Click Here >> Mercer County Emergency Operation Plan <<
Natural Disasters & Severe Weather – Any of the following natural disasters & severe weather can happen in Mercer County. The likelihood of some of them is low, but possible. Preparation is very similar for all and is very important.
Power outages - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/poweroutage/ - May occur at any time of the day or night and may last from a blink of the lights to hours or days, depending upon the cause. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Tornadoes - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/ - Typically occur during spring and summer months, but may occur at any time. Damage path can be 50 miles long and 1 mile wide in severe cases. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Winter weather - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/ - Severe storms may shut down an area for days or weeks. Extreme cold invites hypothermia & frostbite. Pipes may freeze. Ice creates slipping hazards. Poor ventilation during heating can cause carbon monoxide build-up in a home, causing sickness or death. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Severe heat - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/ - Some things you can do during extreme heat are to drink plenty of fluids, replace salt and minerals, get to an area that is cool if you have no way to cool yourself, limit outdoor activities and pace yourself. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Floods - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/ - Store food and water safely. Listen to public announcements concerning the flood. If told to evacuate, DO IT! Beware of electrical hazards, mold, disease, stray animals, carbon monoxide poisoning caused by inappropriate indoor use of gas grills or similar items. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Earthquakes - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/ - Not a major concern in Ohio, however there have been some magnitude 5 earthquakes in Ohio that have caused moderate damage. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Volcanoes - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/volcanoes/ - Not a major concern in Ohio, but with several fault lines running through parts of Ohio, a volcano is possible, though extremely unlikely. Last suspected volcanic activity was at least tens of millions of years ago. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Wildfires - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/firesafety/ - Wildfires of the magnitude seen in the western United States is not likely here, however, Ohio has acres that are heavily forested and a wildfire may happen. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Landslides - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/landslides.asp - Occur when earth, rock and /or debris move down a slope. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Bio-terrorism General information -http://www.bt.cdc.gov/bioterrorism/overview.asp
A bio-terrorism attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs (agents) used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. For a more complete guide, go to the above link. List of biological agents -http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/agentlist.asp
Chemical information - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/agentlist.asp
List of chemical agents - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/agentlistchem.asp
Sheltering in place - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/shelteringfacts.asp - For CHEMICAL emergencies, choose a room in your house or apartment that has the fewest windows and is as high in the building as possible. This is to avoid chemical gases that sink. Choose a room with a water supply, if possible. NOTE: This is different from emergencies like tornadoes and other severe weather and nuclear events. Be sure to bring along your emergency supply kit. You should only have to shelter for a few hours, but prepare to shelter longer. For a more complete guide and to see what should be in a chemical shelter-in-place kit, go to the above link.
Evacuation - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/evacuationfacts.asp - Follow the directions of local law enforcement or local emergency coordinators. Every situation is different, so it is important to follow directions. It is usually a good idea to bring along a small water supply. Remember any critical medications. If time, allow family that is some distance away to know where you are going (if they are nearby, they will probably be evacuating also). For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Personal cleaning & disposal of contaminated clothing –http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/personalcleaningfacts.asp - In a chemical emergency, you will likely come into contact with some amount of chemical contaminant(s). It is important to clean yourself and clean or dispose of clothing that was exposed. See the above link for further information.
Poison Control Center phone number - 1-800-222-1222
Radiological - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/
FAQs - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/emergencyfaq.asp
Dirty bombs - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/dirtybombs.asp - A dirty bomb is an explosive mixed with some type of radioactive material. When the bomb detonates, it spreads radioactive material to the surrounding area. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Sheltering in place - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/shelter.asp - During a radiation emergency, the safest place is in a central room or a basement, as far from windows as possible. Bring your emergency supplies. Normally this is the area they will be stored in preparation. You and your family may be here awhile, so have a long term plan. For a more complete guide, go to the above link.
Nuclear reactor – A nuclear accident has potential for major problems. Potential problems vary in scale, so in the event of a problem with this reactor, follow the instructions of local law enforcement and/or local emergency coordinators.
Mass Casualties - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/masscasualties/
There are many types of events that could cause mass casualties. A partial list would include a large fire, flash flood, plane crash, major tornado, pandemic influenza or other illness. In a mass casualty event, follow the instructions of local law enforcement and/or local emergency coordinators.