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Communicable and Environmental Disease Services

Preparing for Terrorism

A guide to keeping you and your family safe.

On September 11, 2001 terrorism became a reality for our county. However, by following a few simple steps, we can help protect ourselves.

Be prepared!

  • Develop a disaster plan with your family. This may include identifying a section of your community that you and your family will meet at in case of disaster. Your disaster plan should also include mapping out escape routes from your house and neighborhood.
  • Make a 72-hour survival pack. This pack should provide items that you and your family will need to keep safe during a disaster. Here are some items that you should include in your pack:
    • water
    • nonperishable foods
    • first-aid kit
    • blankets
    • flashlight
    • batter-operated radio
    • extra batteries
  • Make a plan to notify family members outside of your home. You may want to notify family members that live out of state or in another location of your community that you are safe when disaster occurs.
  • Get to know your neighbors. You may have neighbors who may have difficulty protecting themselves if disaster strikes. Be sure to talk to neighbors who have young children, are handicapped, or are elderly so see what type of assistance they may need during a disaster.
  • Be sure you know your children’s school evacuation/ emergency policies. You may want to discuss with your child’s teacher about emergency procedures at your child’s school. Make sure the school has all of the correct contact numbers (i.e. cell phone, pagers, home phone) you and other family members can be reached at.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. When you are traveling, think about how you would evacuate a certain area. Make sure you notice emergency exits and stairways where you could escape during an emergency situation. Also you should report suspicious activities to your local authorities.

What to do if disaster strikes

  • Do Not Panic! Follow your disaster plan.
  • Treat any injuries. Use the items in your first aid pack to treat injuries. Only call 911 if you (or anyone around you) has life threatening injuries.
  • Do not use matches when checking for damage. You should use a flashlight to avoid any type of explosion that may be sparked by a match. When checking for fire, gas leaks or any other damage always use a flashlight.
  • Check up on your neighbors. Especially if you know they will have a difficult time leaving their home.
  • Listen to the radio. Stay informed by listening to the radio. Be sure to follow all instructions given by authorities. Authorities may give an instruction called “shelter in place”. This means to stay inside, cover all doors and windows and turn off any ventilation systems such as the furnace or air conditioning. Do not exit your house unless authorities instruct you to do so.