Responding DURING an Emergency/Disaster
Natural disasters happen and generally occur so suddenly, and escalate so rapidly, that
people are overwhelmed by the situation. In New Brunswick, many disasters may be
weather-related and thus cannot be prevented, or may occur with very little warning.
As you know, there are numerous types of disasters that occur throughout the
world. In this section, we have chosen to focus on disasters that would most
likely occur in New Brunswick. We will explore the actions you can take to
lessen personal injury and property damage during a natural disaster.
Floods |
Forest Fires |
Hazardous Materials Incidents |
Lightning Storms
Power Failure |
Winter Storms |
Evacuation Information
Floods can cause extensive damage. In New Brunswick, there is potential for floods due
to factors such as high tides, major storms and rapid snow melts either in the winter
or spring. Knowing how to respond to floods can make all the difference.
What to do during a flood?
► Listen to local radio or television stations and follow all instructions.
► If your circuit box has shut-off switches, shut
off all the individual switches before shutting off the main circuit breaker.
► Remove dangerous chemical products from the basement,
such as toxic chemicals, insecticides, etc. This will help to prevent further contamination
of water.
► Check with local authorities on drinking water purity.
► Do not use food that has come into contact with floodwater.
► Wash your hands often when in contact with floodwater
as it may be contaminated by gasoline, oil or bacteria.
► Be prepared to evacuate. Ignoring warnings to evacuate
your home could jeopardize the safety of your family and of those people who might eventually
have to come to your rescue.
► Know the location of your survival kit.
► Never cross floodwater on foot. The water may be deeper
than you expect; there may be unknown hazards in the water and/or the fast moving water could
sweep you away.
► Try not to drive through floodwater. The water may be a
great deal deeper than it looks and your car could become stuck.
► If you are caught in fast rising waters and your car
stalls, abandon it immediately.
► Avoid crossing bridges, especially if the water is high
and flowing quickly. Your car may be swept away, or the bridge may lose its stability due to
running floodwater.
New Brunswick is a province rich with forests. It is also a largely rural province
where many homes are situated close to trees and large forests. If your home is built in
a forested area, there are several extra precautions you should take to help prevent your
house catching fire or your family getting hurt in the event of a forest fire nearby.
► Clean your property frequently to avoid accumulation
of dry leaves, twigs, needles and dead branches. Roofs, gutters, underneath decks and
trees are popular areas for these flammable materials to gather.
► Store fire wood and other flammable materials such
as picnic tables and boats at least 50 feet from your home.
► Develop a water supply outside your house (e.g., a
garden hose 30 meters in length attached to the exterior of your home or an outdoor pool
could also be used).
► You should have a ladder tall enough to reach the roof
of your home, a shovel, rake and bucket.
► Discuss an escape route with your family members.
Plan a meeting place in the event that somebody gets lost.
► Every home should have at least 2 ground-level exit
routes. Keep two escape routes in every room.
► When possible, use construction materials that are
fire-resistant or non-combustible.
► Store gasoline and other flammable liquids in safe
containers away from your house.
► Any flammable materials such as charcoal or fire place
ashes should be disposed of in fire safe containers.
► Create a clear space 20 feet around your house. Plant
grass and shrubs if they stay green during the fire season. Mow regularly.
► Refuel lawnmowers and other garden equipment carefully.
► Roadways and fire resistant shrubs and trees can be used
as fuel breaks. Roadways should be 5 metres wide and vegetation should be strategically planted
4.5 metres apart. Trees should have the branches removed to a height of 3-4.5 metres to prevent
ground fires from spreading to tops of trees. All vegetation should be cared for so it
does not become dry.
► Clear small pines that are underneath trees.
► Name and address should be posted at driveway entrance.
What to do if a forest fire catches near your home?
- Call 911.
- Close windows and doors as well as doors inside the house.
- Take down light drapes, move furniture away from windows and close curtains.
- Turn off any gas products that may be running.
- Move all combustible materials away from the house.
- Place a ladder against the front of the house.
- Gather water in buckets or get a hose to fight the fire.
- Turn on outside lights.
- Pack essentials as well as your emergency kit in case you need to leave in a hurry.
- Back car into garage and close garage door. Leave keys in the ignition.
- If you have a combustible roof, wet it with a hose or by putting lawn sprinklers on it.
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Evacuate family and pets to a safe location. If police and fire authorities permit, one
member of the household may remain to protect the house.
Hazardous materials are commonly transported by rail, road and water. Incidents involving
spills and exposures may occur.
► Identify how close you are to highways, railways and
factories where toxic materials are produced and/or transported.
► If necessary, have materials available to seal off your
residence from airborne contamination.
► Identify important contact numbers (e.g., local plants)
to call for more information.
► Be prepared to evacuate quickly.
What to do during an incident?
► Listen to local radio or television stations and follow all instructions.
► Report strange smells or other hazards.
► Stay away from the incident site. What you cannot see or smell
can still kill you! If outside, stay upstream, uphill or upwind of the incident. If in a car, close
all windows and shut off fans or heaters.
► Be prepared to evacuate.
► Make your home air tight – close windows, shut vents,
turn off fans and furnace before leaving your home.
► Do not eat or drink any food or water that when you are
unsure of it status; it may be contaminated.
► Seek medical help for unusual symptoms.
Lightning storms are a common natural phenomenon in New Brunswick. When severe
lightning storms strike, they can be accompanied by high winds and heavy rain.
To estimate how far away lightning is, count the seconds between the flash of
lightning and the thunderclap. Each second is about 300 metres. If you count
fewer than five seconds, take shelter immediately as lightning is near.
What to do during a lightning storm?
► Monitor local radio stations with a
battery-operated radio to find out what is happening in your area.
► Remain calm and stay inside.
► Unplug radios, televisions and other electrical
appliances. Lightning can follow wires leading to electrical equipment.
► Do not go outside to remove laundry on the clothesline.
The clothesline can conduct electricity.
► If possible, use a cellular phone to contact emergency authorities.
► If you are caught in the open, crouch down with your
feet close together and your head down. Do not lie flat on the ground. By minimizing your
contact with the ground, you reduce the risk of a being electrocuted by a ground charge.
► Take shelter in a building or in a low-lying
or depressed area, such as a ditch or culvert. Never take shelter under a tree.
► If swimming or in a boat, get back to shore immediately.
► Keep away from power lines, fences, trees and hilltops.
Get off bicycles, motorcycles and tractors. Do not use metal shovels or golf clubs. All of
these things conduct electricity.
► If you are driving, stop the car and stay inside.
Do not stop near trees or power lines as they could fall on you.
► Know the location of your survival kit.
Many kinds of weather and technological situations can lead to power failure. During
the winter months, it can result in cold, wet homes or cause damage such as bursting
water pipes.
What to do during a power failure?
► Monitor local radio stations with a battery–operated
radio to find out what is happening in your area.
► Remain calm.
► Check to see whether your home is the only one affected.
Perhaps the power outage is isolated to a problem within your home. If necessary, contact your
local power company.
► Turn off and unplug appliances, electronic equipment
and tools. This will prevent fire, personal injury and/or damage to equipment. Furthermore, power can
be restored more easily when electrical systems are not overloaded.
► When using candles, use proper candleholders and place
them away from flammable materials and out of the reach of children. Never leave lit candles
unattended.
► Do not panic! Remember that even in very cold weather, a
house with doors and windows closed will not become cold for several hours.
► When heating your home with limited heating capabilities,
restrict heat to one or two rooms by shutting the doors to the rest of the house. Try not to
enter or exit from the heated rooms.
► If you have a safe, alternate heat source, begin using
it before the house gets too cold. If the heater must be vented to the same chimney as the
furnace, switch the furnace switch off first before taking off the furnace flue.
►
Never use charcoal or gas barbecues, camping equipment or home generators indoors. All of these
things can cause further damage and/or injury when operated inside.
► Make sure there is adequate ventilation in your home to
prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide.
► Your home can be damaged by low temperatures, but the
protection of the plumbing is the most important. If you use an alternate heat source,
check to see that the pipes do not freeze.
► To avoid a chimney fire, burn only wood in the fireplace.
If you must burn paper, only burn small amounts of paper at a time.
► Dress for the weather!
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If you must go outside, wool clothing is best in wet and/or cold
weather because it retains warmth even when wet.
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Clothes made of cotton or denim are not good to wear because when wet,
they speed up the loss of body heat.
- Outer clothing should be tightly woven and water repellent.
- Wear mittens because they are warmer than gloves.
- Wear a wool hat because most of your body heat is lost through your head when left uncovered.
► If you have children, have them sleep together or between
you and another adult. This will help to maximize body heat. Pets, especially dogs, are a very
good source of body heat.
► Pile up mattresses, sleeping bags, thick blankets
and pillow cases across from the heat source so that they are warm when you sleep. To avoid a fire,
do not put them too near the heat source.
► If someone is very cold or hypothermic, do not let them sleep
because they could become unconscious. Seek medical assistance immediately.
Although we may not experience severe weather on a regular basis in our area, we
have been susceptible to freak storms. Severe winter storms can disable snow
removal, power and emergency response. At times, winter storms happen very
rapidly and can leave you stranded in your home or car. Being prepared will
leave you in a better position to effectively deal with a sudden storm.
What to do during a winter storm?
► Listen to local radio or television stations and follow all instructions.
► Stay inside.
► Prepare for loss of power and utilities.
► Have a working alternative heat source with enough fuel.
► Conserve heating fuel by turning heat down and wearing extra clothing.
► If you have livestock and must check on them in
their barn, you should string a lifeline between your house and any outbuildings.
► Dress for the weather!
- If you must go outside, wool clothing is best in wet and/or cold weather because it retains warmth even when wet.
- Clothes made of cotton or denim are not good to wear because, when wet, they speed up the loss of body heat.
- Outer clothing should be tightly woven and water repellent.
- Wear mittens because they are warmer than gloves.
-
Wear a wool hat because most of your body heat is lost through your head
when left uncovered.
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► If a blizzard strikes, do not try to walk to another
building unless there is a rope to guide you or something you can follow. In wide–open
areas, visibility can be virtually non existent. You may easily lose your way.
► Watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
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Certain emergency situations may require that you leave your home and go to a
nearby evacuation center, like a community hall or school gym. Hazardous material
spills and forest fires are just some of the events that have caused New
Brunswickers to be evacuated from their homes. Knowing what to do if you are
evacuated can make the experience less disruptive.
- Listen to the local radio or television stations and follow instructions from the emergency officials.
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When asked to evacuate, do so. Ignoring warnings to evacuate your home could
jeopardize the safety of your household members and those who might eventually
have to come to your rescue.
- Take your household survival kit with you.
- If you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and electricity.
- If you have time, leave a note telling others when you left and where you went.
- Lock the house.
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Follow the routes specified by the emergency officials. Do not take shortcuts or
alternate routes that could put you and/or your family at risk.
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