DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

BEFORE A RADIOLOGICAL THREAT OR EVENT:Make a plan - Review Section 1 and check emergency plans for schools,day care and nursing home to find out where everyone goes if evacuated.Find out if there are any below ground shelters near your home, school oroffice in case you need to take cover from radiation.Learn more about radiation - Review pages 72-73 and 114-118.Report strange things - Be aware of your surroundings -- watch for strangeor suspicious packages, abandoned briefcases or backpacks and reportsuspicious activities to local authorities.Stay current on threats - The Department of Homeland Securitywww.dhs.gov and Public Safety Canada www.publicsafety.gc.ca postalerts and news about national security online.Be ready to evacuate - Listen to authorities -- if told to leave - DO it!DURING A RADIOLOGICAL EVENT OR EXPLOSION:Don’t panic... - Stay calm and don’t stop to retrieve personal items or makephone calls - get to a safe place.Don’t look... - Do not look directly at explosion, flash, blast or fireball!Things to watch out for:• falling objects - if things are falling off bookshelves orfrom the ceiling get under a sturdy table or desk• flying debris - many blast injuries are caused by flyingglass, metal and other materials• fires - stay below the smoke (crawl or walk like a duck)- only use the stairs (don’t use elevators)- check doors with back of hand before opening(If HOT, do NOT open - find another exit!)• weak structures - be careful since floors, stairs, roofs orwalls might be weakened by the blastIF INDOORS - Stay put if building is not damaged but leave if warned ofa radiation release inside. Cover nose and mouth and find shelter in a buildingnot damaged by blast and prepare to “shelter-in-place”.IF OUTDOORS - Cover mouth and nose with a cloth or handkerchief andtake shelter in a safe building as quickly as possible!www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325111