Town of Epping,

Town of Epping,

New Hampshire

Emergency Management

Mission Statement

To protect the lives and property of the citizens and visitors of the Town of Epping= by using an all-hazard approach to insure mitigation of, preparation for, response to, and recovery from the effects of natural and man-made disaster= s, as well as national security concerns consistent with the resources provide= d.

Preparedness

The Town of Epping encourages all citizens to be prepared for the weather that comes with livi= ng in New England and other possible emerge= ncy situations. To that end we are providing information to help you better pre= pare yourself and your family for the unexpected.

Click on the below box to be directed to these w= ebsites

Contact Information:

Emergency Dial 911=

Emergency Management Director, (603) 67= 9-5446

Fire Department, (603) 679-5446

Police Department, (603) 679-5122<= /o:p>

Town Hall, (603) 679-1202

Rockingham County Sheriff’s Depar= tment, (603) 679-2225

NH State Police, (603) 679-3333

TIPS and FAQS

1. What do I do if I need to shelter in p= lace?

A.Go inside and stay there.

B. If you must go outside, cover your nose and mouth with a folded, damp clot.= Go back inside as soon as possible.

C. Change clothes if you go outside.

D. Close all outside doors and windows.

E. Turn off all fans, air conditioners, clothes dryers, kitchen and bath exhau= st fans, and other sources of outside air.

&nb= sp;F. Keep the radio tuned to the EAS station.=

&nb= sp;G. Keep pets inside

&nb= sp;H. If you have livestock, shelter them too. Give them s= tored feed and water from a covered source.

I. Do not use the telephone except for emergencies.

J. Do not use fireplaces or wood stoves. Let fires burn down. Close dampers af= ter fires are out.

&nb= sp;K. If you are not home, take the best available shelter= .

L. If you are in your car, close the windows and air vents and turn off the he= ater or air conditioner. Turn on "recycle air" option if available.

M. Stay indoors until you receive official notice that it is safe to go out.

N. If sheltering-in-place is recommended during school hou= rs, children will be sheltered right in the school building and cared for = by school personnel.

2. = Can my animals evacuate to the shelters= with me?

NO, Only service = animals will be allowed inside the reception center and mass care centers. Pet owne= rs should make a list of places outside of the emergency planning zone that wo= uld accept your pets, such as boarding kennels, friends and relatives outside t= he affected area, or motels that accept pets. Prepare an emergency kit for your pets, including collars and leashes, a three-day supply of food, bowls, lit= ter boxes, photographs, and a week's supply of medications that your pets may be taking. Make sure your pets wear collars with current license and rabies ta= gs, and identification tags that include information on where you'll be staying. Use a pet carrier for each of your pets to make transportation easier. <= br>

3. What do I do if I or someone I know has special needs?

* If your neighbor is hard of hearing or visually impaired, please check to see whether the neighbor knows about the emergency and understands what to do.*

Good Neighbor Assistance:
If your neighbors, relatives or co-workers might need help in evacuating, please check on them before you leave. Do not use the telephone unless it is the only practical way to check. If they need help you cannot give, = Dial 911 if it is an emergen= cy or call (603) 679-5446 or (603) 679-<= span class=3DGramE>5122 . E= mergency workers will provide aid.

4. = Flash Floods and Steadily Rising Water.

* D= id you know that it only takes one foot water to float a car while two feet of wat= er can move trucks and SUV’s. The best wa= y to avoid being swept in a flash flood or steadily rising water is to not attem= pt to drive over the area. Just because the water may not seem deep the ground = underneath may have become unstable or washed out altogether* If you do bec= ome caught in a flash flood or steadily rising water you should:=

A. Try Not to Panic, Probably easier said than done, but we all know keeping a clear head during stressful times or during events we can’t control is beneficial to m= aking sound and rational decisions and aids in our ability to think clearly.
B. Be Aware, Experts say th= at should a vehicle submerge in water, it will usually start to sink at a= 45 degree angle. This makes sense due to the weight of the engine.
C. Devise a Plan Before Tragedy Strikes, We all know the worst time to devise a plan = of action is when we find ourselves stuck in the middle of a situation we simply can’t control, so it’s best to know what we can con= trol and how to best use any options we may have.
D. Windows, If you’re the driver, roll down the driver side window as soon= as it becomes evident that the vehicle may go under water or wh= en it becomes apparent that water is beginning to rise quickly in a flood situation. If you have passengers, ask them to roll down their w= indows quickly, as well. Due to the force of water, it may become impossible for you to open the doors of your vehicle once the water be= gins to rise. This is why it is paramount that you get at least one window down as soon as possible. If the windows will not roll down,= do whatever you can to break them; use that heavy flashlight in your glove box, a baseball bat you keep in your backseat, lay down across t= he front seat and kick at the window as hard as you possibly can and don’t stop until it breaks. You should know that once your vehicle is filled with water, you will be able to get the doors o= pen, but it may take a little pushing. Hold your breath, push the door and swim to safety.
E. Sunroof, If= you’re vehicle is equipped with a sunroof, all the better.&= nbsp; Some sunroofs are removable, but even if you have one t= hat isn’t, chances are it will be a lot easier to break or kick out. Since these are positioned on the roof of your vehicle, you have a little extra time to exit. &n= bsp;
F. Get To Higher Ground, If you find yourself c= aught up in a flash flooding situation and water is rising rapidly, it’s time to move to higher ground. Escape through one of = the windows and climb up to the hood or roof of your vehicle to assess the situation and perhaps wait for the authorities. Time is cruc= ial, so if at all possible, jump to safety and leave the area quickly. Never attempt to walk, or swim through high floodw= ater or fast moving water. Sometimes the current is so strong, you’ll be swept away before you know it.

5. What to do in the event of a Tornado, Downburst, or other Damaging winds.

Roughly two tornadoes are reported in New Hampshire a year. Most of these are of an intensi= ty of F1 or 2 and cause localized damage. But, as with most other natural haza= rds, we have and will experience large events. The largest reported tornado to strike the state occurred on September 1821. This tornado, estimated at F4,= had a path half a mile wide, killed 6, injured hundreds and left thousands homeless. The southwestern portion of the state is considered a special wind hazard area as demonstrated by the high proportion of tornadoes and severe = wind events that are experienced there annually. On July 3, 1997 several tornado= es struck this section of the state. An F1 tornado caused severe tree loss in = Swanzey, destroying a building and damaged the stable= s at the Cheshire Fairgrounds. At the same time a F2 tornado struck Greenfield causing= damage to a summer camp, the recycling center and completely destroying a lumber facility. Fortunately, no deaths resulted from these events.

A downburst is a severe localized wind blasting down from a thunderstorm. These "straight line" winds are distinguishable from a tornado’s circular pattern of destruction and debris. Depending on the size and location of these events, the destruction to property may be devastating. Downbursts have produced winds as strong as 175 mph. Winds of = this intensity can cause severe damage to forests and structures are certainly l= ife threatening. Downbursts have severely affected several areas of New Hampshire. O= n August 18, 1991, five people were killed and 11 injured in Stratham. This downburst also caused almost $2.5 million in damage. In 1994, a downburst left a path one-half mile wide and 4-6 miles long in the town of = Moultonborough while on July 6, 1999, two people were killed when a downburst struck centr= al New Hampshire.

A. Residence (home), Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or= the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an inte= rior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, wind= ows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows.

B. Vehicle, trailer, or mobile = home, Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

C. Outside with no shelter, Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. Never try to outrun a tornado in urb= an or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately f= or safe shelter. Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes cau= ses most fatalities and injuries.

6. What should I do, to ensure I properly= plan ahead?

Plan ahead: Everyone in your family should know what to do in an emergency. It is a good idea to keep some things safe and handy in case of Emergency Equipment: portable radio, flashlight, and extra batteries; important papers; medicati= ons, required diet foods, and first-aid items; extra supply for babies and pets, bottled water, non-perishable foods, cash and cell phone. Keep your car in = good running order; keep your gas tank at least half-full. Keeping an emergency = kit with these essential items in a large Rubbermaid container of some sort will help prevent against damage during floods, and is easily portable.

The = Town of Epping and its eme= rgency response personal strive to provide the best serve possible to the citizens= and visitor’s alike. If anyone has any questions concerns or recommendati= ons to better prepare the town’s response to emergencies and disasters pl= ease feel free to send an email to epp= ing-emd@comcast.net a return response to the email will be as prompt as possible. This web site= was developed using a number of outside sources including Google images, the to= wns of Newfields, Lee and Exeter NH, FEMA, and the NH Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. <= /span>