How to Prepare for an Emergency

What You Can Do to Be Prepared

As you know, you are responsible to protect yourself and your family.   To prepare for an emergency, every citizen and family in Hobbs should establish a personal and family disaster plan.   
Here are some steps that you and your family should take right now to prepare: 

• Decide where your family will regroup and how your family will make contact after a disaster.   (Assume cell phones will not work.)

• Make sure you know how to turn off the water and other utilities at your home and at work.

• Prepare a Family Emergency Kit  FEMA’s recommended Basic Disaster Supply Kit.

Other Recommended Emergency Kits

• Keep your gas tank as full as possible at all times.

• Make copies of all important papers and store in a different location.

• Establish an emergency contact plan to stay in contact with relatives

• Meet with neighbors to make plans for emergencies

• Read and take action on Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) online publication Are You Ready?

What You Should Do in an Emergency

1. Act on your personal and family disaster plan.

2. Listen for and act on all instructions from your elected City officials and other local authorities.

3. Access information via all functioning media, including radio- and TV-station news and the City’s website (www.hobbsnm.org).

4. Call 311 if you have questions.

5. If so instructed, go to the shelter nearest you.   (Shelter Map)

6. If so instructed, evacuate.    (Evacuation map)

7. If you are instructed to evacuate and do not have transportation, call 311.

Specific Emergencies

After a Bomb or Other Explosion: Exit the building and the area quickly. Do not use elevators. Cover your nose and mouth and do not inhale dust and particles. If you are trapped in debris, do not move except to tap on the wall or nearby surface so rescuers can hear where you are.

In a Biological Emergency: Follow the instructions of doctors and public health officials. Practice good hygiene and cleanliness to avoid spreading germs. If needed, seek medical advice or attention. Monitor local media for instructions, for evacuation, for shelter in place.

In a Chemical Emergency: Get out of the building and get away from the area. If needed, seek medical advice or attention. Monitor local media for instructions, for evacuation, for shelter in place.

In a Radiological Emergency: Contaminated radioactive material can injure your body both externally and internally. Move as far as possible away from the suspected area. Cover your nose and mouth. Stay indoors, close all windows and doors, and turn off your air conditioner. Bring your pets inside. Notify your neighbors of the alert via phone. Monitor local media for instructions, for evacuation, for shelter in place.

Consider printing our 2-page printable guide and checklist: Safe and Ready - Preparing for a Public Health Emergency, sponsored by the New Mexico Department of Health [341k]