Attending a Presentation by the Local Emergency Management Agency

My wife and I recently attended a presentation by our local emergency management agency (county and city level). It primarily was intended to be motivational over offering specific suggestions, but it was nevertheless informative. Although I have always been reluctant to identify where I live for op-sec reasons, I think I will at least identify the state because some of the resources available are too valuable to not share.

We live in Idaho. One thing that I learned is that Idaho is actually one of the highest rated in the nation for earthquake risks, both as to the number of quakes and the potential for damage. The presenter brought along a nearly 40-page booklet published by the State that outlined the risks of earthquakes, briefly described historic earthquakes in our area, and preparing for an earthquake. You can request copies by sending an email to Citizen.corps@bhs.idaho.gov, or by going to http://www.bhs.idaho.gov or http://www.idahogeology.org/

The booklet included not only information on identifying risks around your home, but mitigating hazards, creating a disaster-preparedness plan, and disaster supply kits (i.e, a 72-hour kit). It also described tips for surviving a quake. The presenter noted that with modern building codes, it is generally safer to stay in a building than to be outside. Office buildings are designed so that glass windows will shatter outward, and the buildings should survive even a strong quake. The primary advice in that situation was "drop, cover, and hold on" (I guess to distinguish it from the old "drop and cover" for a nuclear explosion). It suggests:

If are not near a desk or table, drop to the floor against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Avoid exterior walls, windows, hanging objects, mirrors, tall furniture, large appliances, and cabinets filled with heavy objects. Do not go outside until well after the shaking stops.

The exception to this advice are old stone or masonry (e.g., brick) buildings, which are prone to collapse.

In a change from past advice, the presenter told us to NOT turn off the gas main to the house unless we smell gas. The reason is that, unless you have a newer home with a second shutoff after the pressure diaphragm, if you shut off your gas, you must call the gas company to turn the gas back on without damaging your gas system (the gas coming to your house is at a much higher pressure than is what is used in your house, and if you don't do it right, turning on the gas can destroy the diaphragm that regulates the pressure for your house's gas lines). So, if you needlessly turn off your gas, it could leave you without gas for heating or cooking when you need it most....

Although Idaho has many dams, both large and small, the danger from an earthquake is not primarily that of a catastrophic failure, but of a seiche--water sloshing over the dam--and causing a subsequent flood.

The presenter also discussed dangers from flooding and wild/forest fires. Because of how little warning a person may have as to a fire or flood, he recommended that our goal should be that we can evacuate our homes in 8-10 minutes. That is, it should take us only 8 to 10 minutes to get our disaster kit, water, and anything else packed into a vehicle and be leaving our home.

Although the presenter indicated that not all states are this way, Idaho apparently has integrated its warning systems with the NOAA weather radio. Thus, an earthquake, fire, flood, or other disaster warning will be broadcast over the NOAA system, including the emergency alert. If you have an NOAA weather alert radio, it will also activate because of these other disasters. Good reason to buy and keep an NOAA radio at hand.

Idaho also has an alert and warning system available as an app you can install on your smart phone. More information is available at www.isaws.org.

Primary emergency response falls upon local and state agencies. The presenter noted that FEMA's primary purpose is to serve as a "giant checkbook" for local agencies in the event of a disaster. Nevertheless, FEMA has good information at its website, and publishes a emergency preparedness guide called "Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness." I haven't ordered a copy yet, but the information we were provided indicated that "[t]his booklet provides a step-by-step outline on how to prepare a disaster supply kit, emergency planning for people with disabilities, how to locate and evacuate to a shelter, and even contingency planning for family pets." It can be ordered at no cost to you at 1-800-480-2520.

Being LDS, it was both amusing and gratifying to hear that the Church plays an important role in disaster planning for Idaho. Because LDS churches are built so far above minimum code standards, they actually represent one of the safer places to evacuate to, and will often serve as evacuation shelters. Also, even though the State and local agencies have back-up communication systems, they also recognize and have contingencies for making use of the Church's emergency network of shortwave operators.

Although the presenter did not discuss this, our local church will once a year pass around "sign up" sheets for people to list special equipment or skills that they have that can be used in the event of a natural disaster. These include not just standard skills you might think of, such as medical training, but also language skills in order to communicate with people that may not be proficient in English.