TTC_09_9_20_Vol.16-No.46

Page 8
www.TheTownCommon.com
September 9, 2020
Community Announcements
Community Announcements,
from page 7
during the Museum’s off-hours.
• Main entrance and bathroom
doors have been redesigned to open
automatically for touch free access.
Georgetown Fire and
Police Departments
Offer Tips to Create
Family Emergency
Plan, Build
Emergency Kit
GEORGETOWN — Georgetown
Fire Chief Fred Mitchell and
Police Chief Donald C. Cudmore
offer residents tips about making
an emergency plan and kit to prepare
your family for any emergency
during Emergency Preparedness
Month.
September has been declared by
Gov. Charlie Baker to be Emergency
Preparedness Month. Residents are
encouraged to use resources provided
by the Massachusetts Emergency
Management Agency (MEMA)
to prepare themselves, their family,
their property and their community
for an emergency or natural disaster.
"We strongly encourage all of our
residents to be proactive when it
Dory is still missing….without a trace….we have reason to
believe that she may have been picked up by someone who was
driving on Argilla Road. Dory is very much a part of our family.
She is “the spoiled little sister” who has left a gaping hole with
her absence. It is heartbreaking not to know where she is or how
she is. She has had 2 significant surgeries and desperately needs
her medication. Dory is very easy to love and we understand why
someone would want to keep her but we ask you please to bring her
home. You can bring Dory to the Police Department in Ipswich,
say you found her, and there will be no questions asked. Or, if you
see a neighbor with a new, older shepherd, or saw someone putting
her into their car, please let us know. We appreciate your help and
thank you very much in advance.
comes to preparing for an emergency
or natural disaster," Chief Mitchell
said. "Time can be of the essence when
such events occur, so it's vital to make
sure everyone, including younger children
and older adults, know what to
do should disaster strike."
Emergency plans and kits should
include everyone in your household
including individuals with access
and functional needs, seniors, children,
infants and pets. Consider any
additional supplies needed for basic
survival and familiarizing yourself
with the emergency plans that are in
place at your workplace, children’s
school or daycare or other places
where your family spends time.
When creating family emergency
plans and kits, residents should
take into consideration the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. Residents
should add items such as face coverings/masks,
disinfectants, hand
sanitizer and other cleaning supplies
to their emergency kits. Residents
should also identify emergency contacts
who are not immunocompromised
and meeting locations where
families can maintain adequate
physical distance from one another.
"Following these steps will go a
long way towards protecting the
health and safety of you and your
family should a disaster occur,"
Chief Cudmore said. "We strongly
encourage you to stock your emergency
kits, and regularly review and
practice your emergency plans with
your family. As always, the Georgetown
Police and Fire Departments
will be available to help anyone in
need during an emergency as well."
Establish Meeting Locations and
Emergency Contact Plans
• Select two family meeting locations
where your family can reunite
after a disaster. Choose one close to
home and one farther away in case
you are asked to evacuate or cannot
return to the area.
• Ask an out-of-state friend or relative
to serve as your family’s emergency
contact. After a disaster, it
may be easier to call long distance to
unaffected areas.
• Provide every family member
with the name, address and phone
number of the emergency contact
and make sure each family member
has a cellphone or a prepaid phone
card.
• Inform your emergency contact
of any family member’s special needs
or medical issues.
• Identify alternative communication
methods: texting or social media
can also be effective tools to let
friends and family know your location
and status during an emergency.
Plan How to Evacuate
• Identify and practice how you
will exit your home.
• Establish possible evacuation
routes to ensure you are able to get to
your designated meeting location(s).
• Identify available modes of transportation.
Make arrangements with
family, neighbors or friends if you
don’t have personal transportation.
• Your evacuation plan should include
pets. Since you will not know
how long you will be gone, you must
take your pets and all necessary pet
supplies with you.
Plan How to Shelter in Place
• Designate safe room(s) within
your home. They should have as few
windows or doors as possible and
access to television, radio and telephones
or cell service.
• Make sure you have necessary supplies
and can access your emergency kit.
• If you receive medical treatments
or home health care services,
work with your medical provider
to determine how to maintain care
and service if you are unable to leave
your home for a period of time.
Practice Your Plan
• Practice your emergency plan at
least two to three times per year with
all members of your family.
• To practice your plan, test your
emergency communications plan,
assemble at your meeting locations
and practice your evacuation routes.
Update your plan with any changes,
if necessary, after you practice.
• Also, as a part of Emergency Preparedness
Month the Georgetown
Fire and Police Departments encourage
families to build an emergency
kit. MEMA recommends that emergency
kits include essential items
that will provide your family members
with basic necessities for up to
three days in an emergency event.
Essential Items to Include in an
Emergency Kit:
• Water: Bottled water (one gallon
per person/per day for at least three
days), water purification tablets
• Food: At least a three-day supply
of non-perishable foods that do not
need cooking (ready-to-eat canned
meats, fruits or vegetables, or juices,
protein or granola bars, cereal, peanut
butter, dried fruit, nuts, crackers,
baby food and comfort foods)
• Tools and Supplies: Manual can
opener, radio (powered by battery or
hand crank), flashlight or lantern, extra
batteries, cell phone with charger,
wrench, pliers and other basic tools
• Personal Items: Prescription
medications (two-week supply), personal
hygiene items, eyeglasses, contact
lenses, dentures, extra batteries
or supplies for medical equipment,
change of clothes, sturdy shoes
• Documents: Insurance policies,
bank account records, identification
cards (IDs), medical information and
other copies of important documents
• Money: Extra cash and traveler’s
checks (ATMs may not work during
a power outage)
• Other Items: First-aid kit, emergency
whistle, waterproof matches/
lighter, local area maps, sleeping
bags or blankets, comfort items such
as books or games
• Also consider: A watch or clock,
disposable kitchenware, duct tape,
plastic sheeting or tarp to protect
against the elements