Emergency Alert System       FEMA & SEMA Disaster Assistance Information

Disasters do occur. We live in an area that is prone to tornadoes.  The New Madrid earthquake produced the most violent series of earthquakes in North America with its epicenter about 20 miles from here.  The late seventies saw severe winter weather in this area.   Basic services were next to impossible to obtain because of blocked roads.  Numerous power outages occurred because of the demand for heat.  Every day trucks and trains carry thousands of tons of hazardous material through this area.  These are just a few of the reasons why you need to have an emergency plan in your home, and why the City of Sikeston, Department of Public Safety has a disaster plan to assist you. 

The information on this web page has been made available so that the citizens of Sikeston and the surrounding area may have a guide to assist them in planning for an emergency and coping with that emergency after it occurs.  This is not meant to replace a common sense approach to dealing with specific problems.  However, it is meant to give you a base upon which you can prepare for your specific needs.  It also is meant to give you alternatives to assist you in your daily living if and when the normal methods are no longer available.  This information, as a handbook, is also available to download and print for future reference or to share with family members and friends.

Citizen Disaster Handbook 517KB

Members of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety are committed to the health and welfare of its citizens.  The information contained on this web page and in the handbook is based upon our experiences of what went right and what went wrong in prior disasters as well as pulling from the experiences of those persons that have experienced similar situations in other parts of the country.

Please feel free to copy or print this information and use it as a guide to develop an emergency plan for you and your family.  Keep it in a place that you will be able to readily find it.  Do not wait until the disaster occurs.  Updates will be posted from time to time on this web site.   Please keep your plan up to date.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Click on the questions below to jump to the answer.

What type of disasters could occur in Sikeston?
Why should I prepare for a disaster?
Will our police and fire department not be there for us?
How do I prepare?
What should I store?
How about my vehicle. Should I have supplies in it?

MAKE YOUR HOME SAFE

AFTER AN EVENT

Should I stay or leave my home?
If I am told to evacuate, where will I go?
What if the authorities do not give me instructions on how to leave?
Is there anything else I need to do?
What if the bridges are out?
Can I do anything to make my home safer?
What if I am outside?
What if I am in my car?
What about the lake?
Are there any general safety rules to remember about earthquakes?
How about water and gas lines?
Will my phones work?
How do I get help if my phones do not work?
Where are the pre-designated areas?

What type of disasters could occur in Sikeston?
Sikeston is prone to the natural disasters of tornadoes, earthquakes, winter storms and localized flooding.  The proximity of I-55, I-57 and Highway 60, as well as the railway increase the risk for man-made disasters such as hazardous material spills, fire and explosion due to the materials that are transported.   All citizens of the United States are at risk for a terrorist attack with Sikeston being more at risk because of the infrastructure that is vital to the Midwest.

Why should I prepare for a disaster?
The chaos and suffering of the citizens of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina is a prime example of citizens not being prepared. Unlike Hurricane Katrina, however, we will not have two or three days advanced notice prior to a disaster striking.  At most, we will get a few hours for a tornado or flood.  There will be no advance notice in the event of an earthquake.  Even with the best preventive plans, there are those disasters in which the governments will be reactionary.   It is better to be self-sufficient for three to five  days and only need supplies for one, rather than not to prepare and get no help for two or three days, as we saw in New Orleans.

Will our police and fire department not be there for us?
The Sikeston Department of Public Safety has a response plan in place that will utilize on duty and off

duty officers to perform the emergency services that are necessary.  There is a compliment of officers on duty to respond to fire and police emergency calls that normally occur.  However, a disaster, such as an earthquake, will quickly overwhelm the ability of the department to readily respond with its on duty assignment.  In addition, it is not known how many of its off duty officers may be injured or otherwise unable to come to work. 

There are numerous reasons why that a rapid emergency response, or even non-emergency response may be delayed.  It is not possible to know what extent the roads may be damaged, blocked by power lines, trees or other debris.  Fire or police stations could be damaged, hindering the response of assigned equipment or personnel. 

The state and federal governments have response plans in place.  However, it takes time for them to respond once they have been notified.  In addition, they are responsible for a much greater area and Sikeston may or may not be its top priority. 

Therefore, it is prudent that people should prepare themselves to be self-sufficient for at least three to five days.  This includes stock-piling food, water, clothes, first-aid items and other essentials so that you and your family will not have to depend upon outside assistance that may not be available.  It also means that you must remember to rotate those items that have an expiration date, such as food and water.

How do I prepare?
Review the needs of your family.  Get the supplies that your family will need and put them in a kit.  Designate a storage area in your home that is out of the way, but is in a place that you will remember where the kit is, and remember to check on it.   Make sure that you have enough supplies for at least three days and preferably five.

What should I store?
You should make an emergency kit.  A trash can with a lid, plastic totes or similar water proof, insect resistant and rodent proof container should be used.  Ideally, it should be large enough to store all of your items.  However, space limitations may require you to have two smaller containers.  Please review the following list and make your emergency kit based on these suggestions.

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How about my vehicle, should I have supplies in it?
You should keep supplies that will help you in case you get stranded on the roadside.  You should keep jumper cables, flares and seasonal items such as blankets.  Make sure that you have a good flashlight with extra batteries.  It is not safe to carry extra gasoline cans in your car. Do not let your gas tank get below one-half.   Make sure that your home emergency kit is ready and can be loaded into your car.

Should I stay or leave my home?
Your family plan should include provisions that include staying in your home, as well as leaving. City of Sikeston officials will make the decision to issue an evacuation order, or to shelter-in-place, that is, remain in your home.   This order will be issued via the communication means available, which includes; radio, cable television, weather warning sirens, loud speakers on police cars or other available means.  These decisions are made with the best interest of the citizens.  Please abide by these requests. 

If I am told to evacuate, where will I go?
Every effort will be made by the local authorities to have a safe and orderly evacuation route to a safe area as early as possible.  This may be to a shelter located in the city, or it may be to a city or town away from the affected areas.  Once this information is broadcast, please follow the instructions.  Do not take short cuts, or follow routes that are not part of the designated route.  This will only congest traffic and will delay your departure.  You could face criminal penalties.

What if the authorities do not give me instructions on how to leave?
If for some reason the authorities cannot give you instructions concerning evacuation and it is necessary to leave, you must make this decision on your own.  First of all, determine where you are going, how you will get there and what you will need to take with you.  Choose several different destinations in various directions. 

Get maps and determine your routes and alternate routes.  This is best determined prior to an emergency.  It can be part of your emergency kit, or kept in an area that is easily accessible.  Write down your destinations and the directions you are going to travel, as well as the roads and alternate roads you plan on taking.  This may save precious time should you need to leave in a hurry.  It will also help to keep you from becoming overwhelmed while trying to cope with the direct effects of the disaster and get your family organized to evacuate.  This will be especially true if you cannot locate all of your family members.

If you own a car, do not let the tank get below one-half of a tank. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately, following the instructions of the authorities.  If you do not own a car, attempt to make arrangements with a neighbor for a ride.

Is there anything else I need to do?
You should try to tell someone that you can trust, where you are going.  Leave the information on the kitchen table, as previously written.  Turn off the water, gas and electricity to your home, if so instructed.  Take your emergency kit with you.  Lock your home.

What if the bridges are out?
If you were not a casualty of the event, this is the time to not become one.  If you are not sure if a bridge is safe to cross, do not cross it.  The newer bridges are built to seismic standards.  However, the older bridges are not.  If the bridge appears to be separated from the approach, or appears damaged, stay off.  Choose an alternate route. 

If water is running over the roadway, do not guess at its depth.  If the water is deep enough that you cannot see the road, it is too deep to drive through, even if you have a four-wheel drive.  Remember that rescue crews may be delayed in assisting you, as they are going to be assigned to search and rescue operations in and around the City.

I have my emergency kit and my emergency plan ready. Can I do anything to make my home safer?
The best way to protect yourself is to make your home safe from a natural disaster.  Tornadoes and earthquakes are the two most severe threats that we face in the Sikeston area.  It is best to make your home as safe as possible from these threats.

What if I am outside?
If you are outside, move away from buildings, trees, street lights, power poles and lines.  Drop to the ground.   Do not leave until the shaking stops.

Are there any general safety rules to remember about earthquakes?
Most of it is common sense.  Remember that earthquakes makes things fall, so your greatest hazard will be from falling objects.  A few simple rules to remember are: 

• Move away from windows.
• Do not use elevators for any reason.
• Stay indoors.
• If you do leave a building, move away from it as quickly as possible. 
• Do not leave your place until the shaking stops.
• Do not use candles, matches, cigarette lighters or open flames due to gas leaks.

How about water and gas lines?
These lines are buried underground.  Both can be dangerous. When water is escaping under pressure it can undermine streets and sidewalks.  The surface may look solid, but can give way with no warning with the additional weight of a car, or even a person.  If you know that there is a water leak in an area, find a different route.  Also, keep a water shut-off wrench in your home.  It can save additional damage and inconvenience by allowing you to shut the water off, should a rupture occur inside or under your home. 

Gas lines present another problem.  A gas leak will create a fire and an explosion hazard far away from the leak site.  Natural gas without the odorant added, cannot be smelled, making it imperative that people presume gas is present.  It is essential that all pilot lights be turned off, the gas turned off and no open flames used until the authorities have checked for leaks.

Will my phones work?
Your home telephone may or may not work.  Whether your home phone works or not is dependant upon many factors, including the continuity of the wires from the telephone switch office to your home, and the ability for the telephone switching office to receive and send the information that is meant for your phone. 

If your home phone does work, use it sparingly, as the phone system will probably be taxed to its capacity. Limit your calls to those which are necessary. 

Your cell phone does not depend upon a direct wired connection.   If the towers and transmitters are intact your cell phone should work.  However, like wired phones, the system has a capacity.  When it is reached it locks up the system.  Limit your calls to only those which are necessary.  Do not use your cell phone for chit chat.

How do I get help if my phones do not work?
First of all, in the event of a disaster, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety will be conducting a methodical search of those areas that are affected.  If you are trapped, or otherwise not able to get out, give first aid to those that need it.  Make yourself as comfortable as possible, and wait for help.  Check your phones periodically to see if service has been restored. 

Public Safety facilities will be staffed with personnel should city wide phone services be incapacitated. Should those buildings be damaged or not inhabitable, the next level of staging will occur at our public school facilities.  You may have to walk or send runners to these locations to get help.  These are pre- designated areas and maybe changed if they pose a danger or exposure to the disaster event. 

The fire trucks, police cars and officers are equipped with radios. They will help you or call for assistance, if your needs are beyond their capabilities. Please do not ask them to make personal radio transmissions that are not an emergency.

Being safe in a disaster usually depends upon each individual keeping calm and using a common-sense approach to actions.  Be prepared to take care of yourself and your neighbors.  Do not expect help for at least three to five days.  Follow any instructions that are given to you.  Most of all, be helpful to each other. 

Where are the pre-designated areas?
The pre-designated areas are the existing city buildings, including the three fire stations, public safety headquarters and city hall. (See map below) However, it is possible that any of these buildings could be damaged beyond use.  If this should occur, alternate location(s), will be announced using the available media.

The pre-staged areas are: 

• Fire Station 1 - 301 N. West St.

• DPS Headquarters - 215 N. New Madrid

• City Hall - 105 E. Center

• Fire station 2 - 506 N. Main

• Fire Station 3 - 2001 Ables Rd.

Click image to view
DPS Beat Map

Click image to view
Pre Designated Areas