Article published Mar 19, 2006
Reprinted courtesy of Fosters Daily Democrat, Dover, NH
By CHLOE JOHNSON
Staff Writer
Every level of government maintains an emergency management plan, but officials say homeland security starts in the home.
Don Bliss, director of the NI2 Center for Infrastructure Expertise, said it is not only every citizen's responsibility to be prepared for emergencies, but that it is irresponsible to depend on the federal government for immediate assistance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) considers citizens the base of the national security system, supported by the local community, then the state, and then federal government.
Bliss said New Hampshire residents tend to be self-reliant and benefit from a strong local response in an emergency.
Bliss led homeland security efforts and emergency management in New Hampshire in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The nonprofit NI2 Center, located in Portsmouth, researches solutions for securing critical infrastructure.
There's a lower chance of a terrorist attack in New Hampshire than in major cities, Bliss said, but critical infrastructure — assests that, if harmed, would disrupt security, economy or public health — could be targeted.
More likely are natural disasters, all of which the state is subjected to except for volcanoes, he said. These include winter storms, floods, hurricanes and, rarely, earthquakes.
Other risks to the area include flu pandemics and hazardous material spills.
Be prepared
Bliss said citizens should think of homeland security in its broadest definition and not just relate it to terrorism.
"It's very critical that people should be prepared," Bliss said. In addition to having an emergency kit and plan, he said citizens can be prepared "by exercising due diligence on a daily basis" by being aware of surroundings and reporting suspicious activity.
Rochester Fire Department Chief Norman Sanborn said he tells people to be prepared, but not to be scared.
The city has a disaster preparedness brochure available, which details emergency procedures.
Rochester notifies residents of an emergency through a reverse 9-1-1 phone system that can call all or selected parts of the city at the same time. Also, emergency personnel can override most cable television stations.
There are locations designated as emergency shelters including the middle school, which has generators in case of a power outage.
Sanborn agreed that the emergencies most common to this area are weather related. He said these often cause power outages and sometimes leave people without heat, water and phones.
With a population of 30,000, Rochester is the most populous city in the Seacoast and fourth in New Hampshire. The department has 38 full-time and 40 on call firefighters.
Since the state is not at a high level of risk for terrorism, the Rochester Fire Department spends more time preparing for natural disasters, Sanborn said.
But, he added, there are plans in place for all emergencies. He said, "You should always be prepared for anything."
A battery-operated radio is essential, he said, so that people can stay informed in case the phone lines go down. He said the department also recommends flashlights over candles to limit the danger of fire.
He said people generally have enough food and water to last a couple of days, and that most emergencies in the past have not lasted longer than that.
Other emergency supplies include spare batteries; a wired telephone plugged directly into the telephone jack in the wall; several gallons of bottled water, stored in a cool part of the house, for drinking, cooking, or hand washing; stored food that can be easily prepared and appropriate tools like a manual opener.
The New Hampshire Bureau of Emergency Management recommends a secondary source of heat which does not require electricity.
Generators and outdoor cooking appliances must be properly ventilated because of carbon monoxide.
Emergency shelters
When power outages last more than a few hours or during winter weather, some people turn to emergency shelters.
If a neighborhood becomes too dangerous to remain in, authorities may order an evacuation. When that happens, the American Red Cross and officials will open shelters in schools or other public buildings.
When evacuated, take personal supplies and other essential items: personal hygiene products, eyeglasses or contact lenses, prescription medications and prescriptions, a change of seasonally-appropriate clothing, blankets or sleeping bags, cash and credit cards, books and games.
Only service animals such as seeing-eye dogs are allowed in shelters. Pets should be left in the safest part of the house with a three-day supply of food and water.
Regional Preparedness
Dover Fire Department Chief Perry Plummer said he is contributing to a regional emergency management plan with the Southern Strafford Community Health Coalition.
He said, "The plans are only as good as our familiarity with them and ability to use them." The department has used Homeland Security grants for the equipment to react in an emergency.
Potential hazards, Plummer said, are the Seabrook nuclear power plant, critical facilities like schools or other places were people gather, infrastructure like the traffic-heavy Little Bay Bridge, and the threat of hurricanes off the coast.
Still, the area "obviously" has less risk than major cities that may be targeted by international terrorists, he said.
The Dover Fire Department was one of three in the state to get a grant for a mass casualty trailer, which holds emergency medical supplies and equipment for a 200-person incident.
The department also has a mobile command unit from which to operate in such an incident and centralize communication with other agencies.
"I'd say we're more prepared than five years ago," Plummer said. He added that no community knows exactly what to expect.
The state bureau recommends a self-assessment of hazards near one's home and neighborhood. They recommend fixing the hazards which are under personal control and developing a response plan for those which are not.
Health Hazards
Melissa Snow, a Dover resident, said she has considered moving because of proximity to the nuclear power plant in Seabrook. "That's the biggest fear," she said.
In case of an emergency, Snow said her family was prepared with supplies. "I guess we'd all huddle as neighbors and support each other," she said.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission oversees nuclear facilities. Plans for surrounding communities are grouped into two zones.
Within a 10-mile radius of the plant it is possible to be harmed by direct radiation exposure, and within a 50-mile radius radioactive materials could contaminate water supplies, food crops and livestock.
To minimize exposure to radiation, FEMA recommends keeping a distance, shielding from the source, and limiting time exposed. A high exposure to radiation can cause serious illness or death.
For some emergencies, such as a nuclear power plant accident, it is safer to stay in the house. In this case, authorities suggest closing, locking and sealing all exits and vents to the outside.
Move to an interior room with few windows and monitor media broadcasts for further information.
Everyone in the family should know how and when to call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. Using out of state family members or close friends as a long-distance point of contact is valuable if family members are scattered.
Of growing concern are a flu pandemic and other health hazards.
Kate Kokko, director of Southern Strafford Community Health Coalition, said the organization has recently provided grant money to several area towns to update their local emergency plans to meet new federal standards.
The region is also working on an all-hazards public health plan.
She said everyone can take basic precautions to limit germs from spreading and prevent infection, such as washing hands frequently with soap, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and avoiding sick persons at home or work.