Personal Preparedness Workshop

1. Personal Preparedness Workshop Anytime. Anywhere. Red Cross

2. The Canadian Red Cross • THE RED CROSS MISSION: • To improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world. • Fundamental Principles • Humanity • Impartiality • Neutrality • Independence • Voluntary Service • Unity • Universality

3. Goal of presentation To prepare individuals, families and communities to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours following a disaster

4. Definition of a ‘disaster’ A disaster is a sudden event that occurs unexpectedly and threatens the life, health and living conditions of a community. Environmental disasters are divided into two categories: Human Origin and Natural • Human Origin disasters include: • Biological Disaster: chemical spills or explosions, Hazardous Materials • Industrial or environmental: oil spill which was a result of a train derailment or truck rollover • Armed conflicts: war, terrorism • Natural Disasters include: • Weather or climate related disasters: flood, mud slide, snow storms, tornado, hurricane • Geological Disasters: earthquake, tsunami

5. Responsibility It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to be prepared to look after yourself during a disaster. Your Municipality and Emergency Services will be busy responding to the immediate situation therefore it will be your responsibility to be prepared after a disaster for at least 72 hours

6. Be Prepared “Again and again, studies have shown that people perform better under stress if they think they can handle it...Self-confidence, in other words, can save your life.” Amanda Ripley, The Unthinkable: Who Survives when Disaster Strikes and Why “We are almost always our own first responders because official help cannot arrive quickly enough.” Amanda Ripley, The Unthinkable – Who Survives when Disaster Strikes and why

7. Preparedness: A simple Check list Know your risks Make a plan Prepare emergency kits

8. Know your Risks Environmental: What disasters are likely to occur in your area? Physical: Know the physical and mental abilities of yourself, family and community. How are they prepared? Family: Consider family unit, age, size of your family and other special considerations such as language

9. Major Risks in the greater Toronto area (GTA) • Earthquakes • Fires • Floods • Hazardous Material Incidents • Nuclear • Severe Weather • Tornado • Winter storm

10. Top Canadian Disasters in recent Years 2013 Southern Ontario Ice Storm and Power Outage 2013 Region of Peel and Toronto Floods and Power Outage 2013 Southern Alberta Floods • Slave Lake AB Wild Fires Northern Ontario Forest Fires Goderich ON Tornado 2010 PEI Hurricane Igor Toronto ON Wellesley Apart. Fire 2008 Toronto ON Propane Explosion • Pearson Airport - Lebanon Evacuees • Also Notable • 2001 International 9-11 Tragedy • 1998 Ontario-Quebec-New Brunswick • Ice storm • Peggy’s Cove, NS Swissair Flight 111 • 1977 Mississauga Train Derailment

11. Know your risks As a family.... • What is the number of members in your family? • What are the age groups in your family? • Are you a single parent? • What are the physical and mental abilities of your • family members? • Does a family member require special equipment? • Do you have a family skills inventory? • How well are you prepared at this moment? • Do you practice your plan annually?

12. Make a Plan Work together as a family Know your family needs Prepare for the season Have a list of contacts Prepare for the risks in your area Know how to escape from house quickly Have a meeting place away from the house Make copies of your important documents Review, update and practice plan annually

13. Things to think about • Necessities: medication, glasses, cash, keys mobility aids • Pets: number and type of pets, food, medication, equipment • Utilities: shut off water and electricity in your house • Contacts: pre-plan emergency numbers • Emergency Kits: location and accessibility of kits for everyone • When you are not there: discuss your plan with others such as babysitters

14. Planning for the mobility impaired • Involve network in making emergency plan • Ask network to practice moving special needs equipment • Place emergency wheelchair near evacuation exit • Check if local evacuation shelters are wheelchair accessible Additional items for emergency kits • Tire repair kit • Pair of heavy gloves • Extra deep-cycle battery • Spare walking aid

15. Planning for the hearing and visually impaired • Include braille and/or large print on all emergency supplies & plans • Provide pencil and paper for written communication • Equip smoke alarms with alternative alerting • Familiarize in advance with all escape routes locations of doors/exits Additional items for emergency kits • Extra vision aids • Extra hearing aids • Communicard (CHS)

16. Evacuate • Listen to your radio and/or TV for instructions • Ready items as required • Ensure everyone is ready to go • When announcement is made... GO! • Follow instructions along the route • Watch for hazards along the way • Once out, report you are safe and register with your Municipality or Red Cross If you are asked to evacuate follow the directions

17. Assisting people with special needs • Offer to help and allow the person to identify how best to assist them • Ask permission to touch a person’s assistive device or service animal • Ask if any areas of the body have reduced sensation and if those areas need to be checked for injuries • Never administer food or liquids to an unconscious or unresponsive person

18. Shelter in place • Get indoors and stay there • Lock all windows and outside doors • Depending on the emergency, seek the correct shelter location • Turn off all fans, heating and cooling systems • Bring your pets and supplies with you • Try to select a room with a hard-wired phone

19. Shelter in place • Place wet towels at the base of the door • Using duct tape seal windows / doors • Stay put until you are told it is safe

20. Emergency Kits 72 Hours Evacuation Kit *Grab and Go Kit 72 Hours Shelter in Place Kit Car Kit First Aid Kit Pet Kit Shelter In Place kit Picture Pet Kit Picture

21. After a Disaster • Contact your insurance company • Contact family members, advise you are safe • Listen or read messages from Municipality concerning after disaster services available • Wait for the “all clear” before returning home • Consult professional and reputable experts for repairs

22. Summary of emergency Preparedness Know your risks Make a plan Prepare emergency kits

23. What is the ROLE of the Red Cross in the event of an Emergency/Disaster? We act as an auxiliary to public authorities • We assist government authorities in response to disasters • We act in compliance with established municipal agreements • We work with other non-governmental agencies (i.e. Salvation Army, St. John Ambulance, other NGO’s)

24. As an auxiliary to public authorities The Red Cross Disaster Management (DM) Team will respond to an emergency, declared or otherwise, upon receipt of a call from public officials or the appropriate authority from within the community. The initial services usually provided by the Red Cross involve supporting the registration of affected persons.

25. Emergency social services Emergency Social Services 1) Information (organization and dissemination) • Reception and Information 2) Personal services (emotional support, hygiene products, medical equipment) 3) Lodging and sheltering 4) Food and clothing (through vouchers or coordination of external providers) 5) Registration and family reunification

26. Community Outreach services • Community-Level Disasters • Wide-area or vulnerable persons assessment • Large-scale logistics support • General Auxiliary to Peel Region EM • Potential for response partner coordination • Surge volunteers (RWTC) • Preparedness Activities • Annual exercise participation

27. Red Cross & the GTAA 1) During large scale evacuations Red Cross volunteers work with GTAA staff to provide: • Welcome greeting: water, teddy bear, blanket • Registration & Inquiry: Family Reunification • Community resources: provide referrals for assistance 2) CRC materials stored at the Airport: 200 cots, blankets, hygiene kits Recent Responses:

28. THANK YOU For questions on Red Cross service-delivery in Peel Region during a disaster contact: sarah.oberholzer@redcross.ca