Man-Made Disasters:

On September 11, 2001, America was reminded that no place is immune from terrorism, and that we must all be prepared for any kind of threat. Marion County, like the rest of America, is at risk. To protect yourself and your family, you must be prepared

In a disaster, you will have very little time to make life-saving decisions. Planning now will save lives.

• Your family may not be together when disaster strikes. Plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations.

• Consider a plan where each family member calls, or e-mails, the same friend or relative in an emergency.

• It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-state contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the catastrophe, the first important decision is whether you stay put, or get away. You should understand and plan for both possibilities.

• Use common sense and available information to determine whether there is an immediate danger.

• In an emergency, it may be some time before local agencies can provide assistance. Use the radio or television for up to date information and instructions.

• If you are specifically told to evacuate or seek medical attention, do so immediately.

• There may be conditions under which you will decide to get away or be ordered to leave. Plan in advance how you will assemble your family and anticipate where you will go. Choose several directions so you have options.

• If you have a car, keep at least half a tank of gas at all times.

• If you do not have a car, plan how you will leave if necessary.

• Take your emergency supply kit, unless you have a reason to believe it has been contaminated and lock the door behind you.

• Take pets with you if you are told to evacuate. If you are going to a public shelter, however, keep in mind that pets may not be allowed inside.

• If you believe the air may be contaminated, drive with your windows and vents closed and keep the air conditioning and heater turned off.

• Schools, daycare providers, workplaces, neighborhoods, and apartment buildings, should all have site specific emergency plans.

• Review plans at places your family spends time, such as work and school. If no plans exists, consider volunteering to help develop one.

• bullet You will be better prepared to reunite your family and loved ones safely during an emergency if you think ahead, and communicate with others in advance.

• If you are a parent, or guardian of an elderly or disabled adult, make sure schools or daycare providers have emergency response plans.

• Ask how they will communicate with families during a crisis.

• Find out if they store adequate food, water and other emergency supplies.

• Find out if they are prepared to shelter-in-place if need be, and where they plan to go if they must get away.

• Make sure your workplace has a regularly practiced evacuation plan.

• Take a critical look at your heating ventilation and air-conditioning system to determine if it is secure or if it could be feasibly upgraded to better filter potential containments.

• Be sure you, and others, know how to turn off the ventilation system if necessary.

• Think about what to do if your employees cant go home, and make sure you have appropriate supplies on hand.