Important EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Resources

03 Aug Important EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Resources

Posted at 15:08h in Health, Safety, and Security by
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BE PREPARED

For related information, see the FHA “FORMS” and Health, Safety, & Security web pages menu tabs on the FHA web site home page. Here are some guidelines and a list of things to do and items to have on hand for emergencies:

  1. Create an emergency plan.
  2. Keep emergency supplies on hand and in a place that can be easily found.
  3. Keep informed.

CREATE AN EMERGENCY PLAN

  • Evaluate your personal needs and make an emergency plan so you can be better prepared for any situation.
  • If family members are not together, determine a communication point and phone number contact where all can gather or call. It is also good to have an out-of-state contact phone number.
  • Be sure all family members know where emergency supplies, papers, food and water are kept.
  • Get an emergency supply kit.
  • Plan in advance for shelter alternatives. Consider loved ones or friends outside of your immediate area who would be willing to host you and your pets in an emergency. If you must evacuate, take your pets with you, if possible. However, if you are going to a public shelter, it is important to understand that animals may not be allowed inside. Only service animals may be allowed, e.g., a seeing-eye dog.
  • Be alert to the Chatham County “Code Red” phone call notification system and be sure your phone number is registered. To verify registration, call 919-545-8163 or access the site at: www.chathamnc.org/codered. Also, download the CODERed Mobile Alert app for your smartphone. In an emergency, the county will send an automatic telephone message to all residents who have their phone numbers registered. It is desirable to include both your land line and cell numbers.
  • Be sure your “FHA Voluntary Emergency Contact Information Registration Form” located in your welcome packet (and also available at the FHA Office) is on file with the FHA.
  • We strongly encourage you to provide this information on-line using this secure encrypted form, https://form.jotform.com/FHAHSS/voluntary-emergency-info-form, which will allow residents to easily update their own information anytime, especially on an annual cycle. This will help keep the information up-to-date.
  • If you filed a paper version, check and also update your information by calling or stopping in at the FHA Hospitality and Service Center in the rear of the Gathering Place (open Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., except holidays). Phone number: 919-542-1603.

SUPPLIES TO HAVE ON HAND

(Be sure these can be easily found.)

  • Regional smartphone weather alert apps for Apple or Android operating systems (offered free by WRAL-TV, WNCN-TV, ABC11 WTVD, The Weather Channel, etc.
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries.
  • Flashlights, matches (kept dry), extra batteries, and extra flashlight bulbs. Better yet use flashlights that require no batteries. Candles can be dangerous.
  • Fire Extinguisher – Class A-B-C.
  • Water: one gallon of water per person per day for three days for drinking and sanitation. Have reserve water on hand.
  • Prescriptions, over the counter medications, eye glasses (extra pair), and contact lenses.
  • Food (3-day supply of non perishable food is recommended plus a reserve); manual can opener.
  • Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels.
  • First Aid Kit – See contents in section below.
  • Telephone – Hard wired and cell phone.
  • Whistle to signal for help.
  • Blankets or sleeping bags and pillows.
  • Moist towelettes.
  • Portable generator if you require electricity for medical equipment.
  • Pet food, water for your pet and pet supplies.
  • Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
  • Phone numbers and email addresses of key relatives and friends; pencil and paper.
  • FHA Handbook and Directory (for phone numbers).
  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification, and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.
  • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air.
  • Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place.
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, however your utility company will have to turn back on.
  • Water containers and buckets.
  • Cash or traveler’s checks and change.
  • Local maps.
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you expect to be in cold weather.
  • Keep your automobile gas tank as full as possible.

FIRST AID KIT

  • Two pairs of latex, or other sterile gloves (if you are allergic to latex).
  • Sterile dressings to stop bleeding.
  • Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect.
  • Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
  • Burn ointment to prevent infection.
  • Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes.
  • Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant.
  • Thermometer.
  • Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates.
  • Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies.
  • Scissors and tweezers.
  • Tube of petroleum jelly, aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever, anti-diarrhea medication, antacid.
  • Plain household chlorine bleach (no scent or color) and medicine dropper. (Disinfectant plus nine parts water to one part bleach; cleaner water = 16 drops bleach to one gallon of water.)

KEEP INFORMED

Learn more about the potential emergencies that could happen where you live. In addition, learn about the established emergency plans by your state and local government.

SAFETY SUGGESTIONS

We are blessed to be living in a beautiful, pleasant, and generally safe community. Our safety will be improved, however, if we all observe a few common-sense practices and courtesies.

TO REPORT EMERGENCIES (POLICE, FIRE, MEDICAL)

Emergency Services Police, fire, and ambulance services can all be reached by calling 911. Response has been prompt.

DRIVING

Observe the 25 MPH speed limit on all Fearrington streets and the 15 MPH speed limit in the Village Center. Speeders rob us of our tranquility and pose a real safety threat. Stop signs mean a full stop, even when other vehicles are not present.

WALKING

Instead of the streets, use the walkway paths and trails where they are available. When walking on the streets, observe the elementary safety rule: North Carolina law requires that you walk along the edge and off the roadway as far as possible on the LEFT side, facing oncoming traffic and step off the roadway whenever a vehicle approaches. If you are approaching the crest of a steep hill or a blind curve to the left, and you cannot be seen by oncoming traffic (a common experience, e.g., on Spindlewood), you may be safer walking briefly on the right until you can see oncoming traffic again and then carefully return to walk on the left when it is safe to do so.

Drivers are required to SLOW DOWN and give walkers a break—here in this village, the ground on the side of these roadways is often narrow, rough, and uneven and can be unsafe surfaces on which to walk.

HOUSE NUMBERS

Make sure yours is visible from the street, day and night, so an emergency vehicle can quickly spot it. Make sure a plant or  shrubbery does not cover it. Contrasting colors are best (e.g., black on white is more visible than brass on yellow or gray on gray.)

ICE AND SNOWSTORMS

The snowstorm in January 2000 was described as the worst in 100 years, and the ice storm December 2002 was the worst ever. Since repeats are possible any time, some precautions are appropriate:

  • Keep a bucket of sand and a bag of rock salt on hand to treat your front steps and walk.
  • Neither the state nor Fitch Creations nor FHA is responsible for clearing or treating Fearrington roads. The state gives priority to clearing main highways, so patience may be necessary for state secondary roads in the village. Small neighborhood HOAs (service groups) are responsible for maintaining their own streets and are responsible for any winter storm clearing or treatment they may feel is necessary or advisable. In most instances, residents should plan on limited driving conditions and possibly slippery walking conditions for 12 – 48 hours following relatively rare instances of heavy snow and/or ice; conditions typically improve quickly within that time. For emergency medical transportation in such weather, contact 911.

FALLEN TREES

If a tree has fallen on a power line, DO NOT TOUCH; call 911. If it has fallen in the street, and your friends and neighbors can’t handle it, call 911 to schedule a state road crew. If a tree has fallen on your property, you must arrange removal with a private contractor.

BURNING BRUSH

Open fires in the village are always prohibited.

DEAD ANIMALS

Removal of a dead animal from your property is your responsibility.  For removal of other animals or for other contractors, consult the Chatham County phone book under the listing, “Animal Removal Service.” Dead animals on a state road right-of-way (such as most of the roads in the village) will be removed by the NC Department of Transportation. Use this NCDOT Contact Form: (https://bit.ly/3dod1jd) fill out the form and submit it.

HIRING DOMESTIC HELP

Note: Abbreviated bit.ly links are provided below because they are shorter than the full links, and thus easier to type accurately.

When hiring someone to do services in your home:

  • Check their references.
  • Ask if they are covered by insurance, and ask for proof of coverage.
  • Ask if they are bonded, and ask for proof of coverage.
  • Resource: Reviews and comparisons of professional background check services, (https://bit.ly/3EuvmqD) *
  • Resource (fee based): Intelius.com

To check for past violations:

  • N.C. • N.C. Health Care Personnel Registry System (requires employee’s social security number) https://bit.ly/43uqxJv
  • N.C. Department of Public Safety: Offender Public Information/Offender Search: (https://bit.ly/3DBkxSw)