EMERGENCY LINKS WEATHER
Hurricane Safety National Program Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources
Hurricane Hazards
While hurricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property, tropical storms and depression also can be devastating. The primary hazards from tropical cyclones (which include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) are storm surge flooding, inland flooding from heavy rains, destructive winds, tornadoes, and high surf and rip currents.
- Storm surge is the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm's winds. This hazard is historically the leading cause of hurricane related deaths in the.....
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Be prepared for hazardous weather – explore the comprehensive resources below. They provide easy-to-understand infographics, educational materials, and social media content to help the public better prepare and understand actions they can take to stay safe. Resources are available in multiple languages, ensuring that vital information is accessible to a range of communities, promoting safer environments for all.
ACCUWEATHER ALERTS
ACCUWEATHER ALERTS
- Flash floods can happen minutes to hours after a period of excessive rainfall or a sudden release of water from a dam failure or ice jam, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). In the desert, flash floods can roar through dry river beds miles away from where the heavy rain is falling. This makes them incredibly dangerous. These floods are sudden and fierce, with rapidly rising water that can cause severe damage and trigger mudslides.
EMERGENCY LINKS RADIATION AND NUCLEAR
CDC - How Potassium Iodide (KI) Works
How does KI work?
The thyroid gland cannot tell the difference between non-radioactive and radioactive iodine. It will absorb both kinds.
KI works by keeping radioactive iodine out of the thyroid gland where it can cause damage. When a person takes KI, the thyroid absorbs the non-radioactive iodine in the medicine. Because KI contains so much non-radioactive iodine, the thyroid becomes "full" and cannot absorb any more iodine—either stable or radioactive—for the next 24 hours.
https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-emergencies/infographic/potassium-iodide.html
EPA - About Radiation Emergencies and Preparedness
During a radiation emergency, the main goal is to keep your exposure to radiation as low as possible.
Get Inside – During a radiation emergency, you may be asked to get inside a building and take shelter for a period of time. The walls of buildings can block much of the harmful radiation. More walls between you and the outside provides more protection, so good places to shelter include basements or rooms with no windows in the middle of your home. Because radioactive materials become weaker over time, staying inside for at least 24 hours can protect you and your family until public health or law enforcement officials tell you it is safe to leave the area.
https://www.epa.gov/radtown/radiation-emergencies-and-preparedness
READY.GOV - Radiation Emergencies
READY.GOV - Radiation Emergencies
- The best way to stay safe in any radiation emergency is to get inside, stay inside and stay tuned. Putting material between you and the radiation provides protection while you tune in for instructions from responders.
HOW TO STAY SAFE IN THE EVENT OF A RADIATION EMERGENCY
Prepare NOW
Like in any emergency, you need reliable information, enough supplies and a plan to protect yourself and your family during radiation and nuclear emergencies.
EMERGENCY LINKS WATER PURIFICATION
CDC - How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency
If the water is cloudy, first filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter. Another option is to let it settle. Then, draw off the clear water and follow the steps below.
- Bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes).
- Let the boiled water cool.
- Store the boiled water in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers.
Improve the flat taste of boiled water by:
- Pouring it from one container to another and then letting it stand for a few hours
- Adding a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of boiled water
FEMA - Fact Sheet: How to Make Your Water Safe to Drink
- Boiling
- If water is cloudy, allow to settle, then skim the clean water above the sediment. You can also filter through clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter before boiling.
- Store the boiled water in clean sanitized containers with tight covers.
- Disinfect by using:
- Unscented household chlorine bleach or iodine (useful against most, but not all, harmful viruses or bacteria.
- When using bleach, read the label carefully to ensure you use the proper concentration.
- Chlorine dioxide tablets (useful against organisms resistant to bleach or iodine)
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water
EPA - Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
EPA - Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
- Boil water, if you do not have bottled water. Boiling is sufficient to kill pathogenic bacteria, viruses and protozoa (WHO, 2015).
- If water is cloudy, let it settle and filter it through a clean cloth, paperboiling water towel, or coffee filter.
- Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute. At altitudes above 5,000 feet (1,000 meters), boil water for three minutes.
- Let water cool naturally and store it in clean containers with covers. To improve the flat taste of boiled water, add one pinch of salt to each quart or liter of water, or pour the water from one clean container to another several times.
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water