Emergency Preparedness

IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY – CALL 911

The Town of Parker's Emergency Operations Plan has recently been revised and is in the testing process. Once our plan is finalized, we will provide a copy on our website.

Below are some tips on what you can do to prepare in case of emergency:

What can you do to Prepare?
Emergency preparedness is everyone's job. Disasters of all kinds, ranging from floods to winter storms, can happen when least expected. It is important that each household be prepared before disaster strikes with a 72-hour Family Emergency Kit, so each family can be self-sufficient until relief arrives. Assembling the following items to create your own 72-hour Family Emergency Kit will be a great start in preparing your household for the new millennium. Such preparation will be valuable in potential emergencies that may affect our area such as blizzards, power outages, floods, tornadoes, or hazardous materials spills.

You Must Be Ready To Act on Your Own
The 72-Hour Emergency Kit should be individually tailored to meet the basic survival needs of your family for three days to a week. Most families prefer to store their emergency supplies in a location that is relatively safe, yet easily accessible if evacuation is required. Items may be stored in a 32-gallon trash can, suitcase, duffel bag, footlocker or individual pack (with a note on top listing a few items to grab if you have to evacuate).

Emergency Needs

Suggested non-perishable food items: Ready-to-eat goods in unbreakable containers, canned meats, juice, fruits and vegetables, powdered milk, infant care foods, crackers, peanut butter, freeze-dried and dehydrated goods. (Store what you normally eat. Children will not eat food that is strange to them.)

Sanitation Kit

Other Emergency Needs

Individual Medical Needs

Car Survival Kit

Establish an Out-of State 24-Hour Telephone Contact

• Calls out will not overload phone lines as will calls coming into a disaster area.
• All relatives should be informed now on procedures to call the phone contact, not after a disaster has occurred. Individual location and status should be requested.
• Take color pictures of every room plus pictures of valuables. Send one copy of legal papers and one copy of pictures to an out-of state contact.

Plan How Your Family Will Stay in Contact if Separated by Disaster

• Pick two meeting places:
• A location a safe distance from your home in case of fire.
• A place outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home.

When Assembling Emergency Supplies for the Household, Include Items for Pets

• Extra food (food should be dry and relatively unappealing to prevent overeating. Store the food in sturdy containers.)
• Kitty litter
• Large capacity self-feeder and water dispenser
• Extra medications

Meeting with Neighbors
Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster. Know your neighbors' skills (medical, technical). Consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans for childcare in case parents can't get home.

How to Store Water
Store your water in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiberglass or enamel-lined metal containers. Never use a container that has held toxic substances. Remember that your hot water tank is a source of 40 to 50 gallons of drinking water.

Emergency Outdoor Water Sources
If you need to find water outside your home, you can use these sources:

• Rainwater
• Streams, rivers, and other moving bodies of water
• Ponds and lakes
• Natural springs

Be sure to purify the water by:

• Boiling
• Disinfecting (household liquid bleach: 16 drops/gal. of water, stir and let stand 30 min.)
• Distillation (boil pot of water and collect the vapors by tying a cup to the upside down pot lid – the cup shouldn't dangle in the water – it will condense back to water in the cup)

Other Considerations

• Stock supplies to last several days to a week for each family member.
• Have extra cash on hand in case electronic transactions (ATM card, credit cards, etc.) cannot be processed.
• Work with your family in talking about the steps each needs to take to be ready if disaster happens.

For Additional Information Contact:

Town of Parker Police Department

Douglas County Office of Emergency Services:
303.660.7589

American Red Cross:
24 hour number: 303.722.7474
Arapahoe/Douglas Branch: 303.781.5511

Colorado Office of Emergency Management:
303.273.1622

Federal Emergency Management Agency