FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- After a hurricane has passed, your worries are not necessarily over.
Safety continues to be a priority, according to FEMA.
Check yourself and those around you for injuries. Do not try to move severely injured people unless they are in immediate danger. If you must move an unconscious person, FEMA suggests stabilizing the neck and back first, then getting help to move the person.
Maintaining your own health is key. Don’t injure yourself in the attempt to get to safety. Be aware of exhaustion. Set priorities for yourself and don’t try to do too much at once. Drink plenty of clean water from your emergency kit. When working with debris, wash your hands as often as you can and wear a dust mask if you have one.
FEMA warns people to watch out for new safety issues created by the disaster. Watch for washed out roads, contaminated buildings, gas leaks, damaged electrical wiring and contaminated water. Inform local authorities of health and safety issues like downed power lines, chemical spills, dead animals and washed out roads.
Keep listening to your emergency radio or watch local news for the location of the nearest aid station. The American Red Cross and other volunteer agencies will provide food, water and clothing. They will also set up shelters for people who cannot return to their homes.
For health and space reasons, pets are usually not permitted in public emergency shelters. You can contact the emergency management office or your local animal shelter to find out if an emergency animal shelter has been set up.
Once you are evacuated, letting people know you are OK is the next step. FEMA has established the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System, which helps Families separated by disaster reunite.
The American Red Cross also maintains a database to help you find loved ones. If you are displaced or looking for a displaced person, don’t contact the Red Cross located in the disaster area. Contact your nearest local Red Cross for information.
There are many safety concerns when deciding to return to your home after a disaster is over. Never return to your home until the area has been declared safe by local officials. Keep a battery-powered radio with you to monitor the safety situation and receive news updates. Use a battery-powered flashlight to inspect your home and turn it on before entering the home. A spark could ignite gas leaks, adding to the danger.
FEMA reminds people to look for dangers that might not have been there before. Injured animals or poisonous snakes might have entered your house seeking safety after you evacuated. Tree limbs might be cracked and ready to break. Power lines might be down, and objects like boats and cars might not be where you left them.
Do not enter your home if you smell gas, water remains inside the building, or authorities have not declared fire damage safe. Walk around the outside and look for danger and to check to see if the structure is damaged.
Coping with a disaster can take a tougher toll on people mentally than financially. The FEMA website, www.fema.gov, and the Army’s www.ready.army.mil both have tips and steps for people to help deal with a disaster emotionally and mentally.
The sites also discuss step-by-step the process of applying for aid, filing for insurance and tips for parents to help children deal with the disaster.
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