In 2013, an estimated 369,500 home structure fires resulted in the death of 2,755 people, as well as an additional 12,200 injured, according to National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) in Quincy, Mass.
"Many people think of fire first when it comes to an emergency in the home, but all kinds of emergencies, such as floods, tornadoes or chemical spills, can make it necessary for people to evacuate their home," said MaryEllen Keegan, the deputy director of Monroe County’s Office of Emergency Management in Snydersville.
Unless you are personally faced with a disaster, you probably haven't given too much thought about how often or even what type of disasters happen in Pennsylvania, but statistics show they do happen.
Between June 26 and July 13, 2013, the state of Pennsylvania — plagued by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding — qualified and received federal disaster aid from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency. During 2014 Pennsylvania experienced nine tornadoes with the largest one sweeping a 500-foot path and traveling just short of 11 miles of ground.
Not to mention, the state holds the No. 5 spot on the list of states with the highest number of hazardous-material incidents in the nation. That’s an average of 76 incidents per month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
With family home for the summer, it’s the perfect time to pull everyone together to make an emergency escape plan.
Where to begin
“Everyone in the household must understand the escape plan, so make sure everyone that lives in the home participates when you walk through your plan,” said Judy Comoletti, the NFPA division manager for public education.First, take a walk through the home and inspect and consider all exits and possible escape routes, and remember to also make sure the escape routes are clear and doors and windows can be opened easily, she said.
Make sure to check for emergency release devices on the inside of any windows or doors covered with security bars, so they can be opened immediately in an emergency. Emergency release devices won't compromise your security — they will increase your chances of safely escaping a home fire — according to the NFPA.
Think about the abilities of all who live in the home. "Infants, family members and older adults with limited mobility need an assigned person to assist them during a fire drill and in the event of an actual emergency," Comoletti said. “Also, a backup assist person should be assigned, in case the other person is not home during the emergency.”
Also, the NFPA recommends marking the location of each smoke alarm and drawing a floor plan of the home and marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Involving the children in making the floor plan is a great way to get children involved in the emergency plan in a nonthreatening way, Keegan said.
Make a meeting plan
Choose an outside meeting place that is a safe distance from your home. “The place should be a familiar place that young children can identify easily — the swing set in the backyard, the mailbox out front or even the neighbor's house,” Keegan said.Make sure to mark the location of the meeting place on your escape plan and discuss the place picked as the meeting place, so everyone is on the same page about where to meet.
You should also go outside to see if your street number and address sign are clearly visible from the road to ensure that responding emergency personnel can find your home.
"This applies to any emergency. Police, first responders and the fire department can be on the scene much sooner if they don’t have to wait for the dispatcher to find the house or apartment," Comoletti said.
Make sure every member of the household knows to call 911 for any emergency, so anyone can make the call from a neighbor's home or a cellular phone once safely outside.
"Never call the emergency in while still in the building. Get out of the building and make the call and then go to the designated meeting place," she said.
Be prepared
"Having a 'go bag' packed for every member of your family can save you and your family a lot of stress in case of an emergency evacuation," Keegan said. A backpack is ideal for this use.A sleeping bag, a complete change of clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, sturdy shoes and a rain poncho should also be included in everyone's bag, Keegan said.
Copies of your important documents such as insurance cards, house deed, photo ID or state driver's license, passport, bank information, physician contact information and family contact information stored in a waterproof container to save time and lessen stress in the event of an emergency evacuation from your home.
Many times when an area is evacuated because of fire or flood, law enforcement will require you to show proof of residency in order to be able to go back into the area to survey the damage or gather personal belongings, Keegan said.
FEMA requires homeowners to show proof of ownership when they apply for assistance. "If you don't have the original document, because it was accidentally destroyed in the emergency, it is easier and faster to obtain a new one if you have a copy with all the information on it," she said.
Keegan suggested scanning all your important papers and documents and saving them to a USB flash drive.
"Putting the flash drive in a safe deposit box, your desk at work or in your glove box, as one woman I know did, guarantees you will have the information you when you need it," she said.
The American Defense Council suggested when packing your bag to include $50 to $100 in small bills, an extra set of car and house keys, bottled water and nonperishable food such as energy or granola bars and an LED flashlight. Also matches and a first aid kit with a list of medication each member of your household takes. Remember to refill the prescriptions in the go bag before the medicine expires.
When packing for children, don't forget they are going through a stressful time, the same as you, so make sure you pack something familiar for them, such as a stuffed animal, favorite book and a few snacks as well as a sleeping bag and a favorite blanket if they have one.
"And finally, store the bags year-round in an easily accessible place in case you have to leave your home suddenly," Keegan said.
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