Fire district preps Sun City West residents for emergencies

Holli Sandeen of the Sun City West Fire District wants the community she serves to be prepared if a flood rushes through, an earthquake rips the area or a chemical spill happens along Grand Avenue, causing the evacuation of residents.

Sandeen, the community relations specialist for the Sun City West Fire District, put on the first of a once monthly series of emergency preparedness training sessions Wednesday afternoon for just that reason.

"We need to look at our community, Sun City West, and say, ‘how can we be safer, stronger and better prepared?’" she said.

The training focuses on what precautions and measures residents need to take to ensure they are prepared in the best way possible if a pandemic, major disaster or emergency should take place. The training is promoted by community leaders in the Property Owners and Residents Association, the Recreation Centers of Sun City West, Sun City West Foundation, Sheriff’s Posse, Banner Health, Interfaith Community Care and fire district.

Sandeen offered numerous preparation tips including the establishment of a safe location if phone communication is cut off between spouses and family members,

Further, Sandeen said a minimum of three days of supplies put together in an emergency kit is essential.

"One of the most important things is a disaster supply kit for at least a minimum of three days," she said. "Some of the disasters that have happened where you can’t get out, you can’t get on the roads, you can’t get to the grocery stores ... a (kit for a) minimum of three days because by then usually (emergency response organizations) have figured something out. You need to build it to your needs."

Sandeen suggested several gallons of water, food, matches, a first aid kit, extra clothing, a flashlight, batteries, a crank or battery-operated radio, blankets and coats be included in the kits.

It is also a good idea to put copies of insurance and family records, medical history and prescription information, other important documents and cash in the same place for easy access, she said.

"It needs to be all in one place," she said. "And a lot of people like to have an inventory of their possessions."

Animal care is another issue that needs to be considered, she said.
"You need to consider your pets ahead of time," she said. "It’s good to let somebody else know what to do with your pets if something were to happen and you be separated from your pets."

In addition, Sandeen said residents should learn where and how to shut off water, gas and electricity at their homes.

Other tips Sandeen offered include: keeping at least a half-tank of gas in an automobile at all times, learning how to operate the manual garage door opener, inputting several emergency contacts in a phone in case one doesn’t answer and traveling other routes into and out of the community at least a few times a year in case one route is blocked off in an emergency.

"It’s a really good idea to learn all of the ways out of the community," she said. "It’s really important to know the different routes out of this community because in emergency situations, people’s panic is what creates most of the chaos and frustration and things taking longer."

About 15 residents attended the Wednesday’s training session, which will be repeated the first Wednesday of each month until September. The final training for 2009 will be held on Dec. 2. Training dates for 2010 are Jan. 6, Feb. 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4 and Sept. 1.

All sessions will be in the R.H. Johnson Lecture Hall, 19803 R.H. Johnson Blvd. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the training will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

For additional information or to request an "Are You Ready?" presentation on emergency preparedness, contact the Sun City West Fire District at 623-584-3500 or visit www.scwfire.org.