| TERRORISM: WHAT YOU
CAN DO TO PREPAREThe devastating terrorist
attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001
have left many Americans concerned about the possibility of future incidents
in the United States and their potential impact. The level of speculation
increased when President Bush raised the national terror threat level
to Orange status on February 7, 2003, signifying a high risk of terrorist
attacks. Although the likelihood of such an attack occurring in Rancho
Palos Verdes is very low due to our lack of high profile targets, the
potential exists in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Despite
the current state of uncertainty, there are things you can do to prepare
for the unexpected and reduce the stress that you may be feeling now and
in the event that another domestic attack occurs in the future. While there
are many sources of information about the threat of terrorism and emergency
preparedness, the American Red Cross provides one of the best sources
for individuals and families. The information presented in this article
is taken from this organization’s web site at www.redcross.org
and is also available at the Greater Long Beach Chapter of the American
Red Cross located at 3150 East 29th Street, Long Beach, CA 90806, telephone:
(562) 595-6341.What Could Happen As we learned from the events of September 11, 2001, the following things can happen after a terrorist attack:
Choose an out-of-town contact your family or household will call or e-mail to check on each other should a disaster occur. Your selected contact should live far enough away that they would be unlikely to be directly affected by the same event, and they should know they are the chosen contact. Make sure every household member has that contact's, and each other's, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers (home, work, pager and cell). Leave these contact numbers at your children's schools, if you have children, and at your workplace. Your family should know that if telephones are not working, they need to be patient and try again later or try e-mail. Many people flood the telephone lines when emergencies happen but e-mail can sometimes get through when calls don't. 2. Establish a "safe room" and a meeting place away from home.Select a "safe-room" in your home where everyone can gather. The best choice is an interior room above ground with few windows and doors. Having a predetermined meeting place away from your home will save time and minimize confusion should your home be affected or the area evacuated. You may even want to make arrangements to stay with a family member or friend in case of an emergency. Be sure to include any pets in these plans, since pets are not permitted in shelters and some hotels will not accept them. 3. Assemble a disaster supplies kit. All of us should be able to survive comfortably on our own for at least a three-day period. That's the amount of time you may need to remain in your home until the danger from a biological, chemical or radiological attack has passed. The basics you will need are:
You need to know if they will they keep children at school until a parent or designated adult can pick them up or send them home on their own. Be sure that the school has updated information about how to reach parents and responsible caregivers to arrange for pickup. And, ask what type of authorization the school may require to release a child to someone you designate, if you are not able to pick up your child. During times of emergency the school telephones may be overwhelmed with calls. 5. Learn First AidAnother useful preparation includes learning some basic first aid. To enroll in a first aid and CPR course, contact your local American Red Cross chapter. In an emergency situation, you need to tend to your own well being first and then consider first aid for others immediately around you, including possibly assisting injured people to evacuating a building, if necessary. If Disaster Strikes
County and local authorities will provide you with the most accurate information specific to an event in your area. However, please keep in mind that raw, unedited footage of terrorism events and people's reaction to those events can be very upsetting, especially to children. It is inadvisable to allow children watch television news reports about such events, especially if the news reports show images over and over again about the same incident. Young children do not realize that it is repeated video footage, and think the event is happening again and again. Adults may also need to give themselves a break from watching disturbing footage. You may want to make some arrangements to take turns listening to the news with other adult members of your household. Evacuation If County or local authorities ask you to leave your home, they have a good reason to make this request, and you should heed the advice immediately. Listen to your radio or television and follow the instructions of emergency officials and keep these simple tips in mind-
People who may have come into contact with a biological, chemical or radiological agent may need to go through a decontamination procedure and receive medical attention. For more information about the specific effects of chemical, biological or radiological agents, the following web sites may be helpful: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.bt.cdc.gov |