RECENT WILDFIRES IN MANCHESTER REMIND US TO BE PREPARED.
Stay aware of the latest news and updates from your local media and fire department. Get your family, home and pets prepared to evacuate.
Place your emergency supply kit and other valuables in your vehicle.
Move patio or deck furniture, cushions, door mats and potted plants in wooden containers either indoors or as far away from the home, shed and garage as possible.
Close and protect your home’s openings, including attic and basement doors and vents, windows, garage doors and pet doors to prevent embers from penetrating your home.
Connect garden hoses and fill any pools, hot tubs, garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water. Firefighters have been known to use the hoses to put out fires on rooftops.
Leave as early as possible, before you’re told to evacuate. Do not linger once evacuation orders have been given. Promptly leaving your home and neighborhood clears roads for firefighters to get equipment in place to fight the fire, and helps ensure residents’ safety.
HEALTH TIPS:
Consider making plans with friends or family to shelter with them where you may be safer and more comfortable.
Use an N95 mask to protect yourself from smoke inhalation or limit your exposure to smoke by doing the following:
Choose a room to close off from outside air and set up a portable air cleaner or filter to keep the air in this room clean even when it’s smoky in the rest of the building and outdoors.
Use high efficiency filters in your central air conditioning system to capture fine particles from smoke. If your system has fresh air intake, set the system to “recirculate” mode and close the outdoor intake damper.
If you are not ordered to evacuate but smoky conditions exist, stay inside in a safe location or go to a community building where smoke levels are lower.
If you are sick and need medical attention, contact your healthcare provider for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible.
BE PREPARED BEFORE WILDFIRES EVEN THREATEN:
Creating an emergency plan
Assemble an emergency supply kit and place it in a safe spot. Remember to include important documents, medications and personal identification.
Develop an emergency evacuation plan and practice it with everyone in your home.
Plan two ways out of your neighborhood and designate a meeting place.
Learn more about wildfire safety and other disaster event planning with a downloadable OCHD EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KIT Here: