The Jesse Tree Personal Disaster Planning Workshop

The Jesse Tree Personal Disaster Planning Workshop D. Darlene Cass RN Director of Chronic Conditions Management The Jesse Tree P.O. Box 575 Galveston, Texas 77553 409-762-2233 dcass@jessetree.net "A shoot will come up from the stem of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit." Isaiah (11:1)

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Purpose The purpose of this workshop is to provide the information and assistance for each participant to prepare their Personal Disaster Plan.

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Outcome • Participants will prepare their: • Personal Disaster Plan • Emergency Food Supply • Important documents and papers and place in a secure location • Emergency First Aid Kit

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Disaster Merriam Webster Dictionary describes a disaster as a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss or destruction; a sudden or great misfortune or failure

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management More than just Hurricanes • Bioterrorism • Can be easily disseminated or transmitted from person to person; • Have potential result in high mortality rates and have the potential for major public health impact; • Might cause public panic and social disruption; and • Require special action for public health preparedness

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management More than just Hurricanes • Chemical Emergencies People can be exposed to hazardous substances related to the spill by breathing them (air), by swallowing them (food, water), or by touching them (skin). People should avoid close contact to the spill and fumes from any burning oil.

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management More than just Hurricanes • Radiation Emergencies • Mass Causalities Release of radiation that could harm peoples health Include explosions, blasts, bombs….

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management More than just Hurricanes • Natural Disasters and Severe Weather Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, flooding, winter weather, extreme heat, landslides and mudslides, and wildfires

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management More than just Hurricanes • Loss of Electrical power • Personal Emergencies • Accident • House or Apartment Fire

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Shelter in Place Reason to Shelter in Place: Chemical, biological or radiological contaminants have been released accidentally or intentionally into the environment

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Shelter in Place • Close and lock all windows and exterior doors • Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning • Close fire place damper • Go to an interior room above ground level

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Shelter in Place • Go to an interior room with no windows that’s above ground level • Bring your pets with you • Bring your family disaster supplies kit • Bring food and water for your pets • Have a hard wired phone if possible • Cover doors with plastic and duct tape if directed

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Shelter in Place • Cover doors with plastic and duck tape if directed • Listen to your radio or television until you are told it is safe to evacuate • When you are told the emergency is over open doors, windows, turn on the air conditions and go out of doors until the air in the house has been exchanged

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Tornado Facts • Tornado Season is April through July with the peak season in may and June but they can occur at any time.

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Tornado Facts • Tornado Watches and Warnings • Tornado Watch – conditions are conducive to the development of tornadoes in and close to the watch area • Tornado Warning - a tornado has actually been sighted by spotters or indicated on radar and is occurring or imminent in the warning area

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management What should you do? • Frame House • Seek shelter in the lowest level of your home, an inner hallway or internal small room • Stay away from windows • Cover your head with blankets or pillows • Mobile Home • Seek shelter elsewhere

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management What should you do? • If you are outside • Try to get inside into a small space • Avoid gyms, arenas and shopping malls • If you can not get inside, beside a strong structure, lie flat in a ditch or other low lying area and cover your head

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management What should you do? • If you are in a car • Drive to the nearest safe place • If that is not possible due to flying debris • Stay in the car with your seatbelt on • Put your head below the windows and cover your head with a blanket or your arms • If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the highway, exit the car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Hurricane Weather terms • Tropical Depression – a disturbance with a clearly defined low pressure area; high wind speed is 38 mph • Tropical Storm – A distinct low pressure area defined by a counterclockwise rotating circulation with winds of 39 – 73 mph. • Hurricane – Once a tropical storm’s constant wind and speed reaches 74 mph or greater, it is classified as a hurricane.

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Hurricane Warnings and Advisories • Tropical Storm Watch – an alert that a tropical storm may pose a threat within 36 hours. • Tropical Storm Warning – An alert that tropical storm conditions, including sustained winds of 39 – 73 mph are expected in a specific area within 24 hours. • Hurricane Watch – an alert for a specific area that hurricane conditions pose a threat to an area within 36 hours.

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Hurricane Warnings and Advisories • Hurricane Warning – An issued when hurricane conditions (wind 74 mph or greater, or dangerously high water and rough seas) are expected in 24 hours or less. All precautions should be completed immediately. • Evacuation Order – the mayor will authorize the level and the extent of the evacuation from voluntary through mandatory.

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Hurricane Hazards • Storm Surge – is an abnormal rise in sea level 50 – 100 miles wide that sweeps across the coast near where the “eye” of the hurricane makes landfall. • Heavy rain and flooding – torrential rains of 10 inches or more can accompany a hurricane, this is the greatest threat inland. • Tornadoes – tornados add to the destruction caused by a hurricane. • Wind -

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Hurricanes • Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale • Is a wind scale • Does not forecast storm surge, rainfall induced floods or tornados

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Benefits of Preparing for Disasters • Reduce fear, anxiety and losses • Be self sufficient for 3 or more days • Manage medical conditions • Reduce the impact of a disaster

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management What should you do to prepare? • Prepare an evacuation Plan and share it with your family and friends • Prepare a Disaster Kit/Grab and Go Box • Check and update supplies yearly

D. Darlene Cass RN, Director Chronic Conditions Management Begin with a written plan…. • Where will you go? • With whom will you go? • What will you take with you? • How will you stay in touch with others? • When will you return?

Important Documents

Grab and Go Bag/Box

Emergency Supply Kit

Communication…. In the event of an emergency and/or evacuation, The Jesse Tree staff will First Step – Call IT at 409-996-3313 when you evacuate to make them aware of when you are leaving & your destination. Call IT when you get to your destination and report your status within 24 hours after evacuating, And use your Jesse Tree email to stay in touch. Page 31 Ted Hanley, Executive Director

Daily Conference Calls… The Jesse Tree staff will meet by conference call daily at Noon and 6PM by calling the Conference Bridge Line at the following number: Dial (218)-486-1600 Pass code: 539658 Follow the instructions on the phone. Page 32 Ted Hanley, Executive Director

Assigned IT Equipment… The Jesse Tree staff will be responsible for their assigned computer equipment and are asked to take all equipment (laptop, power cords, air cards, printers, etc.) with them during the evacuation and keep them safe (keep them dry, out of the heat, away from theft). Page 33 Ted Hanley, Executive Director

Unassigned Equipment… We will need volunteers to help with preparing the unassigned equipment – copiers, desktops, printer shop, phone system, routers, etc. to be either stored safely at their existing location or placed in vehicles leaving the island. Page 34 Ted Hanley, Executive Director

Ted Hanley, Executive Director How to go and What to take… • Each Jesse Tree vehicle needs a driver and will have a list of all items that will be placed in it for evacuation. Are you or your family willing to drive a vehicle? • Do you have additional vehicles or a boat that needs a plan?

Ted Hanley, Executive Director Equipment and Supplies… • Make a list of all equipment/supplies: • Don’t forget the cell-phone charger! • Ink? Paper? Other supplies? Put everything in one, labeled box for ease in finding it on the road. Can you find boxes that fit and free up as much space as possible?

Ted Hanley, Executive Director Applying for Emergency Assistance • Take the time to complete a Jesse Tree electronic application – it contains all the personal information you will need in the event of a disaster. It can be printed or accessed from any internet accessible place. It is confidential – only you choose with whom to share the information…

The Jesse Tree Personal Disaster Planning Workshop