Don't wait; get prepared now, rescuers says
By Michele Linck, Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, September 18, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed. Get involved.
Even though those things are easy, they shouldn't be put off, Sioux City and Woodbury County emergency professionals said Wednesday, speaking at the city manager's press conference.
Assistant Fire Chief Jim Clark said anyone who can take care of themselves should be prepared to do so in an emergency or natural disaster. Rescuers can reach only about 2 percent of the population, he said, and they focus first on people with special needs. A data base of those people's locations is constantly updated, he said. Those who haven't been contacted may call 211 to give their information.
Gary Brown, director of Woodbury County Disaster Services, said plans are in place to evacuate single neighborhoods or the entire Sioux City metropolitan area -- in the case of a toxic spill, for instance -- and include sheltering residents in 16 Northwest Iowa communities. Routes out of each neighborhood are planned.
Angela Drent of the Siouxland District Health Department urged each family to create a kit of items to help them stay safe and get through three days without outside help or electricity. She has developed a shopping list to acquire the needed items over 20 weeks to spread the expense, but said most people already have many of the items. The list and plan are available online at www.woodburyiowa.com/departments/District Health/. Scroll down to Emergency Preparedness or 20 Weeks.
It's especially important to keep one gallon of water per person per day on hand, Drent said. She also urged a family communication plan and that parents learn where their school children would be taken in the case of an emergency, so they can find them more quickly.
Rita Donnelly of Volunteers in Policing recommended those who are interested take the six-week Community Emergency Response Team training. The class is free and participants leave better prepared to take care of themselves and their families and to help their neighbors, she said. One hundred people have been trained since the course began three year ago.
Clark recommended checking other Web sites for more information: Homeland Security Ready at www.ready.gov; the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org and click on Preparedness; and the Sioux City Fire Department at www.sioux-city.org/dept/index.asp?deptnum=12.
Even though those things are easy, they shouldn't be put off, Sioux City and Woodbury County emergency professionals said Wednesday, speaking at the city manager's press conference.
Assistant Fire Chief Jim Clark said anyone who can take care of themselves should be prepared to do so in an emergency or natural disaster. Rescuers can reach only about 2 percent of the population, he said, and they focus first on people with special needs. A data base of those people's locations is constantly updated, he said. Those who haven't been contacted may call 211 to give their information.
Gary Brown, director of Woodbury County Disaster Services, said plans are in place to evacuate single neighborhoods or the entire Sioux City metropolitan area -- in the case of a toxic spill, for instance -- and include sheltering residents in 16 Northwest Iowa communities. Routes out of each neighborhood are planned.
Angela Drent of the Siouxland District Health Department urged each family to create a kit of items to help them stay safe and get through three days without outside help or electricity. She has developed a shopping list to acquire the needed items over 20 weeks to spread the expense, but said most people already have many of the items. The list and plan are available online at www.woodburyiowa.com/departments/District Health/. Scroll down to Emergency Preparedness or 20 Weeks.
It's especially important to keep one gallon of water per person per day on hand, Drent said. She also urged a family communication plan and that parents learn where their school children would be taken in the case of an emergency, so they can find them more quickly.
Rita Donnelly of Volunteers in Policing recommended those who are interested take the six-week Community Emergency Response Team training. The class is free and participants leave better prepared to take care of themselves and their families and to help their neighbors, she said. One hundred people have been trained since the course began three year ago.
Clark recommended checking other Web sites for more information: Homeland Security Ready at www.ready.gov; the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org and click on Preparedness; and the Sioux City Fire Department at www.sioux-city.org/dept/index.asp?deptnum=12.
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