Pet owners need plan for their animals
	Disasters don't have only a human cost. Animals also are affected.

Excuses be gone: Prepare one step at a time
	The ideal situation is for every person in every household to be prepared for emergencies today, right now.

Emergency workers always hope for best, but prepare for worst
	The Kenai Peninsula Borough is vulnerable to all sorts of potential problems. Luckily, it has the Office of Emergency Management.

Indoor Safety Measures   Nearly all emergency response and management agencies publish lists of ways to improve home safety. Items included cover things ranging from earthquake preparedness to how to lessen fire hazards. Below are simple steps that can greatly reduce risks around the home.

Outdoor Safety Measures   The greatest threat to the home from outside is fire. To increase the integrity of your house against an encroaching wildfire, take the following precautions:

Best way to avoid flooding is to live outside flood zone
	Throughout Southcentral Alaska, vast amounts of rain and snow can cause flooding.

Project cushions disaster's blows   It is impossible to prevent disasters such as earthquakes, floods and tsunamis, but planning can minimize the losses when they strike.

Disaster-resistant construction   During a seminar sponsored by the Kenai Peninsula Borough's Project Impact office in November, designers, contractors and other building specialists got a lesson in disaster-resistant construction.

School personnel trained to protect kids in disaster
	When the unthinkable happens and disaster strikes, parents' thoughts immediately turn to the safety of their children.

Food bank ready to help in emergency
	Imagine a tsunami descended upon Homer, wiping out thousands of homes. Residents are relocated to the central peninsula, out of harm's way. But, the problem remains, how will they be fed?

'Defensible space' helps shield homes from wildfire
	Forestry officer Sharon Roesch said if a wildfire or forest fire were to break out, homes nestled in the woods would be all but unsalvageable.

Common sense key to safe burning
	Each spring, Kenai Peninsula residents go out into their yards and gather up the long winter's rubbish. Many turn to burning to dispose of the dead leaves, grass and branches.

Epidemic of spruce bark beetles means higher risk of fire danger
	The ever-present spruce bark beetle has undergone a major population surge on the Kenai Peninsula, especially throughout the southern part.

Alaskans live on shaky ground
	Every now and then, Kenai Peninsula residents are awakened by the ground shaking. These minor tremors are common and hardly noted.

Quakes can be followed by deadly waves   Earthquakes may be one of the most feared and destructive forces in Alaska.

In Case of Earthquake ...   The American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency recommend the following actions to decrease the risk and amount of damage caused by earthquakes. Great care should be taken in moving things or re-entering buildings following a quake.

Richter scale makes connection between quake's energy, damage   For centuries, earthquakes were one of the most feared and least understood phenomena in human existence.

It's (not) a blast
	As cold as the winters get, it's easy to forget Alaska is part of the Ring of Fire -- an arc-like zone along the north Pacific characterized by volcanoes and seismic activity.

In Case of Ashfall ...   The following are recommended actions during and after an ashfall, from the Alaska Volcano Observatory pamphlet "Ash Alert," available from the Alaska Division of Emergency Services, P.O. Box 5750, Fort Richardson, Alaska 99505-5750.

Industrial plants focus efforts on worker, community safety
	From canneries to a refinery, liquefied natural gas plant and an agricultural products manufacturer, the Kenai Peninsula is home to a variety of industries.

In Case of Chemical Release ...   In case of chemical or industrial accident, emergency officials recommend people "shelter in place."

Did You Know?   The afternoon after an explosion at the Alaska Nitrogen Products plant, the Community Alert Network was used to update nearby residents on the incident, which occurred at 1:31 a.m. Aug. 20, 1999:

In emergency, good guys wear black hats   Should disaster strike, the people in black hats will be the good guys, there to help.

Did You Know?   Alaska has experienced 10 of the 15 largest earthquakes to occur in U.S. history. Out of these top 15, Alaska earthquakes claim the first 8 positions with Richter scale magnitudes ranked at 8.0 or higher.

Disasters take toll on mental health   Above and beyond the physical damage done by a disaster -- injuries, destroyed buildings, ruined utility lines -- there also is a significant psychological toll.

Shelters offer comfort in midst of turmoil   In the aftermath of a disaster, natural or manmade, comfort and community are shattered, at least temporarily.

In Case of Evacuation ...   There are several potential disasters, both natural and human-caused, that could compromise a home's safety and require an emergency evacuation.

Peninsula Shelters   Although not all shelters are of comparable size, they all are intended to offer safety and some measure of comfort in an emergency.

Important Phone Numbers   The following is a list of numbers for emergency services and resources. All can provide information and assistance with personal or home safety and preparing for disasters.

Special Items and Car Kits   The elderly and those with mobility problems may need to prepare specal items For those traveling with small children, special items also may be necessary: There also are items unique to vehicles that need to be included.

In Case of Flood...   The following are other suggestions from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Pet Kit Necessities   Emergency experts recommend the following supplies be kept on hand for pets in the event of a disaster:

Kenai Peninsula hotbed for disasters
	Individual responsibility is the key because government is not going to be able to be there right away. We're not going to be able to shelter and provide food for everybody in a major disaster.

When trouble hits, warnings sound
	One of the most precious resources in a disaster is accurate, timely information.

Preparation key to weathering disaster   One of the most important steps toward being prepared for any disaster is having supplies on hand.

Disaster Kit Necessities   Emergency experts recommend that disaster kits include the following: