In Time of Emergency, United States. Office of Civil Defense [e book reader for pc .TXT] 📗

time to do this--or if you are walking--take cover and lie flat in the nearest depression, such as a ditch, culvert, excavation, or ravine.

Chapter 4 WINTER STORMS

Here is advice that will help you protect yourself and your family against the hazards of winter storms--blizzards, heavy snows, ice storms, freezing rain, or sleet.

• KEEP POSTED ON WEATHER CONDITIONS. Use your radio, television and newspapers to keep informed of current weather conditions and forecasts in your area. Even a few hours' warning of a storm may enable you to avoid being caught outside in it, or at least be better prepared to cope with it. You should also understand the terms commonly used in weather forecasts:

Illustration:

--A blizzard is the most dangerous of all winter storms. It combines cold air, heavy snow, and strong winds that blow the snow about and may reduce visibility to only a few yards. A blizzard warning is issued when the Weather Bureau expects considerable snow, winds of 35 miles an hour or more, and temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. A severe blizzard warning means that a very heavy snowfall is expected, with winds of at least 45 miles an hour and temperatures of 10 degrees or lower.

--A heavy snow warning usually means an expected snowfall of 4 inches or more in a 12-hour period, or 6 inches or more in a 24-hour period. Warnings of snow flurries, snow squalls, or blowing and drifting snow are important mainly because visibility may be reduced and roads may become slippery or blocked.

--Freezing rain or freezing drizzle is forecast when expected rain is likely to freeze as soon as it strikes the ground, putting a coating of ice or glaze on roads and everything else that is exposed. If a substantial layer of ice is expected to accumulate from the freezing rain, an ice storm is forecast.

--Sleet is small particles of ice, usually mixed with rain. If enough sleet accumulates on the ground, it will make the roads slippery.

• BE PREPARED FOR ISOLATION AT HOME. If you live in a rural area, make sure you could survive at home for a week or two in case a storm isolated you and made it impossible for you to leave. You should:

--Keep an adequate supply of heating fuel on hand and use it sparingly, as your regular supplies may be curtailed by storm conditions. If necessary, conserve fuel by keeping the house cooler than usual, or by "closing off" some rooms temporarily. Also, have available some kind of emergency heating equipment and fuel so you could keep at least one room of your house warm enough to be livable. This could be a camp stove with fuel, or a supply of wood or coal if you have a fireplace. If your furnace is controlled by a thermostat and your electricity is cut off by a storm, the furnace probably would not operate and you would need emergency heat.

Illustration:

--Stock an emergency supply of food and water, as well as emergency cooking equipment such as a camp stove. Some of this food should be of the type that does not require refrigeration or cooking.

--Make sure you have a battery-powered radio and extra batteries on hand, so that if your electric power is cut off you could still hear weather forecasts, information and advice broadcast by local authorities. Also, flashlights or lanterns would be needed.

--Consult page 72 of this handbook for other supplies and equipment that you may need if isolated at home. Be sure to keep on hand the simple tools and equipment needed to fight a fire. Also, be certain that all family members know how to take precautions that would prevent fire at such a time, when the help of the fire department may not be available.

• TRAVEL ONLY IF NECESSARY. Avoid all unnecessary trips. If you must travel, use public transportation if possible. However, if you are forced to use your automobile for a trip of any distance, take these precautions:

--Make sure your car is in good operating condition, properly serviced, and equipped with chains or snow tires.

--Take another person with you if possible.

Illustration:

--Make sure someone knows where you are going, your approximate schedule, and your estimated time of arrival at your destination.

--Have emergency "winter storm supplies" in the car, such as a container of sand, shovel, windshield scraper, tow chain or rope, extra gasoline, and a flashlight. It also is good to have with you heavy gloves or mittens, overshoes, extra woolen socks, and winter headgear to cover your head and face.

--Travel by daylight and use major highways if you can. Keep the car radio turned on for weather information and advice.

--Drive with all possible caution. Don't try to save time by travelling faster than road and weather conditions permit.

--Don't be daring or foolhardy. Stop, turn back, or seek help if conditions threaten that may test your ability or endurance, rather than risk being stalled, lost or isolated. If you are caught in a blizzard, seek refuge immediately.

Illustration:

• KEEP CALM IF YOU GET IN TROUBLE. If your car breaks down during a storm, or if you become stalled or lost, don't panic. Think the problem through, decide what's the safest and best thing to do, and then do it slowly and carefully. If you are on a well-traveled road, show a trouble signal. Set your directional lights to flashing, raise the hood of your car, or hang a cloth from the radio aerial or car window. Then stay in your car and wait for help to arrive. If you run the engine to keep warm, remember to open a window enough to provide ventilation and protect you from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Wherever you are, if there is no house or other source of help in sight, do not leave your car to search for assistance, as you may become confused and get lost.

Illustration:

• AVOID OVEREXERTION. Every winter many unnecessary deaths occur because people--especially older persons, but younger ones as well--engage in more strenuous physical activity than their bodies can stand. Cold weather itself, without any physical exertion, puts an extra strain on your heart. If you add to this physical exercise, especially exercise that you are not accustomed to--such as shovelling snow, pushing an automobile, or even walking fast or far--you are risking a heart attack, a stroke, or other damage to your body. In winter weather, and especially in winter storms, be aware of this danger, and avoid overexertion.

Chapter 5 EARTHQUAKES

If your area is one of the places in the United States where earthquakes occur, keep these points in mind:

--When an earthquake happens, keep calm. Don't run or panic. If you take the proper precautions, the chances are you will not be hurt.

--REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE. If you are outdoors, stay outdoors; if indoors, stay indoors. In earthquakes, most injuries occur as people are entering or leaving buildings (from falling walls, electric wires, etc.).

Illustration:

--If you are indoors, sit or stand against an inside wall (preferably in the basement), or in an inside doorway; or else take cover under a desk, table or bench (in case the wall or ceiling should fall). Stay away from windows and outside doors.

Illustration:

Illustration:

--If you are outdoors, stay away from overhead electric wires, poles or anything else that might shake loose and fall (such as the cornices of tall buildings).

--If you are driving an automobile, pull off the road and stop (as soon as possible, and with caution). Remain in the car until the disturbance subsides. When you drive on, watch for hazards created by the earthquake, such as fallen or falling objects, downed electric wires, and broken or undermined roadways.

After an Earthquake

For your own safety and that of others, you should follow carefully the advice given in the section, "After a Natural Disaster" (page 73).

Index Air raid see NUCLEAR ATTACK

Air raid shelters see FALLOUT SHELTERS

ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION 58-60

Atomic bomb attack see NUCLEAR ATTACK

Attack, nuclear see NUCLEAR ATTACK

ATTACK WARNING: 17-22
    Actions to take 19-20, 21-22
    Attack warning signal 19
    Attack warning time 18, 21
    Taking cover 21-22

ATTENTION OR ALERT SIGNAL (for natural disasters) 19-20, 71-72

Basements (for use as fallout shelters) see FALLOUT SHELTERS

Blast from nuclear explosions see NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS, Effects of

BLEEDING, How to stop 61

Blizzards see STORMS, Winter

BOATS (use as improvised fallout shelters) 33, 38

Bomb shelters see FALLOUT SHELTERS

BREATHING, How to restore 58-60

BROADCASTING, Radio and television:
    In time of natural disaster 72, 75, 77, 81, 83
    In time of nuclear attack 17-18, 32, 34

BROKEN BONES, How to treat 63-65

BURNS, How to treat 65-66

CHECKLIST OF EMERGENCY ACTIONS 6-7

CHILDREN, Special precautions for:
    Avoiding contaminated water and milk 6, 9, 16
    Effects of radiation on children 13, 16
    Finding fallout shelter at all times 24
    Giving artificial respiration to children 59, 60
    Infant supplies to be stored for shelter use 43

Construction of home fallout shelters see PLANS FOR HOME
    FALLOUT SHELTERS

Cover see TAKING COVER

CRAWL SPACE (use as improvised fallout shelter) 33, 36

DRIVING IN A TIME OF NATURAL DISASTER:
    Car may be needed for evacuation 72
    Driving after a natural disaster has occurred 74
    Driving at the time of a flood or hurricane 75, 76, 77, 78
    Driving at the time of an earthquake 86
    Driving during a winter storm 82-84
    If you see a tornado while driving 80


EARTHQUAKES 85-86 see also 71-74 (General Guidance)

Effects of nuclear explosions see NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS, Effects of

ELECTRIC SERVICE 75,82

ELECTRIC WIRES, Downed 73, 77, 78, 86

ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES 73, 76

ELECTRICITY (as related to fires) 52, 54

EMERGENCY ACTIONS CHECKLIST 6-7

EMERGENCY SKILLS:
    Need for 2, 5, 55, 56
    Training courses in 2, 55

EVACUATION IN A TIME OF NATURAL DISASTER: 75-78
    Securing your home before leaving 75-76

EXERTION, Physical:
    Avoiding overexertion during a storm 84

FALLOUT, Radioactive 5, 6, 10-13, 15, 16

FALLOUT SHELTERS:
    General information 13-14, 23-25
    Home shelters 24-25, how to prepare 26-32
    Improvised shelters 33-38
    Public shelters 23-24, how to identify 24
    Some protection provided against blast and heat