جمهورية العراق - الأمانة العامة لمجلس الوزراء
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البريد الالكتروني

Be prepared

For the purpose of enabling individuals to be prepared for any emergency, this page works to promote public services aimed at educating citizens and enabling them to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and man-made crises. And the aim is to encourage citizens to participate and increase the level of preparedness throughout the country.

This “readiness” page urges individuals to implement three basic matters and they are:

  1. Obtain a set of emergency kits
  2. Set up an emergency plan for the families
  3. Acquaintance with the different types of emergencies that can occur and to identify the appropriate means to address each of them.

You may need to survive after exposure to an emergency. And this means the existence of your food, water and other supplies in quantities that are sufficient for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be in place after the occurrence of the disaster, but they will not be able to reach every person immediately. You can get help in hours and it may take several days. Moreover, there may be interruption of basic services such as electricity, gas, water, treatment, sanitation, telephone and telecommunications networks for several days, or even a week or more.

Tools recommended being included in basic emergency kits:

    • Water: one gallon of water per person/ per day, for the purpose of drinking and sanitation
    • Food: supply of non-perishable food for at least three days.
    • Battery powered radio.
    • First aid kit.
    • A whistle to call for help.
    • Dust mask, to help purify the polluted air and plastic piece and adhesive tape to take cover in place.
    • Small wet towels, trash bags and plastic laces to maintain personal hygiene.
    • Can opener for opening food packages (if the kit contains canned food).
    • Local maps.
    • Cell phone with charger, adapter or solar-powered charger.

Additional tools to be considered adding to the emergency kit:

      • Prescriptions and glasses.
      • Breastfeeding tools and diapers.
      • The important official family documents and money that should be placed in water-resistant and portable containers.
      • Sleeping bag or blanket for heating per person. Take into account extra blankets if you live in a cold area.
      • Complete backup clothes including clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants and hard boots. Also consider extra clothes if you live in a cool area.
      • Chlorine Home bleach and dropper for treatment – When nine drops of water are mixed with a drop of chlorine bleach; chlorine can be used as an antiseptic. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of normal household bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented bleaching agents or additional color additives.
      • Fire extinguisher.
      • Matches stored in the anti-water container.
      • Women’s supplies and personal tools for prevention.
      • Tableware Set, paper cups, plastic plates and bowls and paper towels.
      • Papers and pencils.

Your family may not be together in one place when the disaster occurs so it is important to plan in advance: planning how to contact between family members and how to meet again; and how to act in different situations.

Emergency Plan of the Family

  • Identify somebody from outside your city to contact him. Where long-distance calls may be easier than internal calls, therefore external calls among separated family members may be easy.
  • Ensure that all your family members are aware of this person’s phone number and that they have cell phones to call this person in case of emergency. If you have a cell phone, then write this person or group of people under the list “I.C.E” (in case of emergency) in your private phone because in case of accidents and emergencies, the relevant people will refer to the emergency list to reach someone who can identify you. Make sure your family and friends know that you have placed them in the emergency contact list.
  • Teach your family how to exchange text messages (known as SMS) or text messages service. Text messages (SMS) can override the jamming of mobile networks if phone calls cannot be made.

Planning to go or stay

Based on your own circumstances and the nature of the state of emergency, the first and the most important decision is whether you stay where you are or will you evacuate. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and information available that include the instructions you receive here to predict imminent danger. In any emergency, local authorities may or may not be able to provide immediate information on what is happening and what needs to be done. Nevertheless, you should follow news reports on television, radio or the Internet for information or official instructions when thet are available.

Emergency information

Identify the types of both natural disasters and those made by man that are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified thereon. The methods used to inform you of disasters vary from one community to another. And of these methods, the use of radio and television broadcasts for emergencies. You may receive a warning letter or a phone call. 

Emergency Plans

You also need to inquire about emergency plans in places where your family spends their time: workplaces and schools. And in the event of absence of such plans, kindly participate in volunteer work to find a suitable plan. Talk to your neighbors about how to work together when emergency events occur. You will be better prepared so you will be able to reunite your family and friends safely during the occurrence of one of the emergency cases if you plan in advance and made your communication with others.