Documents & Forms

Being Prepared - Residential / Business

Improving our local and national preparedness is not just a job for the professionals - law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs and others. All Americans should begin a process of learning about potential threats, whether natural or man-made, so we are better prepared to react during severe weather, emergency situations or attack.

Citizens' Emergency Personal Protection Guide(PDF, 179KB)
This Guide will help you be better prepared for an emergency affecting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You will learn what to do before, during, and after an emergency, create a family emergency plan and prepare an Emergency Go Kit.

Disaster Preparedness Planning Guide for Facilities(PDF, 84KB)
This preparedness planning guide is directed to facility managers and administrators and is intended to provide assistance in meeting the planning requirements necessary to protect employees and clients who may be conducting business within the facility. It is intentionally generic in nature, so that it may apply to a variety of public buildings and large facilities where resident or worker populations may be at risk as a result of natural or human-caused disasters. Effective planning and response is achieved by coordination, cooperation and the participation of many groups, individuals and the community. A highly effective planning and response team can be formed between the facility staff and community groups.

Family Disaster Supplies Kit Guide(PDF, 160KB)
Disasters happen anytime and anywhere. And when disaster strikes, you may not have much time to respond. A highway spill or hazardous material could mean evacuation. A winter storm could confine your family at home. An earthquake, flood, tornado, or any other disaster could cut water, electricity, and telephones-for days.

After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it may take days. Would your family be prepared to cope with the emergency until help arrives?

Your family will cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supplies Kit. Once disaster hits, you won't have time to shop or search for supplies. But if you've gathered supplies in advance, your family can endure an evacuation or home confinement.

House and Building Fires(PDF, 116KB)
A fire can engulf a structure in a matter of minutes. Understanding the basic characteristics of fire and learning the proper safety practices can be the key to surviving a house or building fire.

Pets and Disasters(PDF, 74KB)
Make arrangements for your pets as part of your household disaster planning. If you must evacuate your home, it's always best to take your pets with you. For health and space reasons, pets will not be allowed in public emergency shelters. If, as a last resort, you have to leave your pets behind, make sure you have a plan to ensure their care.

Safe Computing Tips(PDF, 91KB)
Most viruses and worms use e-mail to propagate. In general, keep your operating system and anti-virus software applications up-to-date and apply the latest patches (a fix to a program bug). Learn more.

Extreme Weather and Natural Disasters

Extreme Heat(PDF, 84KB)
Doing too much on a hot day, spending too much time in the sun or staying too long in an overheated place can cause heat-related illnesses. Know the symptoms of heat disorders and overexposure to the sun, and be ready to give first aid treatment.

Floods and Flash Floods(PDF, 108KB)

Fire Safety During and After a Flood(PDF, 84KB)
Use the following safety tips to help protect yourself, your family and your home from the potential threat of fire during or after a flood.

Hurricane Safety Tips(PDF, 71KB)

Thunderstorms and Lightning(PDF, 101KB)
Some thunderstorms can be seen approaching, while others hit without warning. It is important to learn and recognize the danger signs and to plan ahead.

Winter Driving(PDF, 107KB)
The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. Preparing your vehicle for the winter season and knowing how to react if stranded or lost on the road are the keys to safe winter driving.

Winter Storms(PDF, 69KB)
A major winter storm can be lethal. Preparing for cold weather conditions and responding to them effectively can reduce the dangers caused by winter storms.

AccuWeather Information

Health and Wellness

The following information is from the Chester County Department of Emergency Services.

Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease is a tick-born bacterial infection that can be transmitted to humans and pets by infected ticks. In 2007, Pennsylvania was second only to New York with 3,994 reported Lyme disease cases. The number of annual reported cases of Lyme disease in the United States has increased dramatically since national surveillance began in 1982. Much of Chester County is rural and suburban, making it a prime habitat for deer ticks which can carry the Lyme disease bacteria.

Protection

Precautions should be taken in high risk area such as damp, grassy, or wooded regions or when outside for an extended period of time while doing yard work, gardening, hiking, etc.

  • Wear clothing that covers the skin and tuck loose pants into socks.
  • Wear light colored clothing because ticks are easier to spot and brush off.
  • Apply an insect repellent with 20-30% DEET to exposed skin other than the face and/or apply permethrin to clothes. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instruction.
  • Walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass and brush.
  • Use a high-heat dryer after washing clothes. This will kill most ticks that might have been attached to clothing.
  • Keep grass mowed and trees trimmed.
  • Remove brush or leave piles accumulated around stone walls or wood piles.
  • Create a woodchip or mulch barrier between woodlands and your yard. Place swing sets and other play equipment in mulched areas away from surrounding woodland edges.
  • Most importantly, check yourself, your family, and your pets frequently for ticks.
  • Preventing Lyme disease can also be a community effort: The '4 Poster' Deer Treatment Bait Station is designed to kills ticks that feed on white-tailed deer. This method has shown up to a 98% effectiveness rate on eliminating blacklegged ticks. (American Lyme Disease Foundation).

Tick Removal

To remove ticks safely, use clean, fine point tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out. See here for an illustration and more information.

Contact Us

If you have any health & wellness related questions, please call the Chester County Health Department at 610-344-6225 or the PADOH at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) or visit PA Department of Health.

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