CRITICAL DOCUMENTS AND VALUABLES When disaster strikes, your - PDF document

BE SMART. PROTECT YOUR CRITICAL DOCUMENTS AND VALUABLES When disaster strikes, your immediate concern will be your safety and the safety of those you care about. Once the immediate danger passes, however, having your financial and medical records and important contact information will be crucial to help you start the recovery process quickly. Taking time now to safeguard these critical documents will give you peace of mind, ensure you have access to essential medical and prescription information, and help you avoid additional stress during the difficult days following a disaster. In addition, take the time now to think about the priceless personal items you would want to protect from damage or take with you if you had to suddenly evacuate your home. The first step is to take an inventory of your household documents, contacts, and valuables. The checklist below will get you started. Then download the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) at www.ready.gov/financialpreparedness for more complete checklists and guidance on collecting and safeguarding this important information. Put a checkmark next to any item that you may need to collect and safeguard. Be sure to include emergency contact phone numbers or other contact information with your documentation for questions that may arise following a disaster. Think about the documents you would need to identify yourself HOUSEHOLD and your household members, including children and pets, your IDENTIFICATION relationships, or status. These may include: Vital records (birth, marriage, divorce certificate, adoption, child custody papers) Passport, driver’s license, Social Security card, green card, military service identification, other Pet ownership papers, identification tags

If your home or income is impacted by a disaster, you will need FINANCIAL documentation to request assistance from insurance providers AND LEGAL and from government disaster assistance programs. DOCUMENTATION Housing: lease or rental agreement, mortgage, home equity line of credit, deed Vehicle: loan documents, VIN, registration, title Other Financial Obligations: utility bills, credit cards, student loans, alimony, child support, elder care, automatic payments such as gym memberships Financial Accounts: checking, savings, debit cards, retirement, investment Insurance Policies: homeowners, renters, auto, life, flood, appraisals, photos, and lists of valuable items Sources of Income: pay stubs, government benefits, alimony, child support Tax Statements: Federal/State income tax returns, property tax, vehicle tax Estate Planning: will, trust, power of attorney Health/dental insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, VA health benefits MEDICAL List of medications, immunizations, allergies, prescriptions, medical equipment and devices, pharmacy information INFORMATION Living will, medical power of attorney Caregiver agency contract or service agreement Disabilities documentation Contact information for doctors/specialists, dentists, pediatricians, veterinarians America’s PrepareAthon! www.ready.gov/prepare Employers/supervisors EMERGENCY Schools OR HOTLINE CONTACT INFORMATION Houses of worship FOR HOUSEHOLD Social service providers Home Owners Associations Home Repair Services: utilities, plumber, roofer, carpenter, electrician 2

Priceless personal mementos, family photos, and keepsakes VALUABLES Possessions with monetary value, including jewelry, art, and collectibles AND PRICELESS PERSONAL ITEMS Once you have gathered your financial, legal, and contact PROTECT information, it is essential to safeguard this information. YOUR DOCUMENTS AND VALUABLES Consider storing paper copies of important documents at home in a fireproof and waterproof box or safe, in a bank safe deposit box, or with a trusted friend or relative. If you are using a safe deposit box, you may want to ask your bank or check State laws to confirm who can and cannot access the safe deposit box if the lessee dies or is incapacitated. Store electronic copies of important documents in a password-protected format on a removable flash or external hard drive in your fireproof and waterproof box or safe, or consider using a secure cloud-based service. Visit www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/st04-019 to learn how to use electronic encryption to protect sensitive information. Think about where you store valuable belongings and ways to better protect these items. If you have valuable items stored in a basement, you may want to move them to a higher location and put them in waterproof containers to avoid water damage. Or you may want to keep small items in a flood/fireproof home safe. You may also want to secure items that are displayed on shelves or walls if your home may be subject to high winds or earthquakes. Thank you for doing your part to prepare! Spread the word and encourage others to join the movement at www.ready.gov/prepare . 3

Winter Storm

Frequency of Winter Storms - MASSACHUSETTS 4-8 significant storm events/year, 1996-2013

SIGNS OF FROSTBITE • Occurs when the skin and body tissue just beneath it freezes – Loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, earlobes, face, and the tip of the nose WHAT TO DO • If symptoms of frostbite are detected – Cover exposed skin, but do not rub the affected area in an attempt to warm it up. – Seek medical help immediately.

SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA • Dangerously low body temperature – Uncontrollable shivering – Memory loss, disorientation – Incoherence, slurred speech – Drowsiness – Apparent exhaustion WHAT TO DO • If symptoms of hypothermia are detected – Get the victim to a warm location. – Remove wet clothing. – Warm the center of the body first by wrapping the person in – blankets or putting on dry clothing. – Give warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the person is conscious. – Take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95 °F, seek – medical attention immediately.

WIND CHILL Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion table Celsius ( ° C) Fahrenheit ( ° F) -50 ° C -58.0 ° F -40 ° C -40.0 ° F -30 ° C -22.0 ° F -20 ° C -4.0 ° F -10 ° C 14.0 ° F -9 ° C 15.8 ° F -8 ° C 17.6 ° F -7 ° C 19.4 ° F -6 ° C 21.2 ° F -5 ° C 23.0 ° F -4 ° C 24.8 ° F -3 ° C 26.6 ° F -2 ° C 28.4 ° F -1 ° C 30.2 ° F 0 ° C 32.0 ° F

Building an Emergency Supply Kit for your Car First Aid Kit Extra Car Battery Blankets Jumper Cables Sleeping Bag Extra - Warm Clothes Never Go Anywhere Alone Tire Chains if you don’t have snow tires Skis Rock Salt Snacks Flare Gun Full Tank of Gas Radio Winch or Pulley Bag of Sand or Cat Littler Carbon Monoxide Detector Ice Scraper Snow Brush Thermostat Gun Snow Shoes Boots Wood Cell Phone Charger (and your Cell Phone) Water Flashlight Flares Hunting Rifle Shovel Gloves Mittens Tow Rope

WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU TRAVEL • Check current and forecast weather conditions. • Inform a friend or relative of your proposed route and expected time of arrival. • Make sure your emergency kit is in the car. • Have a full tank of gas.

WHAT TO DO IF STRANDED STAY • If rescue is likely (meaning you can see something or someone within eyesight or you know exactly where you are and where to go for help) • Wind chills are dangerously low -to avoid exposure • If a safe location is neither nearby nor visible. • If you do not have appropriate clothing to go outside. • If you do not have the ability to call for help. GO • If the distance to call for help is accessible. • If you have visibility and outside conditions are safe. • If you have appropriate clothing. • If the wind chill is not dangerously low

WHAT TO DO IF YOU STAY STAY Stay with your car unless safety is no more than 100 yards away, but continue to move arms and legs. • Stay visible by putting bright cloth on the antenna, turning on the inside overhead light (when engine is running), and raising the hood when snow stops falling. • Run the engine and heater only 10 minutes every hour. • Keep a downwind window open. • Make sure the tailpipe is not blocked

What Happens To Your Body In Extreme Temperatures

Winter Weather Advisories An Advisory is issued if... Condition are expected to cause significant inconveniences that may be hazardous. A Watch is issued if… Heavy snow and ice may affect your area but the location and timing are still uncertain. Issued 12 to 36 hours in advance of a potential severe storm. A Warning is issued when… Four or more inches of snow or sleet are expected in the next 12 hours, or 6 or more inches are expected in the next 24 hours, or ¼ inch of ice is expected. A warning may also be issued if the storm is expected during rush hours.

Know the Terms Familiarize yourself with these other terms to help identify a winter storm hazard:  Freezing Rain - Rain that freezes when it hits the ground, creating a coating of ice on roads, walkways, trees and power lines.  Sleet - Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes moisture on roads to freeze and become slippery.  Blizzard Warning - Sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 miles per hour or greater and considerable amounts of falling or blowing snow (reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile) are expected to prevail for a period of three hours or longer.  Frost/Freeze Warning - Below freezing temperatures are expected.