Prepare your home by ensuring that tall trees and shrubs in close proximity are well trimmed. Fallen trees and flying debris are major causes of damage and injury in the aftermath of a wind storm. High winds can also cause severe damage to the roof of your home. In fact, roofing damage accounts for a major portion of wind-related property damage reported to insurance companies in the U.S each year. To reduce the risk of roof damage, be sure to repair minor damages so that they do not become bigger damages after facing strong winds.

Be sure to put away or securely tie down any objects that can be tossed around in the midst of a windstorm. Large objects like boats should be placed in a garage or strapped down so that they are as immoveable as possible during moments of high winds. It is also important to bring bikes, trashcans, large toys, and similar items kept outdoors inside to prevent them from flying around during gusty conditions. If these items are left out doors, not only can they cause damage to your property, but they can affect your neighbors’ homes or land in the street and cause a major problem for drivers, especially at night. Remembering to take these measures can not only increase the safety of your home during high winds, but they can also reduce the risk of damage, financial loss, and injuries to those around you.

Take proper precautions when driving in high winds. Be on the lookout for flying debris and road blocks at all times. Keep in mind that driving slower during these conditions can lessen the impact of objects that may collide with your car. If you feel your vehicle swaying at anytime or if you feel out of control while driving, you should pull to the side of the road when possible and wait for major wind gusts to pass.

If you see a fallen power line on the road, do not drive over it. Wires from fallen power lines can be energized, making them extremely dangerous. If a power line falls on your car while you are inside, unless it catches on fire, you should call for help and stay inside the vehicle until they arrive. Attempting to move the power line yourself or drive through it could result in a shock injury or death, so do not attempt to do this.

Share this information with family, friends, and neighbors to ensure that everyone is properly prepared for future wind storms. You can get started by calling a family meeting or sharing these tips at your next community event. While preventing a disaster is not always an option, we can prevent damage, injury, and loss of life by taking these easy steps to get prepared.

Would you like a Red Cross Preparedness Presenter to attend your next community event?  To request a free preparedness presentation, please visit www.RedCrossLA.org/epr.

Cooking fires remain the leading cause of all home fires in the United States, which is unfortunate because they are also the most preventable. Every year, over 3,500 Americans die in fires and more than 18,000 suffer from fire-related injuries. While some accidents are inevitable, many can be averted. The next time you cook, follow these simple instructions, they can save both your home and your family from fire:

Pay attention while cooking. You should always be 100% alert while operating the stove. If you feel sleepy or drowsy, you should not cook. Also, remember you should never leave the kitchen while the stove is on. When using the oven, be sure to set a timer and check on food items frequently. Unattended cooking is the #1 cause of fires in the kitchen. If you need to step away, have someone else look after your dish. If no one is around, simply turn the stove off and start it back up when you return.

Keep flammable items away from the stove! Though those oversized sleeves may be all the rage in Milan, they are not appropriate for the kitchen. The only items that should be near the stove are your pots and pans. Remember to keep spoons, towels, pot holders, packaging, and clothing a safe distance away from the cooktop.

Prepare your kitchen environment before cooking. This includes cleaning surfaces and cookware before using them. A clean cooking area is not only important for your health, but for your safety as well, because oily residues and left over food particles can easily become flammable or cause burning. Also, be sure not to have children or pets sit on the countertops near the stove. Activity on the counter can easily lead to items being knocked over and caused to ignite. Every year thousands of children are injured in the kitchen. Therefore, for everyone’s safety, we recommend that children are kept at least 3 feet away from cooking equipment.

Practicing good habits will help you and your family get into a routine of safe cooking. A great way to get started is by turning off appliances immediately after using them. On busy mornings, it’s easy to leave the coffee pot on or forget to unplug the toaster oven, so get into the habit of turning off cooking equipment as soon possible. Another good habit is turning pot handles inward, especially if you have children or pets. These simple steps can go a long way when it comes to preventing fires and keeping your family safe.

Below are 3 Actions you should take to be prepared in emergencies.

Get a Kit.

Have at least three days of supplies in an easy to carry evacuation kit with additional supplies on hand.  Remember to check your kit and replace the stock every six months.

Your kit should include:

• Map
• Food
• Flashlight
• Medications
• Radio
• Tools
• Personal items
• Sanitary supplies
• Money
• Contact information
• Pet supplies

For a detailed list of items you should include in your disaster kit, click here to download and print a checklist

Store your disaster supplies in sturdy yet easy-to-carry containers, in a place that is easily accessible. Keep a smaller version of the kit in your vehicle. If you become stranded or are not able to return home, having some items with you will help you be more comfortable until help arrives.

Make a Plan.

Planning ahead will help you have the best possible response to disaster.

Talk. Discuss with your family the disasters that can happen where you live. Establish responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team. Designate alternates in case someone is absent. If a family member is in the military, also plan for how you would respond if they are deployed. Include the local military base resources that may be available.

Plan. Choose two places to meet after a disaster:

• Right outside your home, in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire.
• Outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate your neighborhood.

Learn. Each adult in your household should learn how and when to turn off utilities such as electricity, water and gas. Ask your local fire department to show you how to use a fire extinguisher.

Tell everyone in the household where emergency information and supplies are kept. Make copies of the information for everyone to carry with them. Keep the information updated.

Practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassable or gridlocked.

Include your pets. If you must evacuate, take your animals with you. If it is not safe for you to remain, it is not safe for them.

Be Informed.

Know what may happen and how you can help.

Learn what disasters or emergencies may occur where you live, work and play.

Identify how local authorities will notify you during a disaster and how you will get important information.

Learn what you can do to prepare for disasters by contacting your local Red Cross chapter to ask about first aid, CPR and disaster training.

Share what you have learned with your family, household and neighbors and encourage them to be informed too.

What’s in your wallet? Be sure to include an American Red Cross Emergency Contact Card. (Download and print a contact card)

Join other members of your community through the American Red Cross in taking these first steps. You never know how many people your actions will affect, how many lives you might change.

ShakeOut organizers announced that the building was unstable.  Everyone should evacuate immediately.  Those who headed for the front entrance found it strung with caution tape, with Disaster Action Team coordinator Sue Hunter there to tell them it was blocked by debris.  The Red Cross advises people to identify two evacuation routes from their home and office in case of just such an obstacle.  Now Red Cross workers tested their own knowledge of their secondary exits.

Volunteers stood waiting at the designated emergency meeting points near the front and back of the building.  They each held a gift bag, containing preparedness items like furniture straps and flashlights, awarded to the first person to arrive at each meeting point.  Then, having survived the fictional earthquake, everyone went back to work.

The first ShakeOut took place in southern California in 2008.  It was created in response to the ShakeOut Scenario generated by the United States Geological Survey, which simulated the effects of a 7.8 earthquake on the southern end of the San Andreas fault.  An estimated 5.4 million people participated.  This year, over 8.5 Californians registered for the drill.

The U.S.G.S. predicts that Los Angeles will experience a major earthquake within the next 30 years.   Events like the ShakeOut help residents get prepared.  If you missed this year’s ShakeOut, have your own drop, cover and hold on drill at your office or home.

What’s your risk?

Begin with an analysis of the hazards of the area.  Is your school threatened by tornadoes?  Earthquakes?  Is emergency assistance close at hand or would you have to wait for help if the entire community has been impacted? Do you think you will need tools for clearing debris?  Remember that any school in the country could be locked down due to an intruder or gunfire in the area, so all schools should be prepared to have their students stuck inside the building for many hours.  Similarly, all schools face the potential of a hazardous materials spill nearby, requiring the school to shelter-in-place with doors and windows closed and heating systems off.  Adjust the supplies for extreme heat or cold temperatures.  If your plan includes Search & Rescue teams for light search and rescue following an earthquake, tornado or other damaging event, stock supplies for the number of teams assigned.

Create a team

Choose a “safety captain” for the school, who will oversee all emergency preparedness efforts.  Assign a team to help.  Determine who will make decisions about building safety, medical care and when to send students home.

Budget

Adjust the list, prioritizing for limited budget and storage space, if necessary.  Develop a plan to phase in the supplies.  Contact local service clubs and vendors for assistance.

How Much to Store

Make some planning assumptions.  Do most of your students’ families live nearby or do some of them commute long distances?  Some schools could be cut off for days if a bridge or the main highway is blocked.  If you determine that most of your students could be picked up in most emergencies within a day, then begin by stocking supplies for one day.  Some schools plan that half their student body will be picked up by parents within one day, half the remainder within a day, and the remainder within another day; these schools stock supplies for 100% for day one, 50% for day two, plus 25% for day three.  Other schools stock supplies for 3 days, the recommendation of many emergency management agencies.  Remember to factor in the number of staff and other adults who may be on campus.

Storage

Determine where to store emergency supplies.  Every classroom should have some supplies and there should be a cache of supplies for the whole school.  Many schools in California and other states threatened by earthquakes use outdoor storage, anticipating the possibility of having to care for students outside the buildings.  They use an existing building or a cargo container, also called a land-sea container, purchased used and installed near the emergency assembly area.  Schools with limited budgets and/or temperature extremes may opt to store their supplies in various caches throughout the school facility, primarily in locked closets or classrooms.  Many schools stock supplies in (new) trash barrels on wheels.  Do not store water in the barrels because it may leak and destroy everything else.  Make sure that there are keys to ensure access to the supplies during an emergency, including access by programs such as day care and after-school events.  Plan an annual inventory, replacing water and other items with limited shelf life as necessary.

Individual Kits

Some schools ask students to bring in their own kits, sometimes called “comfort kits.” (These “comfort kits” should not be confused with Red Cross “comfort kits”—consisting mostly of toiletries—to people who have been affected by disasters.)  Student-assembled comfort kits typically include a little food, some water, a space blanket or large plastic trash bag, a non-toxic chemical emergency light stick and a letter or photograph from home.  These kits can be helpful, but require a great deal of time and supervision to assemble and check when they are brought to school.  Sometimes parents include perishable items by mistake, and some parents do not send anything at all.  The school will need a plan to make sure that each student has a kit.  Vendors sell expensive individual kits as well, with much of the value in the packaging.

Recommended Supplies

The following lists address classroom kits, supplies for the whole school and Search & Rescue gear.

Classroom Kit

• Leather Work gloves
• Latex gloves: 6 pairs
• Safety goggles: 1 pair
• Small First Aid kit
• Pressure dressings: 3
• Crow bar
• Space blankets: 3
• Tarp or ground cover
• Student accounting forms (blank)
• Student emergency cards
• Buddy classroom list
• Pens, paper
• Whistle
• Student activities
• Duct Tape: 2 rolls (for sealing doors and windows)
• Scissors
• Suitable container for supplies (5-gallon bucket or backpack)
• Drinking water and cups (stored separately)
• Toilet supplies (large bucket, used as container for supplies and toilet when needed, with 100 plastic bags, toilet paper, and hand washing supplies)
• Portable radio, batteries or other communication system
• Flashlight, batteries
• Push broom (if classroom includes wheel chairs)

Supplies for the Whole School

• Water
  • ½ gallon per person per day times three days, with small paper cups
• First Aid
  • Compress, 4 x 4″: 1000 per 500 students
  • Compress, 8 x 10″: 150 per 500 students
  • Elastic bandage: 2-inch: 12 per campus; 4-inch: 12 per campus
  • Triangular bandage: 24 per campus
  • Cardboard splints: 24 each, small, medium, large
  • Butterfly bandages: 50 per campus
  • Water in small sealed containers: 100 (for flushing wounds, etc.)
  • Hydrogen peroxide: 10 pints per campus
  • Bleach, 1 small bottle
  • Plastic basket or wire basket stretchers or backboards: 1.5/100 students
  • Scissors (paramedic): 4 per campus
  • Tweezers: 3 assorted per campus
  • Triage tags: 50 per 500 students
  • Latex gloves: 100 per 500 students
  • Oval eye patch: 50 per campus
  • Tapes: 1″ cloth: 50 rolls per campus; 2″ cloth: 24 per campus
  • Dust masks: 25 per 100 students
  • Disposable blanket: 10 per 100 students
  • First Aid books: 2 standard and 2 advanced per campus
  • Space blankets: 1 per student and staff
  • Heavy duty rubber gloves: 4 pairs
• Sanitation Supplies (if not supplied in the classroom kits)
  • 1 toilet kit per 100 students/staff, to include:
  • 1 portable toilet, privacy shelter, 20 rolls toilet paper, 300 wet wipes, 300 plastic bags with ties, 10 large plastic trash bags
  • Soap and water, in addition to the wet wipes, is strongly advised.
• Tools per Campus
  • Barrier tape, 3″ x 1000″: 3 rolls
  • Pry bar
  • Pick ax
  • Sledge hammer
  • Shovel
  • Pliers
  • Bolt cutters
  • Hammer
  • Screwdrivers
  • Utility knife
  • Broom
  • Utility shut off wrench: 1 per utility
• Other Supplies
  • Folding tables, 3′ x 6′: 3-4
  • Chairs: 12-16
  • Identification vests for staff, preferably color-coded per school plan
  • Clipboards with emergency job descriptions
  • Office supplies: pens, paper, etc.
  • Signs for student request and release
  • Alphabetical dividers for request gate
  • Copies of all necessary forms
  • Cable to connect car battery for emergency power
• Food
  • The bulk of stored food should be easy to serve, non-perishable and not need refrigeration or heating after opening. Food is generally considered a low priority item, except for those with diabetes and certain other specific medical conditions. One method used by schools is to purchase food at the beginning of the school year and donate it to charity at the end of the year. A supply of granola bars, power bars, or similar food which is easy to distribute, may be helpful. Some schools store hard candy, primarily for its comfort value.

Search & Rescue Equipment

Adjust the number of S&R teams according to the size and complexity of the campus. Teams must consist of a minimum of two persons. Training on how to do light Search & Rescue is required—contact your local fire department for information on whether such training is offered in your community.

• Protective Gear per S&R Team Member
  • Hard hat, OSHA approved
  • Identification vest
  • Leather work gloves
  • Safety Goggles
  • Dust mask
  • Flash light, extra batteries
  • Duffel or tote bag to carry equipment
• Gear per S&R Team
  • Backpack with First Aid supplies
  • Master keys

For even more resources, and information about the Ready Rating Program, go to the PrepareLA site.

Drawn from lists created by the California Senate Select Committee on the Northridge Earthquake, Task Force on Education, August 1994

The ShakeOut was developed in response to the ShakeOut Scenario generated by the United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.).  The scenario is a comprehensive study of the potential effects of 7.8 earthquake on the southern end of the San Andreas fault.  The first ShakeOut, in 2008, focused on Southern California.  On November 13^th, 5.4 million area residents participated in a “drop, cover and hold on” earthquake drill, the largest in U.S. history at the time.  In 2009, the ShakeOut expanded to the whole state.  New Zealand also joined in with its own Great West Coast ShakeOut.  In 2010, Nevada and Guam held their own drills as well.

This year, British Columbia and Oregon held a ShakeOut in January, on the anniversary of a 9.0 magnitude quake in the Cascadia subduction zone, off the coast of the northwestern U.S.  The first Central United States ShakeOut took place in April.  Several states, including Nevada, Oregon and Idaho, will join California for its fourth annual ShakeOut at 10:20 am on 10/20/11.  So far, over 8 million people have registered to take part.  Anyone can register on the ShakeOut.org website.  They can also download an audio broadcast, including earthquake sound effects, to play during the drill.

The site contains stories and photos from past ShakeOuts.  Many organizations and communities have conducted disaster response exercises in addition to the basic drill.  In 2008, elderly residents of the Vallecito Mobile Home Park posted “okay” or “help” signs in their windows for volunteer rescuers to find.  The staff of Biola University in La Mirada went even further in 2010, staging a campus-wide simulation in cooperation with the fire department and local CERT.  They applied fake wounds to the “injured” and simulated a building collapse complete with victims trapped inside.  The cities of Hermosa Beach and Rancho Palos Verdes used last year’s ShakeOut to test their new Emergency Operations Centers.  Some companies gave their employees incentives to participate in the drill.  Earthpack, in Irvine, taped chocolate bars under the desks for people to find when they took cover.  PBC Companies did the same with raffle tickets, awarding a gift card to the winner.

A common theme in the stories from past ShakeOuts is how the drill prompted people to think more about preparedness.   The U.S.G.S. predicts that Southern California will experience a substantial earthquake within the next thirty years.  Participating in the 2011 ShakeOut is a good first step toward getting ready for the real thing.

On the 20th, the Red Cross of Greater L.A. will be at Bruin Plaza on the UCLA campus from 10am to 2pm to answer all of your earthquake questions.

On Saturday the 22nd, they’ll host Mas Listo Mas Seguro, a preparedness fair for the Spanish speaking community.  The family event will take place at the Union Pacific Empowerment Center, at 4315 Union Pacific Avenue, from 9:30am to 2:30 pm.  Classes in hands only CPR and general preparedness will be taught in Spanish throughout the day.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program was developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985 to train ordinary citizens to help themselves, and first responders, in case of disaster.  It was soon adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which made training available nationwide.  CERT is now funded by Citizen Corps, a national program established after 9/11 to coordinate and encourage community preparedness.

Any community group can create a CERT.  They need to be sponsored by a government agency, usually a local fire or emergency management department.  CERT training is conducted by first responders who have taken a Train-the-Trainer class given by FEMA.   Team training is broken up into seven sessions of two and a half hours each.  Students learn how to suppress small fires, give basic first aid, conduct light search and rescue, and organize local disaster response.  They don’t get CPR training, but are certainly encouraged to learn it on their own.  Instructors emphasize personal safety for rescuers.  CERT members won’t attempt to handle situations beyond the scope of their training, such as large fires or hazardous material spills.  At the end of training, each graduate receives a green helmet and vest.

When disaster strikes, a CERT will be activated by its sponsoring agency.  They can also self-deploy to an emergency in their own area.  When there’s no crisis, CERT members support first responders in other ways.  They supplement emergency staffing at events like parades.  They give preparedness education to the community.  Some even act as victims during training exercises.

Citizen Corps encourages CERT members to share their stories in the CERT in Action section of the official website: http://citizencorps.gov/CERT/.  The site has information about how to form a team, or join a local CERT.  It also has training materials and videos available to download.

After a large disaster, first responders will be stretched thin.  The CERT program helps ordinary citizens fill in the gaps, leaving trained professionals free to handle truly dangerous and difficult tasks.

People over 65 and under 5 years old are the most vulnerable to excessive heat, but anyone can get overheated and dehydrated.  It’s easy to overlook the health risks of too much sun, but heat kills more people each year than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined.

Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.  Protect your head and face with a wide-brimmed hat.  Drink plenty of water, whether you feel thirsty or not.  Caffeine and alcohol will only dehydrate you more.

Stay inside, in an air-conditioned building if possible, especially from 10am to 3pm, the hottest part of the day.   When outside, avoid strenuous activity, either work or play.  If you must work outside, try to limit yourself to the early morning, when it’s coolest.  Take frequent breaks to go inside and cool down.  Use a buddy system and watch each other for symptoms of heat illness.

Muscle cramps and spasms are your body’s first signs of overheating.   Sit down in a cool area and drink some water.   If you continue to get hot and dehydrated, you’ll develop heat exhaustion.  Your head will hurt, you’ll feel dizzy, lightheaded and possibly nauseous, and your skin will be cool and moist.   It’s even more important now to go somewhere cool, loosen or remove clothing, rest and rehydrate.

If you progress into heat stroke, you’re in trouble.  It’s a life-threatening condition.  You’ll stop sweating and your skin will be red and dry.  Your pulse and breathing will become rapid and shallow.  You may have seizures or even pass out.  If you see these symptoms in yourself or anyone else, call 911 immediately.  Then get out of the heat, cool down with wet towels on the skin and drink water.

The best way to induce a heat illness in someone else is to leave them in a hot car, even with the windows rolled down.  The temperature inside will climb to dangerous levels very quickly.  Never take the risk with people or pets.

Whether you’re working or playing hard in the sun, take a break every hour or so to cool off and rehydrate.   Your overheated body will thank you.

The city of Los Angeles offers several of its facilities as cooling centers, including libraries and senior centers.  For a full list, go to their site.

Not according to California law.  That very situation led to a lawsuit in 2008, testing the limits of the state’s Good Samaritan statute.  As a result, the California legislature clarified the language of the statute.  It now states that “no person who in good faith, and not for compensation, renders emergency medical or nonmedical care at the scene of an emergency shall be held liable for any civil damages resulting from any act or omission.”  Put more simply, it protects the average bystander who genuinely tries to help. 

The statute does make an exception for “gross negligence” or “willful or wanton misconduct” on the part of the bystander.  If a would-be helper does something so careless or dangerous that it’s highly likely to cause harm, then he or she is not acting in good faith and isn’t protected from liability.  This applies only to the California statute.  There is no national Good Samaritan law.    

What about the opposite situation?  If you see someone in danger, are you legally obligated to help?  Again, there’s no national law for the general public.  There is an obligation, however, if a “special relationship” already exists.  For example, parents must try to rescue their children, and employers are required to help their employees. 

Ten U.S. states, including California, have “duty to rescue” laws which apply to everyone.  If someone is in danger, you must at least call emergency services for them.  You are not obligated to put yourself at risk to help.  Failure to do anything at all, however, is a misdemeanor.

These laws attempt to define not only each person’s responsibility to help another, but how much help we should expect from someone else.

Laura spoke to Red Cross L.A. Region CEO Paul Schulz about lessons learned from rescuers in Chile and the devastation in Japan, and the importance of resiliency in the face of disaster.  Preparedness Education specialist Lisa Klink demonstrated how to take the first step to being prepared by assembling an emergency kit.

L.A. County Battalion Fire Chief Larry Collins with USAR (Urban Search & Rescue) took us to recent disasters through the eyes of a fire fighter who has been on the front lines trying to save as many lives as possible.  U.S.G.S. Chief Scientist Lucy Jones, who has been studying earthquakes for over 30 years, shared her thoughts about whether we’re sufficiently prepared, as well as her predictions about the next quake.

Volunteers from CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) discussed how they’ve prepared to help their community in the event of a disaster, including medical operations, disaster preparedness and search and rescue.

Victims from the Northridge quake reflected on what they experienced and advised other residents to get prepared.  Laura also reviewed what happened at California State University at Northridge and how the campus has recovered.

She took a tour of the Emergency Operations Center in downtown Los Angeles and saw how it’s uniquely engineered to survive the magnitude of an 8.0 earthquake.  Dean Reese of Ready America showed us products that can save your family from injury in the event of an earthquake.  Denise Fleck with Sunny-Dog Ink warned us not to forget about family pets when disaster strikes.

Segments of the special featuring Paul Schulz and Lisa Klink are available on the CBS2 News on Demand site.