Were you and your family woken up by the earthquake that happened on May 1, 2022 here in Mount Vernon? Some described feeling a shake and hearing a loud explosion-like noise.
If you felt the earthquake, what was the first thought that came to mind? Did you know what you and your family would do in case an evacuation was needed?
This May, join Public Health and the International Code Council in commemorating Building Safety Month. This year, Building Safety Month is focusing on safety for all building codes in action. Help us educate and spread awareness about how to properly evacuate a building or home in case of an emergency.
Preparing an effective evacuation plan is important. The worst mistake that you can make is waiting until the last minute to get prepared. Here are some helpful preparedness tips for you and your family on how to evacuate a building, including your home, in case of an emergency.
At your home:
- Arrange your evacuation plan ahead of time. For tips on creating a plan, go to: Five Steps to preparing an effective evacuation plan | III.
- Sit down with your household and discuss clear exit points located in your home.
- Come up with a meeting point outside of your home in case you must evacuate.
- Remove any objects or furniture that are blocking exit ways.
- Make clear pathways to all exits.
- Make sure family members know how to unlock and open windows and doors.
- Have a plan for evacuating your pets, as well!
In a building:
- Learn about your emergency exit routes and know where a building map is located. Talk with your employer about their approved evacuation/safety plan.
- If working in the building, safely stop your work.
- Leave the building through the nearest door with an exit.
- Wait for instructions from emergency responders.
Why is it important?
Being prepared and planning ahead can save lives during an emergency. Not only that, but it can also prevent you from feeling overwhelmed or scared. After all, having a plan will give you the confidence you need in order to activate during an emergency situation.
Support Building Safety Month
- Educate Your Community
- Visit buildingsafetymonth.org to find the online campaign toolkit, safety tip sheets and kids’ corner materials.
- Issue a Proclamation
- Ask your city official to sign a proclamation.
- Promote
- Hand out Building Safety Month materials to your community, family, and friends. For print copies of brochures, pencils and more, you can visit the Code Council store.
For more resources please visit:
Five Steps to preparing an effective evacuation plan | III
Building Evacuation Procedures (ucsd.edu)
BUILDING SAFETY MONTH -May 2022 – National Today