Emergency Notification System

Please take a moment to sign up to be notified by your local response team in the event of an emergency situation or critical community alert (e.g., evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil water notices, missing child reports, flood alerts, etc.).  It's free.  To enroll in the Emergency Notification System for Box Elder County, please CLICK HERE.

Prioritize Your Needs

Shelter

In survival, as in all aspects of life, it is easier to be organized if we prioritize. The priorities, in order, are shelter, water, heat, food, signal, and utility. You can live four to six weeks without food; three to five days without water; but hypothermia will kill you in 30 minutes. Therefore shelter is the first priority!

Shelter may be defined as anything that protects the human element from nature's elements. A good coat can't be beat, and it is easier to survive in the summer with winter clothes than in the winter with summer clothes.

Water

Water is critical to survival. But where do you find safe drinking water in an emergency?

Boiling: This is the only process that is 100 percent effective in killing any crawlies, but it does not remove any "floaties". Water should be boiled for at least 10 minutes at a rolling boil. It tastes terrible because much of the dissolved air has been lost. You can improve the taste by pouring the boiled water back and forth between two clean containers several times.

Filtering: The easiest and most effective method of removing almost all crawlies and all but the smallest floaties. Does not affect the tastes of the water. You should look for one that filters down to 0.2 microns or less. A combination of filtering and boiling or treatment, when possible, it is the best way to ensure water safety.

Iodine: 75-90 percent effective in killing crawlies, but does not remove floaties. The effectiveness of this method depends on water temperature and contact time. Iodine does affect the taste of the water. Avoided like the plague Iodine tablets sold as "military surplus." The reason they are surplus is because they have exceeded the shelf life of five years and the military, by regulation, cannot issue them. Always check the expiration date.

Bleach: Almost as effective as iodine in killing crawlies, but does nothing about floaties. Use four drops of regular chlorine bleach (not color safe or scented) per quart of water. Note that liquid bleach also loses potency over time, so bleach that has been stored for more than two years is not going to be very effective for water purification.

Water is critical. A filter and some iodine tablets in your kit are a good item to have.

Rules of Winter Safety

Winter safety is a concern as we travel and play in the snow and cold. Here are some guidelines for being prepared to survive a cold weather emergency. This information can also be used to make you more comfortable while enjoying outdoor winter activities.

• Sub-zero safety must be based on clothing, water and food.
• The only thing that really insulates the body is dead air space, and it takes about one inch to do the job. Open-cell polyurethane foam is one of the best insulating materials.
• Regardless of the "R" factor, insulation is not insulation when it becomes wet. Insulating material that does not absorb and hold water will be warmer.
• The problem with layered clothing is that it promotes moisture and frost build-up between the layers.
• Waterproof clothing and footwear may keep outside moisture from getting in, but they trap body moisture inside, where it decreases the effectiveness of insulation.
• Cotton absorbs and holds moisture. Use synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyester throughout your clothing system.
• Wholesome foods with complex carbohydrates provide more warmth and energy than candy.

Anticipate that everything takes longer to do in the cold. Plan far ahead and don't become frustrated.

For more information on specific hazards, click on the following:

Earthquake | Fire | Floods | Lightning | Winter Storms | Tornadoes | Terrorism | Chemical Spills

If you are a person with special needs or know a person with special needs and would like more information, click here.

Additional Resources:

Emergency Preparedness for Seniors
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