Preparing For Disaster
Being prepared for disaster is important. When disaster strikes, you may not have ample time to respond and ensure the resources you and your family need to survive are available. Moreover, hundreds of other families in your area share the same concerns, and it will be difficult to get access to the necessities you need due to shortages and competition. Do not wait until the last minute and get caught in this situation. Disaster-time civilian response requires sound decision-making and action to save the lives of families and friends.
When determining your emergency needs, plan for the long haul. In any major disaster scenario, it may take 72 hours or more for emergency personnel to reach you. Emergency preparedness kits should contain the essentials your family needs to survive during a disaster. Having two is ideal; a multi-purpose kit that with provisions for more activities for the home, and a transportable slimmed down kit with bare necessities for survival when on the go. Any preparations should be accompanied by an emergency plan. Know where your family is and how to keep in contact in the event of a disaster. Most of all keep informed. Find out what disasters you may be affected by and plan accordingly. Determine and manage your emergency needs as required.
Recommendations for Disaster Preparedness Kit
When preparing a disaster preparedness kit, first plan for the essentials for survival. Think practical first, and think comfortable second. All essential needs should be able to fit in a 5 gallon bucket. Absolute necessities include food, water, and warmth. Foodstuffs should be high energy non-perishables and kept in sealed air-tight containers. Made-ready meals and canned goods are excellent choices for emergency food sources. It is safe to ration, the body can be maintained on half of your average caloric intake during an emergency. Provisions should include enough food supplies to last three days for each family member. more...
Have a Plan
Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.
It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.
You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether, but be patient. - Family Emergency Plan
You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance. more...
If Disaster Strikes
If you are instructed to take shelter immediately, do so at once.
If you are instructed to evacuate:
- Listen to the radio or television for the location of emergency shelters
and for other instructions from local emergency officials.
- Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
- Take your disaster supplies kit.
- Use travel routes specified by local authorities and don't use shortcuts because certain areas may be impassable or dangerous.
Emergency Management Office (EMO)
Caller Box 10007, Capital Hill
Saipan MP 96950
(670) 322-9529-Operation(Weather Information)
(670) 322-9528-Operation(Weather Information)
(670) 322-9500-24 hours
(670) 322-3598-24 hours
Hotlines Pre-Recorded 24 Hours:
Channel 12, 13, 16
Agencies such as the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) or (phone: 716-878-2353) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov/library/) have brochures to help you develop a family emergency plan. You can also visit the local Red Cross at Airport Rd. Your community group or neighborhood association might also want to consider establishing a phone tree or email list to relay important information.
Ready America, Educating and empowering Americans to prepare for emergencies including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.
Home page of the US Government's Official Web Portal for all government transactions, services, and information.
This web site is part of the President's Disaster Management Egov Initiative - a larger initiative aimed at greatly enhancing Disaster Management on an interagency and intergovernmental basis.
NOAA Weather Radio
NWR broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day.
Personal weather radar display and storm tracking desktop weather application, provides near realtime imagery, forecasts, warnings, and live storm tracking.
High quality products for your emergency preparedness needs.
Online store with an interesting assortment of products to compliment your emergency supply and survival kit needs.
Recognizing the Efforts of Civilian Emergency Response
Everyday, civilians make valuable contributions in emergency management. Most notable are the efforts of civilian groups and nonprofit organizations working in cooperation with local interests. Offering their time, experience, and expertise, civic programs add value and provide unique capabilities to help ensure that the State is prepared for disaster. The faces behind these efforts selflessly give of themselves with an 'esprit de corps' that makes the difference and are becoming markedly visible.
Disaster management and response is a collaborative effort. Whether intentions are public or private, at the end of the day we are all in the business of saving the lives of our families and fellow neighbor. Technology-driven capabilities are continually being fostered, adapted, and integrated to meet the needs of emergency management. Such a rich blend of interests has created a melting-pot of forward-looking solutions, providing answers for our problems today, as well as those for the future.
DHS IT Evaluation Program ITEP
As part of its Fiscal Year 2004 budget, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) was provided with funding to conduct information technology projects. The OCIO is specifically interested in working through state and local public safety agencies to fund novel uses of existing, "state-of-the-market" information technology that will remove barriers in homeland security mission critical areas.
Since 1998, the DHS Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) has worked with state, territory, tribal, urban area and local public safety agencies to identify homeland security needs and provide the resources required to address these needs. To leverage this experience, and to ensure the program's alignment with the Department's desire to create a one-stop-shop for state and local homeland security resources, the OCIO and ODP have agreed to collaboratively manage and administer the funds provided to the OCIO for information technology projects. This joint program will be known as the DHS Homeland Security Information Technology Evaluation Program (ITEP).
Preparing for Disaster, Ready America
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security promotes individual emergency preparedness through the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps as part of a broader national effort conducted by the Department's Preparedness Directorate.
Ready is a national public service advertising campaign produced by The Advertising Council in partnership with Homeland Security. The Ready Campaign is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.
Ready asks individuals to do three key things:
Get an emergency supply kit
Make a family emergency plan
Be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.
Go to Ready.gov to find more information on preparing for disasters.
FirstGov.gov is an interagency initiative administered by the U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Citizen Services and Communications. FirstGov.gov went online on September 22, 2000. The GSA and 22 federal agencies funded the initiative in 2001 and 2002. Since 2002, FirstGov.gov has received an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress.
FirstGov.gov is an internet portal designed to make your experience productive, informative and satisfying. Customer feedback is the driving force for how present government information, services and transactions are organized.
This web site is part of the President's Disaster Management egov Initiative - a larger initiative aimed at greatly enhancing Disaster Management on an interagency and intergovernmental basis.
Since September 11, 2001, Americans are more aware than ever of the threat of terrorist acts on home soil. In the days following the attacks we saw immediate and selfless volunteering, generous monetary gifts, blood donations, and an outpouring of support and patriotism across America. Sustaining that spirit of volunteerism and unity is crucial to defending the freedoms America holds dear.
Americans are working together to strengthen their communities. President George W. Bush is working to support community-based efforts through the newly-proposed Citizen Corps. This broad network of volunteer efforts will harness the power of the American people by relying on their individual skills and interests to prepare local communities to effectively prevent and respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, or any kind of disaster.