Coping With a Disaster
Things may get very chaotic and perplexing during a disaster. We hope the following details will help clear up any confusion you may be feeling at this time.
Taking Shelter
You ought to have talked about specific shelter rooms where you can stay safe during a disaster before it occurs. The type of disaster will determine the specifics of the shelter rooms.
Mass shelters are typically open to the public if you must leave your home and have not made other housing arrangements. You must coexist in a designated space with a large number of people if you live in a mass shelter. Although it’s not the most enjoyable experience, it will give you some level of safety and a roof over your head. Even though mass shelters offer food, water, and sanitary necessities, it’s still a good idea to bring your disaster supply kit along, especially if a member of your family has special needs.
Pets are generally not permitted in public shelters due to hygiene concerns.
Water Management
Allow everyone in the family to drink as much water as they need to. If you are prepared and have put together a disaster supply kit, you should have done so by considering the need for water. On average, each person needs two liters of water per day. Try to stay inside and cool and steer clear of engaging in strenuous activities to reduce your need for water and maximize the use of your water reserves.
If you’re lucky enough to have packed water in bottles, make sure to drink it to reduce the chance of contamination. If you don’t have sealed bottled water, you can get water from the places listed below:
• Ice that has melted
• Water drained from a water heater
• Fruit juice from tinned or canned goods
• Draining water from pipes (be sure to turn off the water at the primary control valve before doing this). Draining water from pipes should be done cautiously. It might be best to treat the water before drinking it if it seems cloudy or if you have any reservations about doing so.
The following list of treatment options:
1. Boiling: Any microorganisms will be destroyed by the high temperature of boiling water. Water can be safely and conveniently treated by boiling.
Before drinking, bring the water to a boil for one minute. The taste will be enhanced by transferring the water back and forth between two containers.
2. Distillation: This technique is effective at removing any other chemicals as well as microorganisms from water. This technique entails heating water to a boil and gathering the resulting vapors.
Boiling water in a pot with a handle-matched lid is the first step in distilling water. Tie a cup to this handle so that it hangs correctly when the pot lid is on backwards. When the water is boiling, place the lid on the pit upside-down, being careful not to let the cup touch the water. 20 minutes of boiling. Distilled water will have accumulated in the cup when the pot lid is removed (take care not to drop the cup).
3. In the event that you lack the means to boil water, you can use the third method, chlorination.
Simple household bleach added to the water will speed up the chlorination process. Only bleach with a sodium hypochlorite content of 5.25 to 6 percent that is unscented, color-safe, and uncombined with a cleaning agent may be used.
For every 3.7 litters of water, add a quarter of a teaspoon of bleach. Give it fifteen minutes to sit. If the mixture does not have a faint chlorine odor, repeat the procedure. If, after the second dose of bleach, the water does not smell like chlorine, discard it.
4. Water Purification Tablets are an Option
Water purification tablets can kill pathogens, but will not rid water supplies of harmful pesticides. Potable Aqua emergency water purification tablets for drinking water are effective against Giardia lamblia when used as directed.
Water purification tablets are generally safe, but inappropriate use can lead to irritation of the mouth and throat, and can cause stomach problems. Some water treatment tablets can leave behind an unpleasant taste unless some sort of neutraliser accompanies them.
These tablets require no special equipment to administer, and they are often used to make questionable water bacteriologically suitable to drink in the event of other equipment failing in an emergency situation .
However, they will not remove sediment or chemical pollutants from water supplies, and, depending on the chemicals they contain, they can be less effective against certain types of microorganisms, such as protozoans.
Managing Food
It’s crucial to keep in mind that there are still regulations for food hygiene and safety when managing your food supply in a disaster. Make sure to wash your hands before handling or preparing food.
Make sure all food is kept in covered containers and that all utensils are kept clean. Discard any food that has been left out at room temperature or that has not been sealed.
Any trash should be thrown away outdoors in a sealed bag.