COTTAGE GREEN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS HANDBOOK Effective September 7, 2017 Disclaimer: The Cottage Green Homeowner s Association does not represent that the advice is complete. Owners and residents should be encouraged to seek out additional advice that is widely available, and may want to add additional safety practices and provisions to those included in this handbook.
IT S IMPORTANT TO BE PREPARED In a disaster, local officials and emergency workers cannot reach everyone immediately. Help might not arrive for hours or even days. You should be prepared to take care of yourself for at least 72 hours after a disaster. Having plans for dealing with the aftermath of emergencies, as well as having emergency supplies on hand, can help you feel safer and more secure. PREPARE FOR ALL EMERGENCIES Assemble emergency supplies for 3-7 days. (A list of supplies is in this booklet.) Make copies of important personal and insurance documents and store them in your home s disaster supplies kit. Develop an emergency plan that includes how you will evacuate from your home if that becomes necessary. Identify a place to meet family, friends or neighbors if you cannot go home. Identify an out of state contact person so family and friends can communicate with you during an emergency. Review this booklet to learn how to prepare and respond to the different types of emergencies that may occur in this area. 2
BASIC 72- HOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT A change of clothing and undergarments, a rain-proof jacket and an extra pair of shoes. If you wish, include a hat and gloves. Pack an extra pair of eyeglasses if you wear them. Toiletries, facial tissues and wet wipes. $50-100 cash, in small bills. Medications, copies of your prescriptions, and a small first aid kit. 3-4 gallons of bottled water. Easy to open and prepare foods, like granola bars, fruit and applesauce cups, and peanut butter and crackers. Include plastic utensils, cups and a plastic bag for trash. A charger for your cell phone, small flashlight and extra batteries. Comfort items, such as family photos, puzzle or coloring books, a paperback novel, playing cards, etc. If you have pets, pack enough pet food for 3 days, as well as dishes for their food and water. Keep an extra pet blanket and disposable litter box (if you have a cat) in your pet s travel kennel. Pack copies of medical and property insurance documents. Seal them in a ziplock bag so that they stay dry. Finally, make sure that you have any other medical supplies or personal items that you will need to be safe and well for at least 48-72 hours. Store this kit in an accessible place at home, or in the truck of your car. Remember to go through it every six months to replace the food, water and any expired medications. Make sure that the copies of your insurance documents are up to date as well. 3
ADVANCED EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT All of the items in the basic emergency kit, but include enough food, water, clothing, and personal and pet items for 5-7 days. A radio, battery powered lanterns and extra batteries. An advanced first aid kit. A sleeping bag, pillow and air mattress for each person in your household. A tent and other camping items such as folding chairs. Camping kitchen items: propane stove and fuel, pots and pans, utensils, plates and cups, dishwashing supplies. Five gallon bucket, extra heavy-duty trash bags, and a shovel to make a field toilet. Basins or buckets for washing and doing laundry. For more information about earthquake and emergency preparedness kits, go to: o FEMA. gov. - Earthquake Safety at Home o Ready.gov. Earthquakes o American Red Cross- Earthquake Safety/Earthquake preparedness SFGate- Make your own earthquake preparedness kit 4
PREPARE FOR AN EARTHQUAKE Prepare an emergency kit for your home and car. Decide how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake. Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact". Learn first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Learn how to shut off gas, water and electricity in case the lines are damaged. Check chimneys, roofs, walls and foundations for stability. Make sure your house is bolted to its foundation. Secure your water heater and major appliances as well as tall, heavy furniture, hanging plants, mirrors and picture frames. Keep breakables, heavy objects, flammable or hazardous liquids such as paints, pest sprays and cleaning products, in secured cabinets or on lower shelves away from heat sources. Identify safe places indoors and outdoors: Under sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk or table Against an inside wall Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways 5
DURING AN EARTHQUAKE If Indoors: Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave. DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON on until the shaking stops. If there isn t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway. Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture. Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place. Be observant for falling plaster and ceiling tiles. Stay undercover until the shaking stops. If your cover moves, move with it. Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on. If Outdoors: Stay there. Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. If in a Moving Vehicle: Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires. 6
Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake. If Trapped Under Debris: Do not light matches. Do not move about or kick up dust. Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust. 7
AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE If safe to do so, evacuate. Stay out of buildings or structures that have not been inspected for structural integrity. Be observant for fallen power lines and broken gas lines. Expect aftershocks. Listen to radio and television updates. Stay away from damaged areas. Return home only when authorities say it is safe. When You Return Home: Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects that can fall off shelves. Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals. Inspect utilities. Turn off gas, at the outside main valve if you can. Do not turn gas back on if it has been turned off! Turn off electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker if you see sparks, broken or frayed wires or smell hot insulation. Check for sewage and water line damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets in your home until repairs can be made. If water pipes are damages, avoid using water from the tap until repairs can be made. 8
COMMUNITY EVACUATION PROCEDURES In the unlikely event that the community is ordered to evacuate during a time when a majority of residents are home and a large number of people are trying to exit at the same time, please observe the follow procedures: Put your emergency supply kit in your car. Assist family members who may need help getting into your car. Put pets into carriers and put them in your car. Check with neighbors who may need to be evacuated. Secure your home before leaving. Follow the route for your address, as indicated on the Cottage Green Evacuation Map. Observe the 10 MPH speed limit at all times. Allow drivers on the side streets, and drivers attempting to exit their driveways to go in front of you. Residents exiting from the Rita Dr. side of the community should drive to the exit gate and make a right turn onto San Pedro Ave. Please do not attempt to make a left turn from the exit unless directed to do so by emergency personnel. Residents exiting from the Audrey Dr. side of the community should stop at the stop sign on Natalie Dr. before proceeding to the exit gate. If traffic allows, proceed to the exit gate and make a right turn onto San Pedro Ave. Please do not attempt to make a left turn from the exit unless directed to do so by emergency personnel. If the entrance gate is open, residents exiting from the Audrey Dr. side of the community may use that gate to leave the community if no emergency vehicles are entering. Make a right turn onto San Pedro Ave. Please do not attempt to make a left turn from the exit unless directed to do so by emergency personnel. Do not exit through the Audrey Dr. gate! It is reserved for emergency vehicles. 9
TELEPHONE TIPS DURING AN EMERGENCY Telephone lines are designed to handle 10% phone use at any given time. Once phone use exceeds 10%, the system is overwhelmed and local call service can be suspended. That means 9-1-1 calls won't be available! Long distance calls will be easier to make so arrange an out of area contact where loved ones can check in and receive messages. If power is out, cordless telephones will not work. Keep a backup phone available to plug into the phone jack. To help reduce the strain on the phone system: Stay off the phone unless you have a life threatening emergency. For general information about the emergency, turn on a battery operated radio. If the emergency was an earthquake, put telephone receivers that have been shaken off of the hook back in their cradle immediately. If you do have an emergency and can't get a dial tone, don't click the receiver. When you pick up the phone, your call request goes into a queue. Each time you click the receiver, you go back to the end of the queue line. If a dial tone is not received within 60 seconds, the system may be overwhelmed. Pay phones: Service is restored before residential service. Calling 9-1-1 from a pay phone is a free call. Cellular phones: Calls must travel through regular phone lines to connect. So the same rules apply - use only for life threatening emergencies. Calling 9-1-1 from some cellular phones on or near a highway may connect you to the California Highway Patrol in Vallejo and can cause delays in emergency response. Know your local seven digit emergency number to call directly to your 9-1-1 center. 10
For information and updates, monitor local radio stations and television stations: o KCBS 740 AM and 1690 FM o KLIV 1590 AM o Channel 17 (cable) o Morgan Hill Police Dept. Facebook page ( like them in advance of an emergency) Morgan Hill's emergency number is 408-779-2101 11
WILDFIRE If you see a wildfire, call 9-1-1. Don't assume that someone else has already called. Describe the location of the fire, speak slowly and clearly, and answer any questions asked by the dispatcher. Before the Fire Approaches Your House Back your car into the driveway and roll up the windows. Place valuable papers, mementos and anything you can't live without" inside the car in the garage, ready for quick departure. Evacuate your pets and all family members who are not essential to preparing the home. Anyone with medical or physical limitations and the young and the elderly should be evacuated immediately. If You Return to Prepare Your House Wear Protective Clothing. Remove Combustibles. Clear items that will burn from around the house, including wood piles, lawn furniture, barbecue grills, tarp coverings, etc. Move them outside of your defensible space. Close/Protect Openings. Close outside attic, eaves and basement vents, windows, doors, pet doors, etc. Remove flammable drapes and curtains. Close all shutters, blinds or heavy non-combustible window coverings to reduce radiant heat. Close Inside Doors/Open Damper. Close alt doors inside the house to prevent draft. Open the damper on your fireplace, but close the fireplace screen. Shut Off Gas. Shut off any natural gas, propane or fuel oil supplies at the source. Water. Connect garden hoses. Fill any pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, tubs or other large containers with water. Garage Doors. Disconnect any automatic garage door openers so that doors can still be opened by hand if the power goes out. Close all garage doors. Lights. Turn on outside lights and leave a light on in every room to make the house more visible in heavy smoke. 12
Don't Lock Up. Leave doors and windows closed but unlocked. It may be necessary for firefighters to gain quick entry into your home to fight fire. The entire area will be isolated and patrolled by sheriff's deputies or police. After the Wildfire Check the roof immediately. Put out any roof fires, sparks or embers. Check the attic for hidden burning sparks. If you have a fire, get your neighbors to help fight it. The water you put into your pool or hot tub and other containers will come in handy now. If the power is out, try connecting a hose to the outlet on your water heater. For several hours after the fire, maintain a "fire watch." Re-check for smoke and sparks throughout the house. 13
WINTER STORMS AND FLOODS Prepare Your Home and Family Keep gutters clear of leaves and debris. Have a battery operated flashlight and radio available. Store batteries separately and check the expiration dates annually. Prepare an emergency supply of food and water. Make copies of insurance and other important documents and keep them at another location. Take pictures of your home & the contents. Know how to turn off your gas and electricity. Pets Too! Prepare emergency supplies including a leash and carrier. Be sure pets have identification tags, and have a current photo available. Keep animals in the house or yard during storms. Report Hazardous Situations If you observe flooding, trees or wires down or other hazardous situations, call 9-1-1. Treat all downed wires as LIVE and stay at least 30 feet away. Safety In Your Car Drive slowly, especially in standing water. Keep your car gas tank at least half full at all times. Keep extra warm clothes in your car. Never drive through moving water. Six inches of water can float your car! Avoid disaster areas. 14
If Flood Potential Exists Listen to the City Channel (Channel 17 on Charter Spectrum) and other local radio (KCBS Channel 740 AM) and television stations for updated information. Sandbags are available at the Morgan Hill Public Works Dept: 100 Eades Ct. Morgan Hill (408) 776-7333 Find other locations by calling 1-800-HeyNoah (439-6624). Weather radios can be purchased for direct storm information. If You Must Evacuate Your Home Stay calm. Disconnect electrical appliances and, if requested, shut off gas and electricity to your home. Do not turn gas back on. Contact PG&E. If time allows, place valuables on tables, counters or 2nd floor. Leave food for pets or bring them in a carrier with a leash. When You Return Home Do not use fresh foods or canned goods that have come in contact with flood waters. Follow local instructions regarding the safety of drinking water. Don t handle live electrical equipment in wet areas. Use flashlights NOT lanterns, matches or candles when examining buildings. Listen to local radio and television stations for information. Take pictures to show damage and compare to "before" pictures. Flood Insurance Most homeowner s insurance policies do NOT offer protection against flood losses. For information about flood insurance, call your local insurance agent, or call the National Flood Insurance Program at 1-888-225-5356. 15
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