Preventing man made disasters

Anthropogenic hazards or man-made hazards can come to fruition in the form of a man-made disaster. In this case, "anthropogenic" means threats having an element of human intent, negligence, or error; or involving a failure of a man-made system. This is opposed tonatural disasters resulting from natural hazards. 1.technological and accidental hazards:Technological & Accidental Hazards include technological hazards such as nuclear power plant failures and hazardous materials incidents. Usually, little or no warning precedes these disasters.Unfortunately, the number of potential accidental disasters is escalating due to the increased number of new substances and the opportunities for human error while using these materials.

a.backout-The biggest Blackout in U.S. history occurred on August 14, 2003, leaving roughly 50 million people
without power. Blackouts can happen anywhere, and to anyone, so being prepared is important.

Prevention before the hazard-1.To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan. Follow energy conservation measures to keep the use of electricity as low as possible, which can help power companies avoid imposing rolling blackouts. Fill plastic containers with water and place them in the refrigerator and freezer if there's room. Leave about an inch of space inside each one, because water expands as it freezes. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold during a temporary power outage, by displacing air that can warm up quickly with water or ice that keeps cold for several hours without additional refrigeration. Know where the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener is located and how to operate it. Garage doors can be heavy, so know that you may need help to lift it. Keep a key to your house with you if you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home, in case the garage door will not open. During-1.Use only flashlights for emergency lighting. NEVER use candles during a blackout or power outage due to extreme risk of fire.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep your food as fresh as possible. If you must eat food that was refrigerated or frozen, check it carefully for signs of spoilage. Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment (like air conditioners) or electronics in use when the power went out. Power may return with momentary "surges or spikes that can damage computers as well as motors in appliances like the air conditioner, refrigerator, washer or furnace..

Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to run directly to the outlets on the generator.

Listen to local radio and to a battery- or generator-powered television for updated information.

Use a standard telephone handset, cellular phone, radio or pager if your phone requires electricity to work, as do cordless phones and answering machines. Use the phone for emergencies only. Listen to a portable radio for the latest information.

Put on layers of warm clothing if it is cold outside. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors. Never use your oven as a source of heat. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (the home of a relative or friend, or a public facility) that has heat to keep warm. Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic signals will stop working during an outage, creating traffic congestion. After the hazard-Throw out unsafe food:

Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 F (4 C) for 2 hours or more or that has an unusual odor, color or texture. When in doubt, throw it out! Never taste food or rely on appearance or odor to determine its safety. Some foods may look and smell fine, but if they have been at room temperature too long, bacteria causing food-borne illnesses can start growing quickly. Some types of bacteria produce toxins that cannot be destroyed by cooking. If food in the freezer is colder than 40 F and has ice crystals on it, you can refreeze it.

b.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENTS

hemicals are found everywhere. They purify drinking water, increase crop production and simplify household chores. But chemicals also can be hazardous to humans or the environment if used or released improperly. Hazards can occur during production, storage, transportation, use or disposal. You and your community are at risk if a chemical is used unsafely or released in harmful amounts into the environment where you live, work or play. Prevention-

IF YOU ARE:
Asked to evacuate Do so immediately.

THEN:

Stay tuned to a radio or television for information on evacuation routes, temporary shelters, and procedures. Follow the routes recommended by the authorities--shortcuts may not be safe. Leave at once. If you have time, minimize contamination in the house by closing all windows, shutting all vents, and turning off attic fans. Take pre-assembled disaster supplies.

Caught Outside

Stay upstream, uphill, and upwind! In general, try to go at least one-half mile (usually 8-10 city blocks) from the danger area. Move away from the accident scene and help keep others away. Do not walk into or touch any spilled liquids, airborne mists, or condensed solid chemical deposits. Try not to inhale gases, fumes and smoke. If possible, cover mouth with a cloth while leaving the area. Stay away from accident victims until the hazardous material has been identified.

In a motor vehicle

Stop and seek shelter in a permanent building. If you must remain in your car, keep car windows and vents closed and shut off the air conditioner and heater.

Requested to stay indoors

Bring pets inside. Close and lock all exterior doors and windows. Close vents, fireplace dampers, and as many interior doors as possible. Turn off air conditioners and ventilation systems. In large buildings, set ventilation systems to 100 percent recirculation so that no outside air is drawn into the building. If this is not possible, ventilation systems should be turned off. Go into the pre-selected shelter room. This room should be above ground and have the fewest openings to the outside. Seal gaps under doorways and windows with wet towels or plastic sheeting and duct tape. Seal gaps around window and air conditioning units, bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, and stove and dryer vents with duct tape and plastic sheeting, wax paper or aluminum wrap. Use material to fill cracks and holes in the room, such as those around pipes.

TERRORIST HAZARDS

EXPLOSIONS---Terrorists have frequently used explosive devices as one of their most common
weapons. Terrorists do not have to look far to find out how to make explosive devices; the information is readily available in books and other information sources. Explosive devices can be highly portable, using

vehicles and humans as a means of transport. They are easily detonated from remote locations or by suicide bombers

Prevention
y
Get under a sturdy table or desk if things are falling around you. When they stop falling, leave quickly, watching for obviously weakened floors and stairways. As you exit from the building, be especially watchful of falling debris. Leave the building as quickly as possible. Call low if there is smoke. Do not stop to retrieve personal possessions or make phone calls. Do not use elevators. Check for fire and other hazards. Once you are out, do not stand in front of windows, glass doors or other potentially hazardous areas. Move away from sidewalks or streets to be used by emergency officials or others still exiting the building. ;If you are trapped in debris, use a flashlight, if possible, to signal your location to rescuers. ;Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can hear where you are. ;If possible, use a whistle to signal rescuers.

y y y y

2.BIOLOGICAL THREATS
Biological agents are organisms or toxins that can kill or incapacitate people, livestock and crops. A biological attack is the deliberate release of germs or other biological substances that can make you sick.The three basic groups of biological agents that would likely be used as weapons are bacteria, viruses and toxins.

Prevention--y
In the event of a biological attack, public health officials may not immediately be able to provide information on what you should do. It will take time to determine exactly what the illness is, how it should be treated, and who is in danger. However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio, or check the Internet for official news and information including signs and symptoms of the disease, areas in danger, if medications or vaccinations are being distributed and where you should seek medical attention if you become ill.

y y

If you become aware of an unusual and suspicious substance, quickly get away. Protect yourself. Cover your mouth and nose with layers of fabric that can filter the air but still allow breathing. Examples include two to three layers of cotton such as a t-shirt, handkerchief or towel. Otherwise, several layers of tissue or paper towels may help. There may be times when you would want to consider wearing a face mask to reduce spreading germs if you yourself are sick, or to avoid coming in contact with contagious germs if others around you are sick. If you have been exposed to a biological agent, remove and bag your clothes and personal items. Follow official instructions for disposal of contaminated items.

Wash yourself with soap and water and put on clean clothes.

Contact authorities and seek medical assistance. You may be advised to stay away from others or even quarantined. If a family member becomes sick, it is important to be suspicious. Do not assume, however, that you should go to a hospital emergency room or that any illness is the result of the biological attack. Symptoms of many common illnesses may overlap.

y y

y y

Use common sense, practice good hygiene and cleanliness to avoid spreading germs, and seek medical advice. Consider if you are in the group or area authorities believe to be in danger.

OPTIONS FOR PROTECTION-----Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the emergency, the first important decision is whether you stay where you are or evacuate. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and available information, including what you are learning here, to determine if there is an immediate danger. In any emergency, local authorities may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should watch TV, listen to the the radio and check the net for official news.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION-----Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are
most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radioand TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call, or emergency workers may go door-to-door.

EMERGENCY PLANS-------You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your
family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance.

COPING WITH DISASTER-----Disasters are upsetting experiences for everyone

involved. The emotional toll that disaster brings can sometimes be even more devastating than the financial strains of damage and loss of home, business or personal property.Children, senior citizens, people with access or functional needs, and people for whom English is not their first language are especially at risk. Children may become afraid and some elderly people may seem disoriented at first. People with access or functional needs may require additional assistance. Financial contributions to a recognized disaster relief organization are the most effective donation to make.

y y

Most needed and the most efficient way of helping those impacted by disaster. Allow voluntary organizations to fund response and recovery efforts, obtain goods and services locally, and provide direct financial assistance to disaster survivors to meet their own needs.

y y

Make a financial contribution to the voluntary organization of your choice. If you need help in determining who to give to, National Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster website has a list of major non-profits that are active in disaster work or you can make your offer through the National Donations Management Network.