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Disaster Preparedness
The Boerne Fire Department works to ensure our citizens are prepared to take action in emergency situations through public education and training. Click on the tabs below and read through the information on this page to learn more about specific situations and how you can best be prepared. Topics covered include fires, extreme weather events, hazardous materials, terrorism and more.
For more information on disaster preparedness, contact the Fire Department at 830-249-3644. Click here for more disaster preparedness resources.
Fire Preparedness
Read through the advice below to be prepared in the event of a fire:
- Install smoke detectors, check them once a month and change the batteries at least twice a year.
- Make sure all family members know what to do in a fire. Draw a floor plan with at least two ways of escaping every room and practice twice a year. Choose a safe meeting place outside the house. Call 911 from outside the house immediately.
- Learn to stop, drop and roll if clothes catch fire. Use the stairs instead of elevators to escape. If possible, cover your mouth with a cloth to avoid inhaling smoke and gases. Close doors in each room after escaping to delay the spread of the fire.
- Install an address marker for visibility to emergency responders on the roadside or street side of your property. The marker should be made of reflective material or marked by reflective paint. Your address should be marked in letters at least four inches in height using a stroke width of at least three fourths of an inch.
- Make sure that fire apparatus can access your property in case of an emergency. Maintain roadway access and driveway access by keeping the areas free of overhanging branches and limbs. Fire trucks need a path at least 15 feet wide by 15 feet high in order to travel up roads or driveways onto your property.
Flood
Read through the scenarios below to learn the best ways to react in a flooding situation.
If you are indoors
Turn on a battery-operated radio or television to get the latest emergency information. Get your preassembled emergency supplies. If told by the authorities to leave, do so immediately.
If you are outdoors
Climb to high ground and stay there. Avoid walking through any floodwaters. If it is moving swiftly, even water six inches deep can sweep you off your feet.
If you are in a car
If you come to a flooded area, turn around and use an alternate route. If your car stalls, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground. Many deaths have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles.
In the Event of Terrorism
You can prepare to deal with a terrorist incident by adapting many of the same techniques used to prepare for other crisis.
- Be alert and aware of the surrounding area. The very nature of terrorism suggests that there may be little or no warning.
- Take precautions when traveling.
- Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior. Do not accept packages from strangers.
- Do not leave luggage unattended.
- In an unfamiliar building be aware of your immediate surroundings, including your closest exits.
- People who live or work in a multilevel building should review emergency evacuation procedures and know were fire exits are located.
- Create an emergency communication plan with an out-of-town family member or friend who is unlikely to be effected by the same emergency.
Disaster Supplies Kit
Supplies If you need to evacuate your home or are asked to shelter in place, having some essential supplies on hand will make you and your family more comfortable. Prepare a disaster supplies kit in an easy-to-carry container such as a duffel bag or small plastic trash can.
Have the following supplies on hand for all emergencies:
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Battery operated radio and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Emergency food supplies, non-perishable foods
- Water, one gallon per person, per day
- Can opener, non-electric
- Essential medicines
- Cash and credit cards
- Prescription eye wear
Sheltering In Place
When local authorities issue a shelter in place notice, adhere to the following guidelines to keep your household safe.
- Seal your house so contaminants cannot enter.
- Close and lock windows and doors.
- Seal gaps under doorways and windows with wet towels and duct tape.
- Seal gaps around windows, air conditioning units, bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, and stove and dryer vents with duct tape and plastic sheeting, wax paper, or aluminum wrap.
- Close fireplace dampers.
- Close off nonessential rooms such as storage areas, laundry rooms, and extra bedrooms.
- Turn off ventilation systems.
What Determines an Evacuation
Authorities will determine if evacuation is necessary based on the type and duration of the incident. Other considerations are the length of time it should take to evacuate the area, weather conditions and the time of day.
When Evacuation is Ordered
- Shelters: Temporary shelters are schools, churches and other places of public assembly that are utilized during incidents requiring citizens to be evacuated from a specific area. Tune to radio and television broadcasts for information on the nearest shelter to your location. If radio and television communications are disrupted, local emergency personnel will direct you as needed.
- Take preassembled emergency supplies.
- Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance such as infants, elderly people and people with disabilities.
- Plan to take your pets with you; do not leave them behind. Because pets are not permitted in public shelters, follow your plan to go to a relative or friend's home, or find a location that will allow pets.