Defensive Countermeasures Institute —

Below is an alarming statistic with regard to the lasting effect disasters have on our nation’s youth.

February 3, 2007

NEW ORLEANS — A review finds up to 35,000 children — one-third of those across the Gulf Coast still displaced by Hurricane Katrina — have mental health, behavior or school issues.The report released Friday also finds many of their parents are depressed as well, leaving them less able to help the children.

The study was done by Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness and the Children’s Health Fund.Figures released last fall found nearly 21,000 evacuees remain enrolled in Texas public schools, including about 2,700 in Houston and almost 1,000 in Dallas.The report said more than 60 percent of the parents and caregivers who were asked tested high for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Source: http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6031814

Many parts of the country are experiencing treacherous winter storms and blizzards. State police are warning drivers to stay off the roads. However, we know that is not always possible. There are times when staying home is not an option.

You’ve heard it before, but for good measures, here are some vital considerations:

Don’t travel alone if at all possible and keep others informed of your schedule. Stay on main roads; avoid back road shortcuts.

If you are trapped in your vehicle due to impassible roads or vehicle breakdown:

Pull off the highway. Turn on hazard lights and hang a distress flag from the radio antenna or window.

STAY in your vehicle where rescuers are most likely to find you. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you know you can take shelter. Be careful; distances are distorted by blowing snow. A building may seem close, but be too far to walk to in deep snow.

Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm. When the engine is running, open a downwind window slightly for ventilation and periodically clear snow from the exhaust pipe. This will protect you from possible carbon monoxide poisoning.

Exercise to maintain body heat, but avoid overexertion. In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers, and floor mats for insulation. Huddle with passengers and use your coat for a blanket.

Take turns sleeping. One person should be awake at all times to look for rescue crews.

Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.

Be careful not to waste battery power. Balance electrical energy needs - the use of lights, heat, and radio - with supply.

Turn on the inside light at night so work crews or rescuers can see you.

If stranded in a remote area, stomp large block letters in an open area spelling out HELP or SOS and line with rocks or tree limbs to attract the attention of rescue personnel who may be surveying the area by airplane.

If you don’t have a basic winter survival kit in your vehicle – blanket, water, flashlight, food at a minimum, stop reading this right now and go take care of that!

“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.” - Erma Bombeck

Do you have an emergency family plan? If not now is the time to make a plan.

Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.

Family Emergency Plan

It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members. Everyone call Uncle Mike in California to tell him where we can find you.

Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. Remember the olden days when we carried dimes in our penny loafers in case we needed to make a phone call?

You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether, but be patient.

In the case of a house fire or gas leak, plan to meet at a specific location - such as the big oak tree at a neighbor’s house down the street. This is vitally important because otherwise you may think a family member is still missing and then needlessly charge back into a unstable house to find him.

“Prevention is the daughter of intelligence.” - Sir Walter Raleigh

Many areas are experiencing colder than normal temperatures this week. I know we sure are. Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. Pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, like water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. Also, pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation are also subject to freezing.

During cold weather, take preventative action:

Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.

When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing.

Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.

If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55ºF.

If you do indeed have frozen pipes:

Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, and electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.

Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.

Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

When in doubt, call a professional plumber. I was going to suggest moving to a warmer climate, but even Texas, Florida and California are experiencing colder than normal temps too!

Shelter in Place is a term you may hear more often as more people prepare for emergencies. It is important to understand what it means - before you actually need it. Below we have provided a general overview as defined by the Red Cross.

What Shelter-in-Place Means

One of the instructions you may be given in an emergency where hazardous materials may have been released into the atmosphere is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors. (This is not the same thing as going to a shelter in case of a storm.) Shelter-in-place means selecting a small, interior room, with no or few windows, and taking refuge there. It does not mean sealing off your entire home or office building. If you are told to shelter-in-place, follow the instructions provided in this Fact Sheet.

Why You Might Need to Shelter-in-Place

Chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants may be released accidentally or intentionally into the environment. Should this occur, information will be provided by local authorities on television and radio stations on how to protect you and your family. Because information will most likely be provided on television and radio, it is important to keep a TV or radio on, even during the workday. The important thing is for you to follow instructions of local authorities and know what to do if they advise you to shelter-in-place.

How to Shelter-in-Place at Home:

Close and lock all windows and exterior doors.

If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.

Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.

Close the fireplace damper.

Get your family disaster supplies kit and make sure the radio is working.

Go to an interior room without windows that’s above ground level. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed.

Bring your pets with you, and be sure to bring additional food and water supplies for them.

It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room you select. Call your emergency contact and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition.

Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.

Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room.

Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

Remember that instructions to shelter-in-place are usually provided for durations of a few hours, not days or weeks. There is little danger that the room in which you are taking shelter will run out of oxygen and you will suffocate.