Friday, April 12, 2013

Prepare for the worst. Pray for the best.

I don't want to believe that Guam is in danger of being bombed by North Korea, but my employer is sending out this information. They also attached fact sheets that include this image showing how to "shelter in place."  Some instructions: Seal everything off and have your bomb shelter kit stashed away in your windowless room. Go against every parenting instinct and leave your children at their school or daycare. Try to contact your family on the mainland to tell them goodbye. Have your food, medicine, radio, and comforting toy ready.



Release No. JIC-10
Important TIPS in the Event that RED Condition Is Called
1:45 p.m., Thursday, April 11, 2013
For Immediate Release

The Joint Information Center released four fact sheets over the past three days about what Guamanians can do to prepare for a North Korean emergency. If one does occur:
1.
      The military immediately will call the Governor, who then will simultaneously place the island in RED condition.
2.      The Joint Information Center immediately will notify the people of Guam via media partners, email, government alert systems, the alert siren system, the consulate offices, the school systems, and the mayors that an emergency is upon the island and that everyone is to shelter in place.

These are the most important tips of what to do as soon as you are aware of the RED condition:

-
          IF YOU ARE AT HOME: Shelter in place. Follow the steps outlined in Fact Sheet 2, including closing and locking all windows and doors, and closing any blinds. Take your family and pets with you to a room without windows or with the fewest windows. Keep a phone with you, preferably a land line. Keep a battery-operated radio with you and stay tuned to official reports from the Joint Information Center.
 
-          IF YOU ARE AT WORK: Shelter in place at work. Do not leave the office. Do not send away customers or co-workers in your office. Close and lock all windows and doors. Stay as far away from windows as possible. Keep a phone with you, preferably a land line. Keep a battery-operated radio with you and stay tuned to official reports from the JIC.

-
           IF YOUR KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL OR DAYCARE: Do not pick them up. School staff & teachers will help students shelter in place. They are safer in school than on the road. Schools know what to do to keep your children safe.
 -           IF YOU ARE ON THE ROAD: Pull over. Stay in your car. Keep your body clear from the windows. Keep the radio on, and wait for the ‘all-clear’ from the JIC.

RED condition means the threat level is high. In this case, it may mean North Korea launched a missile. It does not necessarily mean the missile is coming this way. RED condition is a precaution taken because we should not take chances, and we should protect ourselves from the worst. This is why it is so IMPORTANT to pay attention to media partners before, during, and after RED condition.

1 comment:

BettyDuffy said...

And if you are in Guam, get your children and get on a plane immediately, right now. Don't wait for Code Red. Schools almost over anyway.

Reading is one form of escape. Running for your life is another.
-Lemony Snicket