What to know and do before next disaster
By Lesa Griffith and Esme infante Nii
Advertiser Staff Writers
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Be ready for the next one.
Yesterday's earthquakes were a big reality check. With tremors stronger than most people have previously experienced in Hawai'i, it's a reminder that we need to be prepared. Here's what the Civil Defense Disaster Preparedness Planning advises in the event of an earthquake:
WHAT TO DO DURING A POWER OUTAGE
O'ahu suffered no damage from the earthquakes — the real problem was the lack of electricity. Without power, we can't withdraw money from ATMs, store cash registers can't take our dollars, restaurants can't cook food. Here's a survival guide to living off the grid.
Home survival kit checklist:
Source: Handbook for Emergency Preparedness, by HECO, MECO, Hawaii Electric Light Co.
APPLIANCE SAFETY
Turn off and unplug all electronic equipment and appliances. When power resumes, there could be a power surge, which can damage sensitive equipment such as computers, monitors and treadmills — any equipment with computer components. Also, when the power returns, the system could be overwhelmed by unnecessarily plugged-in appliances.
Do not plug in all your appliances when power resumes. Use only what you need, to help HECO speed up its efforts to restore service to all customers. Avoid turning on the water heater, range, air conditioner, pool pump, hot tub, clothes washer and dryer or dishwasher until they are needed, then turn them on one at a time.
GENERATORS
Source: HECO
WATER: USE IT SPARINGLY
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply urges people to cut back on water use during an electrical outage. People should refrain from taking long showers, watering lawns, washing cars and performing other nonemergency tasks.
Consumers should not be lulled by the sight of water flowing freely from their taps. When there is an electrical outage, the Board of Water Supply is unable to pump water to its reservoirs, which are placed at higher altitudes.
Water pressure may appear normal at first during a power outage because the water pressure comes from gravity, as water flows downhill from the reservoirs. But as the reservoirs are depleted, the pumps are unable to replace the water.
The more people conserve water, the longer there will be water pressure for everyone.
Source: Board of Water Supply
EATING WITHOUT ELECTRICITY
FOOD SAFETY
Keep refrigerators and freezers closed. The less they are opened, the longer your food will last. Food will remain frozen in a free-standing freezer for up to 72 hours if kept closed. Products will keep in the refrigerator for six to 10 hours without power. Beyond six hours, be sure to smell milk, cream, meat and other perishables to make sure they haven't spoiled before consuming them.
How long will food last?
FIVE DAYS OF FOOD
Sample of a five-day food supply for two adults and one infant.
Other foods to consider are pasta, jarred pasta sauce, macaroni-and-cheese mixes, instant ramen, instant miso soup
Non-fat dry milk — 1 box (12 one-quart packets)
Tuna — 1 can (6.5 oz.)
Beef stew — 1 can (1 lb. 8 oz.)
Chili with beans — 2 cans (15.5 oz.)
Red or pink — 1 can (7.75 oz.) salmon
Canned luncheon meat — 2 cans (12 oz.)
Vienna sausage — 2 cans (5 oz.)
Corned beef hash — 2 cans (12 oz.)
Corned beef — 2 cans (12 oz.)
Deviled ham — 2 cans (4.5 oz.)
Pork and beans — 2 cans (16 oz.)
Chunked chicken — 1 can (12.5 oz.)
Assorted soups — 6 cans (10.75 oz.)
Assorted fruits — 9 cans (16 oz.)
Assorted vegetables — 6 cans (16 oz.)
Assorted fruit juices — 10 cans (12 oz.)
Raisins — 1 box (15 oz.)
Instant hot cereal — 1 box (8 10-oz. packets)
Cold cereal — 1 box (1 lb. 4 oz.)
Soda crackers — 2 packages (13 oz. each)
Rice — 2 pounds
Cookies — 1 package
Salad oil — 1 pint
Sugar — 1 box (1 pound)
Jelly — 1 jar (16 oz.)
Instant orange drink — 1 jar (14 oz.)
Peanut butter — 1 jar (18 oz.)
Formula — 20 cans (8 oz. each)
Fruit juice — 5 jars (4 oz.)
Baby cereal — 1-2 boxes
Plain fruit — 15 jars
Plain meat — 10 jars
Plain vegetables — 10 jars
Source: Handbook for Emergency Preparedness, by HECO, MECO, Hawaii Electric Light Co.
Reach Lesa Griffith at lgriffith@honoluluadvertiser.com.
