping from your home by crawling with your eyes closed to simulate an escape from a hot, smoke-filled room.)

How to Build an Emergency Kit

It’s important to have a collection of emergency supplies that are stored in a safe place in your home. Here’s a sample of what could be in your own emergency kit.

  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
  • Local maps
  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
  • Cash or traveler’s checks and change
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long
    pants and sturdy shoes
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
  • Paper and pencil
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Beacon Hose will be here for you in case of an emergency. The Beacon Falls Emergency Operations Center will be open during major storm events and it can be reached when activated at 203-729-1470. Remember, if you have an emergency, make sure you’re in a safe location and dial 911 immediately.

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