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Palm Beach County emergency service agencies
such as police and fire are well prepared to respond to any emergency
that occurs. While relatively few people are likely to be directly
affected by a terrorist attack, it is wise to be as prepared as
possible. Many more persons may be indirectly affected after such an
event. Preparations should be similar to those undertaken for our
hurricane season. While it is unlikely that you will be evacuated from
your home, you should have plans for that contingency. More likely is a
situation where you would be forced to remain in your home or worksite
for a time without access to stores. Most importantly, be calm and
thoughtful about your situation. If an event has occurred, listen for
guidance from authorities. Do not needlessly clog roads or
communications. If you are not affected immediately by an event, you
will most likely be safe in your home or workplace.
Be Prepared – Have a Plan
·
Educate your family
about disasters and terrorist acts.
· Talk with
employers and school officials about their emergency response plans.
·
Be prepared
for an evacuation.
·
If your
family is separated, identify possible meeting places: near your home
and away from your neighborhood in case you cannot return home.
·
Pick a
friend or relative who lives out of the area for household members to
call to say they are okay and to maintain communication.
·
Maintain
emergency cash at home for quick access in the event of an evacuation.
·
Help
neighbors who may need special assistance, such as the elderly or the
disabled.
·
Have a typical
hurricane supply kit stocked and readily available to all family
members.
CREATING A FAMILY PLAN
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Your
family may not be together when disaster strikes, so
plan how you will contact one another and review what
you will do in different situations.
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- 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.
- 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.
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Emergency Information |
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Find out
what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are
most likely to occur in your area and how you will be
notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from
community to community. One common method is to
broadcast via emergency radio and
TV broadcasts. You might hear a special
siren, or get a telephone call, or emergency workers may
go door-to-door.
Call the closest chapter of the
American Red Cross for emergency information that
applies to your community. |
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Emergency Plans |
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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. Read more:
At Work and School. |
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For more
information, see
"Family Disaster Planning" from
American Red Cross |
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