2280 American Legion Blvd
Mountain Home, ID 83647
Mountain Home, ID 83647
Carol Killian
(208) 590-0967
[email protected]
To signup for AlertSense, click on the image above.
AlertSense is a free emergency notification service provided to all residents within Elmore County that will notify you of emergency information through phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media. The system will be used to keep you informed of local events that may immediately impact your safety.
Being prepared can save lives, reduce injuries, and minimize property damage. Use this guide to understand local risks, build your family plan, and assemble your emergency kits.
The Risk: Idaho ranks 5th highest in the nation for earthquake risk and has experienced two of the largest continental U.S. quakes in the last 50 years.
The Challenge: Many local structures are vulnerable, and residents are often unaware of the risk. We cannot predict them, but we can prepare for them.
River Flooding: The South Fork of the Boise River reaches flood stage roughly once every 5 years. Minor flooding frequently occurs between the Featherville and Pine bridges.
Flash Floods: Heavy rain and rapid snowmelt on Elmore County’s numerous wildfire burn scars can cause sudden, dangerous flash floods.
Learn more at NOAA Flood Safety.
Severe storms can bring dangerous lightning, hail, and high winds.
Secondary Hazards: Be prepared for power outages, flash floods, and hazardous driving conditions.
The Risk: Dangerous materials and agricultural chemicals are transported daily through Elmore County via rail and the freeway. There are also approximately 25 facilities within the county that store these materials.
The Risk: In the last decade, Elmore County has suffered six major wildland fires, destroying thousands of acres. One came perilously close to Mountain Home.
Action Item: Homeowners are strongly urged to maintain a defensible space (cleared vegetation) around their properties.
Research the specific risks facing your neighborhood.
Check the emergency plans at your workplace, your children’s school, or daycare.
Contact local animal facilities to make arrangements for pets before a disaster strikes.
Meet up: Choose two meeting places:
Right outside your home (for fires).
Outside your neighborhood (if you cannot return home).
Out-of-State Contact: Designate one out-of-state relative or friend as your “family contact.” During disasters, long-distance calls are often easier to make than local ones. Ensure everyone has their number.
Evacuation Plan: Plan your routes and decide what to do with pets (note: public shelters often cannot accept animals).
Emergency Info: Post emergency numbers visibly in your home. Teach children how and when to call 911.
Utilities: Find your main water, gas, and electricity shut-off valves. Teach older family members how to turn them off. (Note: If you turn off your gas, only a professional can turn it back on).
Safety Gear: Install smoke detectors on every floor. Keep a fire extinguisher handy and teach family members how to use it.
Home Setup: Identify the safest room in your house for each type of hazard, and chart two escape routes from every room.
Every Month: Test your smoke detectors.
Every 6 Months: Quiz your children, run evacuation drills, and rotate your stored food and water supplies.
Every Year: Change smoke detector batteries and service your fire extinguishers.
Once a year, inspect your home for items that could move, fall, break, or catch fire during a disaster:
Secure water heaters by strapping them to wall studs.
Anchor heavy bookshelves and tall furniture to the wall.
Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves.
Hang heavy mirrors and pictures away from beds.
Store pesticides, weed killers, and flammables away from heat sources and off the ground.
⚠️ IF TOLD TO EVACUATE, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.⚠️
Pack & Protect: Grab your Disaster Supplies Kit, wear sturdy shoes, and lock your home.
Follow Orders: Use designated travel routes. Do not use shortcuts or cross barricades.
Utilities: If time permits, shut off your water, gas, and electricity before leaving.
Communicate: Let your family contact know when you left and where you are going.
Disasters disrupt routine, causing severe anxiety in children. They are most afraid that the event will happen again, they will be separated from you, or someone will be hurt.
How to help:
Stay Calm: Children look to adults for stability. Your calm reaction will help them cope.
Involve Them: Include children in your preparedness drills to build their confidence.
Teach Safety: Ensure they know what smoke alarms sound like, how to call 911, and have them memorize their full name, address, and phone number.
Tip: If a child is too young to memorize info, place an emergency ID card in their pocket.
Check for sparks or the smell of burning insulation. If you find damage, shut off the power at the main breaker panel.
Never touch downed power lines. Treat all downed lines as live and stay far away.
Only shut off your gas if you smell gas or hear a leaking hiss.
To turn it off: Use a wrench to rotate the shut-off valve 1/4 turn so the lever is cross-wise (perpendicular) to the pipe.
Main water supplies may become cut off or contaminated. Rely on your pre-stored emergency water supply.
When a disaster strikes, you may need to survive on your own for several days. A well-stocked disaster supplies kit contains the essentials your household will need—including water, food, tools, and personal items. For a printable, comprehensive checklist, you can also visit the FEMA.gov Emergency Supply List.
🧳 Pack Smart: Keep your supplies in an easy-to-carry container, such as a backpack, a suitcase with wheels, or a clean, covered plastic bin. Store it in a convenient spot that everyone in the family knows about.
Keep a Backup: Pack a smaller, mini-version of this kit to keep in the trunk of your car.
Stay Fresh: Refresh your stored water and rotate your food supply every 6 months.
Review Annually: Once a year, rethink your family’s needs. Swap out expired batteries, update clothing sizes, and check your medical supplies.
Ask Your Doctor: Speak with your physician or pharmacist about how to safely store a backup supply of crucial prescription medications.
Go Airtight: Keep food, clothing, and documents inside zip-close, airtight plastic bags to protect them from moisture and pests.
How much: Store at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day (2 quarts for drinking, 2 quarts for food prep and sanitation).
Duration: Keep a minimum 3-day supply for every family member. Note: Children, nursing mothers, and the elderly may require more.
Containers: Use food-grade, UV-resistant plastic containers (polyethylene-based plastic is best) or metallized bags. You can also freeze water in plastic containers.
[ ] Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
[ ] A manual can opener
[ ] High-energy foods (protein bars, fruit bars, granola)
[ ] Dry cereal, peanut butter, and dried fruit
[ ] Canned juices and non-perishable pasteurized milk
[ ] Infant formula and baby food (if needed)
[ ] Pet food and extra water for your animals
[ ] Comfort or stress foods (comforting snacks)
[ ] Flashlight with extra batteries
[ ] Hand-cranked radio OR a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alerts
[ ] Fire extinguisher
[ ] Whistle (to signal for help)
[ ] Local paper maps
[ ] Pliers, a wrench (for utilities), and duct tape
[ ] Waterproof matches or a lighter in a waterproof container
[ ] Emergency signal flares
[ ] Paper plates, cups, and plastic utensils
[ ] Toilet paper
[ ] Soap, hand sanitizer, and personal hygiene items
[ ] Feminine supplies
[ ] Plastic garbage bags, ties, and a plastic bucket with a lid (for an emergency toilet)
[ ] Disinfectant and household chlorine bleach
[ ] At least one complete change of clothing and sturdy footwear per person
[ ] Blankets or sleeping bags for everyone
For Adults: Vital daily prescription medications and an extra pair of eyeglasses.
For Babies: Diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, and any infant medications.
Important Documents: Copies of IDs, insurance policies, bank records, and medical cards stored in a waterproof, portable bag.