April

This month the READY.SET.SAFE Challenge is to Make a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area, how you'll contact one another in the event of a disaster, how you'll reconnect if you're separated, and what you'll do in different situations.

Below are the steps required to put together a Family Emergency Plan. Detailed information relating to the items listed below will be highlighted in subsequent emails throughout the month of April.

Step 1: Get started by discussing these 4 questions with your family, friends, or household to start formulating your emergency plan.

· How will you receive emergency alerts and warnings? (details in 04.11.2020 email)

· What is my shelter plan? (details in 04.18.2020 email)

· What is my evacuation route? (details in 04.18.2020 email)

· What is my family household communication plan? (details in 04.25.2020 email)

Step 2: Consider the special circumstances of your household (see attached handout for details)

Step 3: Put your plan together (details in 04.18.2020 and 04.25.2020 emails)

Step 4: Practice and review your plan with your family/household one or two times a year

SALT LAKE VALLEY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER (VECC)

Salt Lake Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC) has instituted a regional Emergency Notification System (ENS) for the citizens of Salt Lake County. This system delivers information and instructions regarding emergencies, disasters, or critical information under the authority of the responding public safety agencies, emergency management, and/or municipal administrations. If you have an alternative telephone system provider, such as a cable network, a Voice over Internet Protocol provider (VoIP), or a cellular telephone, and would like to be notified via that provider, you must register those telephone numbers. Similarly, if you would like to receive an email notification, you must register the email addresses at which you wish to receive the notification. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR VoIP PHONE NUMBERS.

U.S. PUBLIC ALERT AND WARNING SYSTEMS

Attached is a document put together by FEMA that provides important information about different public alert and warning systems available throughout the United States.

Sheltering and Evacuation Options in a Disaster

Taking appropriate shelter is critical in times of disaster. The safest locations to seek shelter vary by hazard. In certain circumstances sheltering in place is the best alternative, but other disasters might require evacuation from the area.

· Click HERE to see a list of hazards Sandy City's Emergency Management personnel believe are most apt to happen in our area.

· Click HERE for information from the Department of Homeland Security about factors to consider and guidelines to follow when sheltering in place or going to a mass shelter.

· Click HERE for information the Department of Homeland Security has provided about what to do before, during, and after an evacuation.

· Attached is a handout put together by Be Ready Utah that outlines sheltering techniques in a variety of circumstances

Home Fires and E.D.I.T.H. Plan

Practice "Exit Drills in the Home" (E.D.I.T.H.) are essential for the safety of your family, especially in the event of a home fire. Attached is a handout that details how to put together an E.D.I.T.H. Plan and other fire safety considerations.

CREATE YOUR FAMILY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PLAN

Sources - https://www.utah.gov/beready/family/make-a-plan.html

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/133447

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.

Attached are two documents:

· The first document is an interactive template that was put together by FEMA to help you create your Family Emergency Communication Plan. It includes information about out-of-town contacts, emergency meeting places, emergency plans of other facilities like schools, childcare, and your workplace.

· The second document is the template of a wallet card prepared by Be Ready Utah that includes important details for your Family Emergency Communication Plan that can be carried by each family member at all times.