Residents urged to prepare for disasters

BY STACI WILSON

The Susquehanna County Department of Public Safety is urging all residents to be prepared if and when a disaster strikes.

Assistant Director Paul Johnson said the tornado that touched down in Kingsley on July 8 highlighted weaknesses in the disaster preparedness of some residents.

Johnson said that a tornado does not give people time to prepare the way a hurricane or winter storm does where “there’s an advance warning to buy supplies.”

As evidenced with the tornado, things can happen with little warning. Johnson urged residents to keep items on hand for the “unpredictable” events – just as they do for the forecasted ones in order to be better prepared.

“Pennsylvania has its fair share of disasters,” Johnson said, “and most of them are weather related. “Power outages are central around most disasters. With not just a tornado, but other high wind events as well as heavy rains and snow that can topple trees and down electrical lines.

With many local residents dependent on water wells with electric pumps, Johnson said he has found that few people keep enough water on hand for emergencies.

FEMA suggests that people keep on hand one gallon of water for each person in the household, per day. And residents should have at least three days worth of water, food and medications at all times.

He said the department was getting calls for water and ice earlier in the response to the tornado than anticipated.

In more widespread events – like a flood – Johnson said agencies would likely still be in a response phase rather than in recovery shortly after a disaster – making it difficult to get provisions to people quickly.

Residents can expect to enter the recovery phase about 48 to 72 hours after a disaster strikes.
Johnson also said residents affected with a power outage should “think outside the box” when it comes to food preparation. Many in the Kingsley area, he said, had camp stoves or grills available for cooking during the power outage.

Area residents can stay informed of emergencies, severe wather, major traffic issues, Amber alerts and other emergency situations by signing up for ReadyNotifySusquehanna.

Localized alerts can also be sent out over the system – like a boil advisory, Johnson said.
To sign up, visit Susqco.alertpa.org; alerts can be received via email, or a text message to your cell phone or other device.