Homeland Security Tips

As seen on the Foundation for NC Future TV show, Dr. Wynn Mabry outlines strategies to prepare our region and our homes for an event related to terrorism or for other emergencies. >>> View entire TV program

These strategies can help prepare your family during emergencies

With the heightened concerns for our families' safety as a result of 9/11, every time a terrorist attack occurs somewhere in the world or a severe weather event breaks out, we are feel concerned and a little vulnerable.  We all ask ourselves," What can I do to protect my family a little better?"  Over time we will accumulate information on this website that may come available to provide you with "common sense" actions recognized by safety experts that we hope will let you prepare better for events we truly hope we never will have to face.  Our information is taken from the Centers for Disease Control website, Mecklenburg County's Homeland Security booklets, the American Red Cross, and other booklets and websites dealing with this subject.

  • Preparing Your Family
  • Safety experts seem to agree on one major, simple thing we can all do to keep our families safer:
  • Have a Plan

The experts point out that the odds of everyone sitting around the house when an emergency occurs are slim.  Some of us will be at work others at school; shopping; etc.  If everyone tries to use their cell phones to contact family members at the same time, the cell phone systems may crash.  Have a conversation with your family as to where they should go immediately and how they should plan to get home.  If you have a common-sense plan in place so that everyone knows what they are supposed to do, the chances of them panicking and wasting valuable time decreases.

Preparing Your Home

 We all know that we need to have water to survive for any length of time, but after that opinions differ greatly.  Here are some ideas that may be both simple and effective.

Water:

  • 3 gallons per person per day; don't forget your pets - they'll need water also
    store your water in a cool, dark place and use store-bought factory sealed containers if possible
  • if you get stuck without extra water and can't use tap water, you can use the water in your hot-water tank ( disconnected ), pipes and faucets, and ice cubes; if you are outside your home you can use rainwater, streams, rivers and other moving bodies of water; ponds and lakes; and natural springs

Ways to make untreated water safe ( Red Cross ); untreated water can make you very sick so before drinking it or using it in food preparation do one of the following:

  •  Strain it:  pour the water through paper towels, a clean cloth, or a coffee filter
  •  Boil it:  bring water to a "rolling" boil for 1 full minute and then pour it back and forth between 2 clean containers to improve the taste
  •  Chlorinate it:  use a household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 - 6% sodium hypochlorite ( listed on bottle ) as its only ingredient and add 16 drops ( equal to 1/8 teaspoon ) per gallon; let stand 30 minutes; if it does not have a chlorine smell repeat procedure
  • Distill it:  fill a pot halfway up with water; tie a cup to the handle on the pot's lid so the cup will hand right-side-up inside the pot when the lid is upside-down without dangling into the water; boil for 20 minutes; the water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled

Food:

  • store foods you eat regularly and don't forget your vitamins or mineral supplements
  • store enough food for 2 weeks and try and include foods that require no refrigeration and little preparation
  • remember the special needs of babies, toddlers, and the elderly, and anyone who may be ill at the time
  • for emergency cooking you can use a fireplace, a charcoal grill, or an outdoor stove as well as candle warmers, chafing dishes, and fondue pots; if you heat food in it's can be sure to open it and remove the label before heating; never leave flames unattended

Food examples: ( a partial list to point you in the right direction )

boxed potatoes
dried fruit
dry, crisp crackers
powdered milk
canned, condensed meat and vegetable soups
canned fruits, fruit juices, and vegetables
hard candy and canned nuts
jelly
peanut butter
ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals
baking powder
bouillon products
dried corn
dry pasta
instant coffee, tea, and cocoa
soft drinks
vegetable oil
sugar and salt
soybeans
wheat ( for bread making )
white rice
applesauce
Girl Scout cookies ( they just seem to last forever! )
energy bars
canned tuna
non-perishable pasteurized milk

Home Shelter

If you are told to take shelter, do so immediately; bring children and pets indoors at once; close and lock all outside doors and windows because that may provide a tighter seal

  • close the windows, blinds, or curtains if there is a threat of an explosion
  • turn off all heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems; turn off all fans
  • close the fireplace damper
  • take everyone, including pets, into an interior room with as few windows as possible and close the door
  • if you are instructed to seal the room, use duct tape and plastic sheeting ( including heavy-duty plastic garbage bags ) to seal all vents, electrical outlets, windows, and cracks

Medical Supplies Kit

  • 2 pairs of latex gloves per person or other sterile gloves if you are allergic to latex
  • sterile dressings to stop any bleeding
  • cleansing agent such as waterless anti-bacterial soap or antibiotic towelettes
  • antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
  • burn ointment to prevent infection
  • adhesive bandages in various sizes
  • eye wash solution to flush eyes or as a general decontaminant
  • thermometer
  • prescription medications
  • prescribed medical supplies for diabetic, etc.
  • tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
  • aspirin or other pain reliever
  • anti-diarrheal medication
  • antacid
  • laxative
  • extra eyeglasses or hearing aid batteries if needed
  • inhalers
  • denture items
  • oxygen ( if needed )
  • medical insurance and Medicare cards
  • list of doctors, relatives, etc., to be notified if you are injured

Disaster Supply Kit (other items to have on hand)

  • items for infants ( pacifiers, diapers, formula, extra bottles, powdered milk )
  • manual can opener
  • kitchen accessories ( disposable cups, plates, and utensils; utility knife; aluminum foil; plastic wrap; re-sealable plastic bags
  • battery powered tv or radio with extra batteries
  • flashlights and extra, fresh batteries
  • one complete change of clothing and shoes per person
  • blankets or sleeping bags
  • sanitation and hygiene items ( toothpaste, toothbrush, combs and brushes, lip balm, sunscreen, shampoo, deodorant, contact lenses. Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, liquid detergent feminine supplies, disinfectant, mid-sized plastic bucket with tight lid, household chlorine bleach)
  • plastic heavy-duty garbage bags with ties ( for personal sanitation )
  • paper and pen
  • whistles
  • small sewing kit
  • fire extinguisher
  • games, books, etc
  • extra set of keys and ids ( drivers license, passport, etc. )
  • extra cash ( if power is out ATM machines won't work )
  • full tank of gas ( gas pumps won't work either )
  • matches
  • a small tent, maps, compass
  • copies of medical prescriptions
  • scissors ( to cut bags ) or knives
  • signal flares
  • paper towels and toilet paper
  • face masks or dense-weave cotton towels or t-shirts to protect nose, eyes, cuts
  • HEPA Filter Fans ( after you have sealed a room ) or a portable air purifier with a HEPA-Filter

We will be updating and adding to our site as we receive new information, but we feel that the above list will give you a good start on the very important "Where do I begin?" question.  May we hope that we never have the need to use it.