A Publication of San Francisco Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disaster.

THE DISASTER FILES SF CARD’s In Response Newsletter

 Issue #9 - April/May 2001

Rolling Black Out Health Tips From the City of San Francisco

While the on-going energy crisis in California continues, rolling blackouts, or more extensive outages, are likely.  For the general public, this can be a major inconvenience.  For people with significant disabilities and for frail seniors, this can be a threat to health.  The following is a list of steps we encourage all people to take to minimize the risk to health and safety during a power outage. 

Preparation

If you are dependent on electric wheelchairs, or on any breathing machines or other life-sustaining devices that depend on electricity, be sure to:

• Have your batteries fully charged each day.  (If possible, have an extra battery pack on hand.)

• Establish a support network of friends and neighbors who can check in periodically if the power is out, to assure that assistance is available if needed.

• Work with your doctor, case managers and caregivers to develop a plan on what you will do if the power goes out.

• Give your local fire and police departments notice ahead of time, if lack of electricity would create an immediate threat to life or safety.                                                                                                                                                                

Keep a flashlight or lantern equipped with fresh batteries within easy reach, so that there is some light immediately available if the power does go out.  For people with limited reach or grasping ability, inexpensive battery-operated touch lamps are a good option.  Such lights can be installed in areas of greatest use, and are small enough to be carried in an emergency. Do not use candles for light or heat in an emergency, as they can be fire hazards.

Store extra blankets and warm clothing within easy reach.  Most homes will retain some heat for several hours during electrical outages; do not use barbecues, gas powered appliances, or propane heaters as heat sources, as the result can be carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Maintain extra supplies of medicine and drinking water within easy reach.  Have several days supply of medicine and durable medical goods in a convenient location. 

Keep a copy of emergency contact numbers and current prescriptions in the same location.

Keep a battery operated radio on hand, with at least one set of extra batteries.  Monitoring radio stations during emergency situations can help in determining the extent and probable duration of any electrical outages.

During a Stage Three Alert

Monitor local television or radio news to determine if and where blackouts will occur.  Check monthly electric bills to determine the applicable Power Block number, as that is usually how the blackout areas will be identified. 

Phones

The phone system will work during a blackout.  However, cordless telephones will not.  Any phone or answering machine that plugs into an electric outlet will not operate. So, consider keeping a standard phone plugged into a second phone jack, or available as a substitute to u

During a Power Outage

Turn off all appliances, computers and lights Ð except for one that will indicate when power has been restored.

Do NOT open your refrigerator unless you must.  Your refrigerator will maintain its temperature for some time without electrical power.  If the power is off for more than 3 hours, you may need to place any medicines you keep refrigerated in the freezer section or an ice chest.  (This should be part of your discussion with your doctor, in planning for a power outage.  Ask which medicines need to be where, and whether keeping them in a freezer is a good idea.)

If you, or any member of your family, has a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Attention all CARD Members!!

If you are interested in receiving a call prior to any rolling black-outs please call SF CARD at (415)558-2737 and leave your emergency contact information, email and a PG&E grid number.  Any of the aforementioned information will expedite CARD’s call down procedure. Thanks!

What Is SFCARD?

San Francisco CARD (Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disaster) is a coalition of traditional disaster responders and community service providers, dedicated to preparing the community to mitigate and respond to a major disaster and creating community linkages. CARD provides and facilitates:

1.  Trainings: CARD will come to your agency to train your employees in personal preparedness, SEMS (Standard Emergency Management System), or volunteer management.

2.  Planning:  CARD can assist your agency in developing an agency disaster plan.  Your plan will include all four areas of emergency planning: mitigation, preparedness, re sponse, and recovery.

3.  Exercises:  CARD can assist you with your disaster preparedness efforts by helping you coordinate regular disaster exercises.

4.  Coordination:  CARD helps your organization network with other community based organizations and with the City. 

Want to Join CARD?

To join the CARD program just call (415)558-2737 or email us and leave your agency name and all contact information.  All membership benefits are free and you will receive a monthly newsletter filled with helpful emergency tips.   

AGENCY SPOTLIGHT

Each Month CARD interviews one of it’s Steering Committee Member Agencies to learn not only what they do on a day to day basis but to see what their role will be in a catastrophic disaster.  This Month CARD visited Ruth Mitchell with Meals on Wheels.  Ruth has been with Meals on Wheels for 14 years and worked with them during San Francisco last big earthquake

 AGENCY OF THE MONTH: MEALS ON WHEELS

    Q. Describe a typical day at Meals on Wheels?

A. Meals on Wheels serves 3,600 clients.  Any senior 60 years or older and that is homeward bound may qualify for our services.  We provide 2 hot meals a day to the most at risk seniors, each senior receives the care of a social worker, referrals to other agency services, and respite care, if necessary, and we also provide pet food.

    Q. How did Meals on Wheels start?

A. It began when 3 ladies started serving meals out of their church.  From there, they discovered how great the need was and Meals on Wheels grew.

    Q. What was Meals on Wheels role during San Francisco's last big earthquake?

A. We were able to continue feeding our clients by providing bag meals distributed through St. Luke’s hospital.  At that time Meals on Wheels had 500 clients. Since then we have added 3100 clients.

    Q. With such an increase in clients, will you be able to continue providing services if the Bay Area is hit with another large scale earthquake? 

A. Yes.  We have a generator on-site that will run our facility for 3 days during a power outage.  We have enough flash frozen meals to last 72 hours and we have MOU (memorandums of understandings) with agencies such as the SF Food Bank to deliver food to our site if needed.  Also, we have a brand new congregate site at Trinity church which reaches another 300 seniors that we can use to deliver more meals in a disaster.

    Q. Why are you a member of CARD?

A. I was brought in to CARD by way of the SF Food Bank and the SF Volunteer Center.  CARD’s focus of training agencies which will then take care of their client base during disaster seemed like a logical and sustainable way to prepare the San Francisco community for many types of disasters.  Furthermore, CARD enables the community based organization to have a voice in disaster and interlink with other organizations.  For example, many of Meals and Wheels seniors have been registered with the disaster registry: a program setup through the department of Public health that will dispatch neighborhood emergency  teams to check on registered seniors and people with disabilities.

To find out more about Meals on Wheels and all the great work they do contact Ruth Mitchell at 415-920-1111 ext 221