24/7 Emergency Service
Emergency Ready Plan (ERP) Q&A Residential
10/27/2020 (Permalink)
Here are a few questions to ask yourself when trying to prep your family and home for a disaster.
Q1: What are the most common natural disasters that can occur in my city?
A1: Here in the Las Vegas area, we can expect to see flash floods, fires during summer months and perhaps an earthquake.
Q2: What are some of the first actions we should take during a particular disaster or accident?
A2: For a flash flood, one of the first actions that should be taken is to turn off all utilities and electrical devices. Shut off the electricity. Make sure not to tamper with electric equipment if you are wet or standing in water. Then move any important belongings to higher ground. For forest fires and earthquakes, it is very important to shut off the gas line immediately and pay close attention to authorities.
Q3: How do I ensure that these steps can be taken quickly and safely?
A3: When setting up your ERP, it is important to survey the home and locate the different key shut off locations for electric power, gas and water. It can be helpful to color coordinate the water with blue paint, the electric with yellow paint, and the gas shut off with red paint. That way it is highly visible and easy to remember for all family members. It is also helpful to take pictures of each shut off location around the home with a short description on how to turn off that utility. Having an organized set up with pictures and keys for each utility shut off can help reduce the chance of further damage and bodily injury in these scenarios.
These are a few tips that may be helpful for your family in case of an emergency. There is always more to learn about preparing for natural disasters but an ERP is a good place to start. If you are a SERVPRO customer, feel free to ask us about helping you set up an ERP at your home.