Natural Disasters
Earthquake
Although major earthquakes are uncommon in Philadelphia, tremors occasionally occur and residents should be prepared. After an earthquake, there may not be electric, gas, or telephone service.
IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE, YOU SHOULD:
- Drop to the floor
- Take cover under a solid piece of furniture or next to an interior wall. Cover your head and neck with your arms.
- Hold on to a sturdy piece of furniture and be prepared to move with it. Stay where you are until the shaking stops.
- Be prepared for aftershocks, which often follow an earthquake
To learn more about preparing for an earthquake, visit the American Red Cross website.
Flood
Flooding is the nation's most common natural disaster, and Pennsylvania has the highest flooding rate of any state in the United States.
It is important to know that not all floods are alike. Some can develop slowly during an extended period of rain, or in a warming trend following a heavy snow. Others, such as flash floods, can occur quickly, even without any rain in the immediate area.
Be prepared for flooding no matter where you live, but particularly if you are in a low-lying area, near water, or downstream from a dam. Even a very small stream or dry creek bed can overflow and create flooding.
- If a flood occurs, go to high ground
- Never try to drive through deep water (even if it looks shallow)
- If you need to evacuate, grab your Go Bag and leave right away.
Learn more about what to expect during a flood on the American Red Cross website.
Read more about preparing for floods and staying informed at www.ready.gov.
Hurricane
Hurricane season is the time of year when hurricanes are expected to form in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. It lasts from June through November.
During hurricanes, the weather may become severe and sometimes people may be asked to evacuate. The City will let local television and radio stations know if people should evacuate.
PREPARING FOR A HURRICANE
- Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a hurricane threats
- Hurricane Watch: Issued when there is a threat of hurricane conditions in 24 to 36 hours
- Hurricane Warning: Issued when dangerously high water and rough seas are expected in 24 hours or less
- Plan how you will leave and where you will go if told to evacuate
- Have a Go Bag of emergency supplies ready in case you have to evacuate
- Secure your property
- To protect your windows from high winds, cover them with pre-cut plywood or hurricane shutters
- Bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down
- Keep all trees and shrubs well trimmed
- If you have a car, fill the gas tank in case you have to evacuate. (link to Make a Kit)
DURING A HURRICANE
- Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for official news and instructions as they become available
- Be alert for tornadoes (link to tornadoes) and flooding (link to flood)
- If you see a funnel cloud or if local authorities issue a tornado warning take shelter underground, if possible or in an interior room away from windows.
- If waters are rising quickly or local authorities issue a floor of flash flood warning, seek higher ground
Learn more about preparing for hurricanes at www.ready.gov.
Read more about hurricanes at the American Red Cross website.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. They can appear suddenly without warning and can be invisible until dust and debris are picked up or a funnel cloud appears. Tornado winds can reach 300 miles per hour. They cause damage when they touch down on the ground. They can damage an area one mile wide and 50 miles long.
LEARN TORNADO TERMS:
- A tornado watch: means a tornado is possible in your area
- During a tornado watch, stay tuned to local radio and TV stations or a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio for further weather information.
- Watch the weather and be prepared to take shelter immediately if conditions worsen
- A tornado warning: is when a tornado is actually occurring
- You should take shelter immediately
TORNADO SAFETY:
Planning and practicing how and where you take shelter is a matter of survival. Be prepared to act quickly.
The most important thing to do is take shelter when a tornado is nearby
- Go to your basement or the lowest point of your home. If you can, go to an interior room or hallway without any windows.
- 8 If you cannot find shelter, take cover in a ditch or other deep area
- If you are asked to evacuate, grab your Go Bag and leave right away
- Watch TV or listen to the radio so you know what to expect. The National Weather Service broadcasts forecasts, warnings and other information 24 hours a day. Special weather radios are available at local retail stores.
- Never touch or go near downed power lines, even if you think they are safe
Learn more about preparing for tornadoes at www.ready.gov.
More information about preparing for tornadoes is also at www.cdc.gov.
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Biological Threats/Terrorism
Terrorism
EXPLOSIVE THREATS
Globally, the use of explosives and bombs continues to be the mainstay of terrorist groups. The City of Philadelphia uses highly trained explosives specialists to rapidly assess, mitigate and render safe any and all explosive threats found within our City.
How can you prevent someone from using explosives?
Be vigilant. Be aware of suspicious behaviors or out-of-place activities around you. Examples of things to notice may include:
- People - Look for strange behavioral traits-not appearance, because a terrorist can come from any ethnic group or walk of life.
- Places - Targeted buildings or infrastructure are often checked out before an actual attack. Pay attention to:
- Someone wearing clothing that is not consistent with the season or the surroundings
- A person with a tightly clenched grip onto a bag, suitcase or backpack
- Wires or switches sticking out from carried bag or items
- Someone looking unusually anxious or calm
- Individuals taking significant interest in the outside of a building, delivery gates, doors and entrances
- Individuals taking significant interest in security cameras and controlled areas
- Individuals taking photos and notes of building security measures
- A person attempting to disguise their identity, such as wearing a motorcycle helmet, a hood, etc.
- Vehicles parked outside a building for long periods of time
- The same vehicle with different drivers returning to a building on several occasions
- Activity inconsistent with the location
- Unusual activity by contractor vehicles
- In today's environment, a backpack left on a train filled with commuters is taken much more seriously than one found in an empty park.
- Err on the side of caution. If you think something is suspicious, treat it as such until experts have determined that it is harmless.
Suspicious objects may include:
- Large container-type items (such as suitcases, backpacks, bags, etc.) left in areas with a high volume of pedestrian traffic or an area/building of symbolic nature
- Parcels or packages shipped with strange indicators such as misspellings, incorrect titles, no return address, or instructions for a specific person to open, etc.
- Cars or trucks parked in a busy location exhibiting smoke coming from inside the vehicle; a heavy load on the suspension; wires in uncommon areas; and odd electronic equipment such as cell phones wired to other items.
Storage Facilities and other private spaces– things to notice may include:
- Cash paid for short term rental of housing or storage facility
- Computers, fans, and an abundance of pots, containers and cookware moved into housing, but little personal belongings
- Odd smells coming from property
By being alert, you can stop an attack at the most crucial time: before it starts. If you observe a terrorist threat or criminal activity, call 9-1-1.
What to do if an explosion occurs
Not every explosion is a terrorist attack. Here are basic guidelines if you are near an explosion of any type:
On the street
- Regain your bearings. Determine if you are injured and where the blast occurred.
- Move immediately in the opposite direction of the blast
- Do not walk close to buildings-glass and debris may still be falling
- Once you are out of the danger area (at least three blocks away), try to remember and write down everything you can about the event. This information could be helpful later on.
In a building
- Regain bearings. Determine if you are injured and note structural damage.
- Quickly note secondary hazards – fire, smoke, toxic fumes and the smell of gas.
- Determine whether you should evacuate or shelter in place
- Once clear of the danger area, record all information
On a train
- Regain bearings. Determine if you are injured and note structural damage.
- Quickly note secondary hazards – fire, smoke, toxic fumes.
- Both the tunnel and the train will be dark – move as slowly as is practical.
- Upon exiting the train, be careful to avoid the charged rail.
- Move as group away from train
RADIATION EXPOSURE
In the unlikely event that radiation is released in the City, specially trained experts are prepared to respond with equipment to test if levels of radiation are present.
If radiation is present, officials may recommend decontamination (removing clothing and washing with water and soap). The Philadelphia Fire Department and area hospitals are prepared to set up facilities to do this. Depending on the type of radiation exposure, health officials may also recommend additional treatment.
If you believe you have been exposed to radiation, stay where you are. Watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for official news and instructions.
Disease Outbreak and Biological Threats
Disease outbreaks and biological emergencies can be either naturally occurring or man-made threats.
Current natural threats include:
West Nile Virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes that can infect humans, birds, horses and other animals. In most cases, WNV can cause flu-like illness or may cause no symptoms at all. However, in some cases, particularly among the elderly, it can cause serious encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).
Learn more about what you can do to protect yourself and your family at www.cdc.gov Fight the bite!
Pandemic Influenza is a global outbreak that could be caused by a new flu virus-not the seasonal flu that affects people every year. The new flu virus will be different from the seasonal flu that affects people every year. Pandemic influenza may spread easily from person to person, causing serious illness and affecting many people around the world in a short period of time. There is no pandemic influenza in the world at this time.
Man-made threats:
A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate use of a virus, toxin, or bacteria to cause fear or harm. Many bioterror agents must be inhaled, enter through a cut in the skin. or be eaten to make you sick. Some biological agents, such as anthrax, cannot spread from one person to another. Others, like the smallpox virus, are highly contagious.
To find out how to protect yourself and your family, visit the Bioterrorism and Emergency Response Information website.
Questions and Answers About Bioterrorism
PLANS FOR MASS DISPENSING OF MEDICATIONS AND VACCINES
Many diseases can be treated and controlled with medications and vaccines. In the event of a biological attack or disease outbreak, Philadelphia has plans to distribute medicine or a vaccine to those who are at risk.
If needed, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health will be ready to provide medicine or a vaccine to the entire population of Philadelphia within 48 hours. To distribute treatment or vaccine, the City may open Points of Dispensing (PODs). If PODs are activated, you may locate the one closest to you by listening to local radio and television stations, calling 215-686-1776 or on the web at Phila.gov.
Learn more about mass dispensing by reading about the Emergency Preparedness and Bioterrorism Program Initiatives.
Chemical Threats
Chemical threats can affect people by accidental exposure or through a deliberate release. In the event of a major spill, authorities will let you know what you must do.
Accidental exposures can occur when hazardous materials are released into the environment by leaking storage containers, and spills from tanker trucks or ships.
A chemical attack is the deliberate release of a toxic gas, liquid or solid. Signs of a chemical attack include:
- Many people suffering from watery eyes, twitching, choking, having trouble breathing or losing coordination
- Many sick or dead birds, fish or small animals are also cause for suspicion
If you think you have been exposed to a chemical hazard, you should take the actions listed below.
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE THREAT SAFETY TIPS:
- Stay upwind of the material if possible
- Get to a doctor or hospital as soon as possible if needed
- If there is a chemical hazard indoors, try to get out of the building without passing through the contaminated area. Otherwise, it may be better to move as far away from the hazard as possible and Shelter in Place. (link to Get a Kit, Shelter in Place)
- Quickly remove any contaminated clothing. Do not pull the clothing over your head; cut it off instead. Put clothing in a plastic bag and keep far away from you and anyone else in your home.
- Wash yourself with regular soap and water. Do not try to wash or throw away your clothes
- If you have been exposed to hazardous materials, officials may recommend that you be decontaminated. Decontamination means removing your clothing and washing your body to reduce or remove the chemical so that it is no longer a hazard. People who have in special emergency training will set up decontamination facilities. Emergency personnel will provide medical attention if necessary.
Call the Poison Control Hotline at 1-215-386-2100 if you have a poisoning emergency or dial 9-1-1.
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Fire
Fire spreads quickly. If fire breaks out in your home, there is no time to gather valuables or make a phone call. In just two minutes, a fire can become life threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames.
Heat and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A FIRE:
- Install smoke alarms
- Test smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries twice a year. Make it a habit when you turn your clocks ahead or back for Daylight Saving Time.
- Replace smoke alarms once every 10 years
- Plan and review escape routes from your home with your family. Practice escaping from each room.
- Make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut, and that security gratings or burglar bars on windows have a fire safety opening feature so they can be easily opened from the inside.
- Consider escape ladders if your residence has more than one level. and ensure that burglar bars and other antitheft mechanisms that block outside window entry are easily opened from the inside.
- Teach family members to stay low to the floor (where the air is safer) when escaping from a fire
- Install A-B-C-type fire extinguishers in your home and teach family members how to use them
- If you rent, buy renter's insurance
SURVIVING A FIRE:
- If a smoke detector goes off or if you notice a fire, remain calm. Get out as quickly as possible.
- Do not try to fight a major fire
- If your clothes catch on fire, STOP where you are, DROP to the ground, and ROLL over and over to smother the flames
- If you live in a high-rise apartment building, and the fire is not in your apartment, stay in your apartment. rather than go into Do not go into smoke-filled hallways
- Before attempting to open a door, feel it with the back of your hand. If they are hot, find another way out.
- Stay as close to the floor as possible-smoke and heat rise and the air is clearer and cooler near the floor
- Close all doors behind you
- Do not stop to get anything
- Do not use elevators
- Call 9-1-1 from a safe place such, as a neighbor's house
- If you are unable to get out for any reason, stay near a window and close to the floor. Close the door and stuff the bottom with a towel to keep out smoke.
- If possible, signal for help by waving a cloth or sheet outside the window
- For more fire safety information, visit the Philadelphia Fire Department website.
- Also, to learn more about fire safety, visit www.ready.gov.
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