Evacuation, Shelter in Place, Coping with a Disaster

For your protection, it may become necessary to evacuate an area impacted by an emergency. If there is a need to be evacuated:

• You might be notified by an emergency official knocking at your door and providing evacuation instructions; or

• Emergency services driving through your neighbourhood providing evacuation instructions over a loud speaker; or

• Via evacuation instructions provided over the local radio, television or internet.

An emergency evacuation centre may be set up to provide shelter and food to people affected by the emergency.

• Keep phone lines open for use by emergency workers and monitor local radio broadcasts for emergency instructions and current information;
• Do not assume an evacuation will last only a few hours; plan to evacuate with enough items to keep your family comfortable for at least three days;
• If you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and electricity;
• Make sure you have your car emergency kit and keep your car fueled;
• If you have time, leave a note (in a mailbox if you have one) telling others when you left and where you went;
• If you are evacuated, register with the reception centre so that you can be contacted and reunited with your family and loved ones;

• If you are going somewhere other than the reception centre, advise the centre of your whereabouts.

Be sure to take the following items with you:

• Your emergency plan;

• Your emergency kit;

• Eyewear (glasses/contact lenses);

• Identification (and other personal documents);

• Cell phone (charger and extra batteries);

• Public inquiry telephone numbers

• Food and water

• Medication

• Toiletries

• Extra clothing

• Keys

• Paper/pencils/pens

• Pets

“Shelter in Place” is the practice of going or remaining indoors during the release of an airborne hazardous material, as opposed to evacuating the area:

• DO NOT attempt to go through smoke or fumes;

• Move out of the path of smoke or fumes and seek shelter inside a house or automobile and remain indoors. (This can reduce your exposure to 1/10th of that outdoors);

• Close all exterior and interior doors so that you “compartmentalize” your house;

• Wet towels under the doors will help prevent smoke or fumes from entering your house;

• If fumes do threaten you, cover your mouth and nose with a wet handkerchief or towel;

• Close windows and use duct tape to cover window openings;

• Shut down air conditioners, fans, etc. which bring in outside air;

• Do not use bathroom vents, kitchen vents, fireplaces (close dampers) or clothes dryer;

• Set thermostats so air conditioners, furnaces and hot water heaters will not come on;

• Monitor your radio, television or Internet for additional information;

• Only evacuate if told to do so – staying indoors with the house closed up is the most effective action you can take.

Smoke Alarms/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms and Generators:

The Ontario Fire Code requires every home in Ontario to have working smoke alarms on every level of the dwelling, outside of all sleeping areas. Also, a Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm is required outside of all sleeping areas when there are any natural gas appliances, a wood stove or fireplace, or an attached garage. The Fort Erie Fire Department strongly recommends the use of smoke and CO alarms with 10-year built-in batteries.

Generators and (CO) Alarms:

• Generator owners should never use a generators inside a home or garage (even if the doors and windows are open).
• Generators should only be installed/used outside, away from your home (20 feet).
• Regularly check all Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms to ensure they are functioning properly.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning:

• headache,
• dizziness,
• weakness,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• sleepiness,
• and confusion.

If you or a family member are experiencing symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning exit your home and call 911.

What you and your family might experience includes:

During, or following a traumatic event, it is not unusual to have physical and emotional reactions. To help you cope:

• Recognize that the way you react to the event is not unusual;
• Try not to make big life changes;
• Talk to family members and friends;
• Listen to one another and help each other with daily tasks;
• Try to achieve a balance between rest and activity;
• Seek counseling to help cope with the emotional trauma associated with disasters.

Children and Emergencies

Children’s fears and anxieties are very real to them and should be taken seriously.  Parents can help by:

• Encouraging children to express themselves through play or drawing;

• Talking about what happened, and what’s being done;

• Comforting young children with physical care, holding and hugging;

• Keeping the family together as much as possible Giving children information they can understand.

Upon re-entering your home:

• Leave your home if you suspect/smell a natural gas leak when you arrive.  From another location, call 9-1-1 and request the fire department which will notify the gas company;

• Check for blown fuses and look for short-circuits in your home wiring and equipment – if you suspect a problem, call your utility company;

• Report any emergency situation to the local police or fire department;

• Notify your insurance agent or broker if your property is damaged.

Re-entering your home after a flood:

• If children must be present during the clean-up operations, supervise them closely;

• Before entering a flooded building, check for foundation damage and make sure all porch roofs and overhangs are supported;

• If your basement is full of water, drain it in stages, about a third of the volume of water per day; (draining too quickly can cause structural damage)

• Using a dry piece of wood, turn off the electricity at the main breaker or fuse box;

• Wear rubber gloves/boots and protective eyewear when cleaning;

• Do not use wet appliances or motors unless a qualified electrician has serviced them;

• Contact your local heating repair company to inspect your furnace and chimney;

• Do not use your regular water supply or septic system until it has been inspected and declared safe to use;

• Check to see that sewage lines are intact before flushing toilets;

• Report damaged water, sewage and gas lines to the proper authorities;

• Dispose of all contaminated food.