Disaster Preparedness 101

1. Disaster Preparedness 101 Staff Development Day March 23, 2005

2. Why Prepare?

3. Reduce fear, anxiety and losses • Reduce the impact • Avoid danger

4. The Basics Know how to respond to: Severe weather or any disaster that occurs Fires Floods Earthquakes Terrorism Mudslides

5. Self Sufficiency • Three days Shelter first aid food water sanitation

6. Protect yourself and your family in the event of an emergency by knowing what to do before, during and after an event.

7. Before • Know the risks and dangers • Purchase additional insurance • Develop plans for what to do • Assemble a disaster supplies kit • Volunteer to help others

8. During • Put your plan into action • Help others • Follow advice of emergency officials

9. After • Repair damage • Take steps to prevent or reduce future loss • Replenish disaster supplies.

10. Hazards – Evaluate hazards • Natural Hazards • Technological Hazards • Terrorism

11. Natural Hazards • Floods • Thunderstorms & Lighting • Tornadoes • Extreme Heat • Earthquakes • Wildfires

18. Terrorism • Explosions • Biological Threats • Chemical Threats • Nuclear Threats • Radiological Dispersion device

21. Technological Hazards • Hazardous Materials Incidents • Nuclear Power Plants

22. Three Ways to Minimize Radiation Exposure Time, Distance, and Shielding. • Time- Most radioactivity loses its strength fairly quickly. Limiting the time spent near the source of radiation reduces the amount of radiation exposure you will receive. Following an accident, local authorities will monitor any release of radiation and determine the level of protective actions and when the threat has passed. • Distance- The more distance between you and the source of the radiation, the less radiation you will receive. In the most serious nuclear power plant accident, local officials will likely call for an evacuation, thereby increasing the distance between you and the radiation. • Shielding- Like distance, the more heavy, dense materials between you and the source of the radiation, the better. This is why local officials could advise you to remain indoors if an accident occurs. In some cases, the walls in your home or workplace would be sufficient shielding to protect you for a short period of time.

23. Evacuating Yourself & Family • Time critical • More common than you realize • Transportation and industrial accidents • Fire and Floods • Hurricanes

24. Always: Keep a full tank of gas in your car Make transportation arrangements Listen to portable radio and follow directions Gather your family and go Follow recommended routes Be alert for washed-out roads Stay away from downed power lines If time permits: Gather your disaster kit Wear sturdy shoes and clothing that provides some protection Secure your Home Let others know where you are going Evacuation Guidelines

25. Plans • Community Plan • School Emergency Plan • Workplace Plan • Family Plan

26. Family Plan • Escape routes • Family communications • Utility shut-off and safety • Insurance and vital records • Special needs • Caring for animals • Safety skills

27. Escape Routes • Plan two escape routes from each room • Practice with your children • Establish a place to meet

28. Family Communications • How will you communicate • Complete a contact card for each family member • Complete a family Communications Plan

29. Utility Safety • Natural Gas (Caution – If you turn off the gas for any reas, a qualified professional must turn it back on. NEVER attemt to turn the gas back on yourself) • Water • Electricity

30. Gas How to Shut Off Your Gas  Turn off your gas meter ONLY if you smell gas or hear the hissing sound of gas escaping. It's important to know exactly where your gas meter is located , and how to shut it off in case of emergencies

32. Water • Water Department shutoff wheel or lever operated Inside water shutoff • The Water Department shutoff cuts off the supply of water to the entire house.  The inside water shutoff also cuts off supply to the home except for the supply of water for the fire sprinklers if the home is equipped with them.

33. LOCATION OF WATER SHUTOFFS:

34. Electricity How to Shut Off Your Electricity • It is important to know where all your home’s electrical panels are located and how to turn the electricity off in case of emergency. (There may be more than one panel.) • Your home may be equipped with fuses or circuit breakers. • If your house has fuses, you will find a knife switch handle or pullout fuse that should be marked "MAIN." • If your home has circuit breakers, you may need to open the metal door of the breaker box to reveal the circuit breakers (never remove the metal cover). The main circuit breaker should be clearly marked showing “ON” and “OFF” positions. • Remove all the small fuses or turn off all the small breakers first, then shut off the “MAIN." • If you have any sub-electrical panels next to the main fuse box or breaker panel or in other parts of the home, in an emergency shut them off, too. Shorts can sometimes develop that cause a circuit to bypass the breaker or fuse.

35. Insurance & Vital Records • Review existing policies • Flood insurance • Inventory Home Possessions http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/pdf_pubs/houseinv.pdf

36. Special Needs • Hearing impaired • Mobility impaired • Single working parent • Non-English speaking persons • People without vehicles • People with special dietary needs

37. Planning for Special needs • Create a network of support • Discuss your needs with employer • Keep specialized items ready • Make provisions for medications that requires refrigeration • Keep a list of the type and model numbers of the medical devices you require

38. Plan for pets disaster needs by: Identifying shelter Gathering pet supplies Ensuring your pet has proper ID Providing a pet carrier and leash Caring for Animals

39. Sheltering your pet • Call your local animal shelter or animal control office to get advice and information • Keep veterinary records to prove vaccinations are current • Find out which local hotels and motels allow pets and where pet boarding facilities are located

40. Guidelines for Large animals • Ensures that animals have some form of identification • Evacuate animals whenever possible. • Make available vehicles and trailers • Ensure that destinations have food , water

41. Safety Skills • Learn first aid • Learn CPR • Learn how to use a fire extinguisher

42. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit

43. Water How much? 1 gallon per day per person Safest and most reliable source of emergency water is commercially bottled water.

44. Food • Avoid foods that make you thirsty • Stock canned foods that do not require refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation • Include special dietary needs

45. Basic Disaster Supplies Kit • Three-day supply of non-perishable food • Three-day supply of water • Portable, battery –powered radio or tv (extra batteries) • Flashlight (extra batteries) • First aid kit and manual • Sanitation and hygiene items • Matches • Whistle • Extra clothing • Kitchen accessories • Photocopies of credit and id cards • cash • Special needs: medications, eye glasses • Infant needs: formula, diapers, bottles and pacifiers • Other items to meet your unique family needs

46. Maintaining Your Disaster Supplies • Keep canned foods in dry place where the temperature is cool • Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers • Throw out any canned food that becomes swollen, dented or corroded • Use foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies • Change stored food and water supplies every 6 months • RE-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family needs change. • Keep items in airtight plastic bags, put entire kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers

48. Palomar Plans • Based on SEMS, NIMS INCIDENT Command systems

49. Org Chart

50. Evacuation Sites