Arlington County ACS-RACES Operator Type III Annual Recertification Unit 1

Arlington County ACS-RACESOperator Type III Annual RecertificationUnit 1 Disaster Survival Skills for the Urban Environment 1

OBJECTIVES • Why teach “survival” in the city? • Catastrophes vs. disasters • This is about your SURVIVAL, not volunteering • Priorities for human survival • Break-out sessions: • Shelter construction • Fire making • Signaling • Equipment and supplies • Social implications of disasters • Personal security concerns 2

“Disaster ” versus “Catastrophe” • Disasters are short term • “Make do for 3-4 days until help arrives…” • Catastrophic events are long term • Katrina-scale hurricane, tsunami, earthquake • Major terror attack, nuclear detonation, dirty bomb • No help is coming soon, “you are on your own” • Why? • Complete loss of civil infrastructure • Minimal or no police, fire or EMS response • No electricity, municipal water, communications • Transport of fuel / food is severely impaired • Public safety agencies will be overwhelmed • Recovery is long term (over 30 days) 3

What the military survival schools teach:Seven Priorities For Survival:“Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst” • Positive mental attitude • First Aid / Sanitation • Shelter • Signaling • Fire • Water • Food http://www.equipped.com/fm21-76.htm 4

Positive Mental AttitudeSituational awareness, basic knowledge and a “survivor’s mindset” enable you to cope effectively • STOP • Calm down, and size up your situation… • THINK • Anticipate which hazards are most likely • Take stock of materials and resources around you • OBSERVE • Orient yourself to your surroundings • PLAN • Select equipment and supplies appropriately • ACT! • Execute the plan, evaluate progress, adjust, go on. 5

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Have an evacuation kit ready at all times • Don't presume that a disaster will be short-term • Pack essentials first, then consider comfort items • In real emergences, forget last-minute purchases • Plan for more supplies than you “think” you may need • Inspect / renew your supplies each spring and fall • Provide entertainment for young children. 6

WHEN “IT” HITS THE FAN” Use these six steps in problem solving • Size Up ...your Situation • Determine...Objectives (stay or evacuate?) • Identify ...Resources (either stored supplies or salvaged materials from your surroundings) • Evaluate…Options (use the safest way) • Build...an action Plan (use your head) • Take...Action • re-evaluate your action plan, adapt, improvise and overcome! 7

FIRST AID AND SANITATION • Maintain personal and family health • Prompt treatment reduces infection risk • Sanitation reduces risk of disease vectors • Water borne illnesses, diarrhea • Major cause of dehydration • Increases your survivability! 8

Disaster Injury Risk Factors • Tool / equipment hazards, risk of hand, eye, head injuries, electric shock, chemical burns • Human factors, stress / fatigue • Structural instability • Trauma risk, falls, building collapse potential • Terrain, loose rock, fallen limbs, wet or insecure footing, risk of falls, puncture wounds and lacerations from debris. 9

Disaster Contamination • Stagnant surface water • Mosquito breeding • Contaminated flood waters • Sewage treatment system overflow • Petroleum, industrial, agricultural chemical contamination • Airborne contaminant plumes • Smoke, dust, toxic gases, • or radioactive fallout. 10

SHELTER • Protection from the elements • Wind and rain resistant • Insulation from cold 11

The “Stay or Evacuate” DecisionIf evacuation is not mandatory, the same safety rules for entering a structure apply to using your home as shelter DO NOT OCCUPY IF: • There is structural damage (6 sides of the “box” are not plumb) • Utilities cannot be controlled • Structure was damaged in a fire DO NOT occupy a floor that has been flooded, mold grows fast! 12

EVACUATION PLANNING • It’s usually best to relocate with friends or relatives who live outside of the affected area • Don't rely on government-run shelters • They are an “option of last resort” for those unable to evacuate • Evacuation route selection is important • Make sure your vehicle can carry essentials • A huge “bug-out” vehicle is a handicap on crowded roads • It uses more fuel, which may be expensive / scarce in an emergency. • Don't plan on fuel being available en route • In normal times always keep your gas tank at least half full • Upon warning an event is imminent, conserve fuel, keep tank ¾ full • Carry extra fuel containers outside the vehicle 13

FROM NATIONAL THREAT SCENARIONuclear Detonation – 10-Kiloton Improvised Nuclear Devicehttp://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/21872/DayAfterWorkshopReport.pdf • An attack may: • be single or up to a dozen detonations • - on specific or random targets. • be an act of a non-state • -, i.e. a terrorist group such as Al Qaeda. • be threatened to trigger a political result, • - bend will of the people. • involve either a detonation (fission/fusion) • - or release via a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) • occur all in one attack • – or recur over a period of weeks, months, years.

LOW YIELD WEAPON EFECTS • Contamination from a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) would cover up to a few hundred acres with low-level radioactive material; http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/pdf/dirtybombs.pdf • A nuclear detonation would affect large areas (10-100 sq. miles) damaged by direct effects and 100s to 1,000s of sq. miles with radioactive fallout. http://www.nti.org/e_research/cnwm/overview/technical3.asp?print=true • Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) – a terrorist attack would most likely be a small device <10 kilotons yield, EMP effect of a ground burst would be mostly within the Moderate Damage Radius, but also propagated by conductors such as power and telephone lines, railroad tracks, pipelines, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse

EMP Precautions • Disconnect electronics from conductors (AC mains and antennas) • Store small solid-state electronicshaving Field Effect Transistors (FET) or other integrated circuits (IC) in a Faraday Cage (an unplugged microwave oven) • Construct EMP-resistant containers constructed with a continuously sealed metal barrier (foil covered cardboard boxes) • Most susceptible to EMP damage are automobiles with onboard "computers" which control essential functions.

EVACUATION • Feasible only if all personnel can evacuate before fallout contamination arrives and; • Essential functions for Continuity of Operations are transferred to an alternate facility • Affected area would have to be small and warning time adequate to execute the evacuation • Detonation effects (blast/thermal/EMP) will likely impede evacuation • Evacuees may be exposed and/or contaminated.

Evacuate or Stay Decision?Conclusion from FEMA Urban-Rural Evacuation State Planners WorkshopSept. 2006 Given ● Population of the DC Metro area ● Propensity to self-evacuate, overwhelmingly by automobile ● Wide distribution of evacuation destinations, ● Perceived vulnerability to terror attack, and anticipation of multiple attacks Result: ● A large-scale, chaotic mass self-evacuation should be anticipated.

SHELTER IN PLACE • Critical facilities that cannot evacuate (hospitals, EOCs) must continue to operate • Necessary if fallout/contamination would arrive before evacuation can be completed • Fallout Shelters will be needed to protect against high level radiation/detonation • Shelter-in-place (not necessarily Fallout Shelter) near RDD/very low level • Shelter stay may range from a few days to 2 weeks. • Authorities outside affected area can organize rescue/evacuation effort • Shelter occupants may be exposed and/or contaminated.

SHELTER IN PLACE • Necessary if operations can not be transferred or if staff, patients or clients cannot evacuate • Necessary if needed to support operations of other response agencies • Must have Radiological Monitoring & Exposure Control capabilities • Critical Facilities may be used to shelter families of the staff • Critical Facilities will not be used to shelter the general public.

DECONTAMINATION after a flood or attackStart immediately, even if you don’t know what the agent is. • Sandia decontamination foam (US Patent 6,566,574 B1) sold as Scott's Liquid Gold Mold Control 500 in hardware stores. • Is effective against most chemical and biological agents, including nerve, blister, anthrax, SARS, Norwalk, avian and common flu. • Widely used for hospital /hotel sanitization mold remediation in commercial buildings, cleaning / neutralizing agricultural sprayers. • Moderate cost, about $30 at Home Depot. http://www.sandia.gov/news/resources/releases/2007/moldcontrol.html

EXPEDIENT FIELD DECONTAMINATIONif you are contaminated: • Remove everything, including jewelry • Cut off clothing normally removed over the head • Place contaminated clothing in plastic bag, tie closed • Wash your hands before using them to shower • Flush entire body with cool water • Blot dry with absorbent cloth • Put on clean clothes • Avoid use of affected areas, to prevent re-exposure • If professional help arrives, report to responders for thorough decontamination and medical assessment.

NUCLEAR ATTACK ISSUES • Structural damage to shelter from nearby detonation • Fire in the shelter • Dangerously high radiation levels • Severely high temperatures and humidity • Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide imbalance in the shelter • Depletion of essential supplies • Disease and injury • Unrest, anxiety, crime or defiance of order or authority

Substantial barriers offer best protection Time - Fallout radiation intensity decays rapidly; 90% in just the first 7 hours. The less time you spend in a radiation field, the less dose received. Distance - The farther you are from a source, the less dose you receive. Shielding - Denser (heavier, massive) materials absorb more radiation. Greater thickness of any given material absorbs more radiation.

Protection Factors & Mass of Materials *PF = “Protection Factor” refers to the ratio between the radiation dose rate of the OUTSIDE to that INSIDE the shelter, for instance a PF = 10 means that the inside dose rate is 1/10th the outside rate. How Much Protection? PF* LeadSteelConcrete EarthWater Wood 2 .3"" .7" 2.0" 3.3" 5" 9" 4 .5" 1.5" 5.0" 7.0" 10" 15" 8 1.0" 2.0" 6.5" 10.0" 15" 27" 16 1.2" 3.0" 9.0" 14.0" 20" 3 ft 32 1.5" 4.0" 12.0" 15.0" 2 ft 4 ft 64 2.0" 4.2" 13.2" 19.8" 2.5ft 4.5 ft 128 2.1" 5.0" 15.0" 2 ft 3 ft 5 ft 1000 3.0" 7.0" 22.0" 33.0" 4 ft - 2000 3.3" 7.7" 2 ft 3 ft 4.5 ft - Outside radiation, divided by the Protection Factor, is reduced in proportion. For example, if the outside radiation rate is 1,000 R/hr, a person shielded by 3 ft. of earth would receive a dose rate of .5 R/hr. but a person shielded by 1 ft of earth would receive about 10 R/hr.

IMPROVE HOME FALLOUT PROTECTIONIncrease shielding by: 1) Plan / improvise vents, ventilation & 2 entrances. 2) Add wooden shoring supports below each story. 3) Add up to 12” maximum dirt on upper floors/roof. 4) Cover window opening with plywood sheeting. 5) Pile dirt to ceiling height along outside walls & windows.

Sheltering at Home During an EmergencyFor using a building without working utilities as shelter • Exhaust– candles, camp stoves, lanterns, generators, heaters, charcoal grills, all generate carbon monoxide and must not be used indoors! • Open flame – above ignition sources must never be left unattended! • Fuel – most of the above require flammable fuels to operate, which must be stored outdoors. • Use Fire Marshal approved fuel containers 14

Generator Safety Tips From the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/portgen.pdf • Carbon monoxide hazard! • Never use indoors or in attached garages! • Set up OUTDOORS in well ventilated, dry area • Away from open windows or HVAC air intakes • Under a canopy, open shed or carport • Electrocution Hazard! • Ground both the generator and equipment! • Plug only individual devices into generator • DO NOT connect into household AC! • UL-rated cords of gage adequate for load • Explosion / fire hazard! • Fuel vapors traveling along the ground can be ignited by switching equipment or appliance pilot lights!

Improvised Emergency SheltersAs in all real estate, most important is location: • Avoid low spots with poor drainage • Seek a gently sloped area so that surface water drains away • Sheltered from prevailing winds • Away from bodies of water (attracts insects and animals) • Insulated from direct contact with ground, rock, or concrete, which conducts away body heat. 15

Avoid as shelter • Areas around downed utility lines • In or near culverts • Within the “collapse zone” of a damaged building • (maintain 2:1 ratio of distance away to building height) 16

Improvised Shelters • Sheds • Tents • Tarps • Vehicles 17

Don’t disable a good car! • Remove car batteries to power communications and shelter lighting only from cars that do not start • If a car starts reserve it for emergency evacuation, or • Use it as a “battery charger” • Salvage lighting, remove dome lights, tail lights, trunk lights, etc. & with at least 36” of wires. • Position batteries in shelter; attach wires & lights • As batteries discharge, replace with new batteries or recharge batteries.

Emergency Shelter MaterialsSalvage building materials from debris or from damaged structures only when it can be done safely • TYVEK building wrap • Plastic sheeting • Roofing paper and shingles • Siding, plywood • Chain link fence • Lumber • Carpeting • Wire, rope, and fasteners 18

Build Your Shelter In Layers • Structural framing, lumber, plywood, fencing, metal • Fasteners, reinforce structural connections with nails, wire or rope ties, wooden spikes • Water and wind proofing, TYVEK, plastic sheeting, tarp, shingles, roofing paper • Insulation, drywall, leaves, tree branches, carpeting, (may also be used as ballast to hold water/wind proofing layer in place) 19

SIGNALLING • Day • Mirror flashes – best daylight signal device • Smoke • Brightly colored cloth flag / panel (VS-17) • ICAO surface-to-air signals • Night • Flashing strobe light • Fire • Signal flares • Sound • Whistle, vehicle horn http://www.bestglide.com/VS17_Signal_Panel.html  V Require assistance X Need medical assistance Y Yes - affirmative N No - negative →I am proceeding in this direction 20

Signal Mirror • Simple, inexpensive, effective • Doesn’t rely on batteries or pyrotechnics • Visible from 5 to 10 miles in daylight 21

FIRE • Maintains body temperature • Great morale booster • Deters wild animals and insects • Boils water • Cooks food • Used as day (smoke) • or night (light) signal 22

Fire making methods • Matches or lighter • Flint and steel • Use cotton ball and petroleum jelly as tinder • Battery and steel wool • Burning lens http://www.ehow.com/how_18193_make-fire-starters.html 23

WATER • Minimum for drinking • 1 gallon per person, per day • More water is needed for • Cooking and food preparation • Personal hygiene, sanitation and decontamination • Store a two week supply as minimum • Food grade containers with screw caps • Away from direct sunlight 24

Emergency Water Sources • Captive water in household hot water tank and interior plumbing is OK • Filter cloudy water to remove particulates, using an EPA-rated filter with a pore size ≤ 1 micron, then: • Disinfect with Clorox (6% sodium hypochlorite) add 8 drops of bleach per gallon if clear, 16 drops if cloudy, let water stand 15 minutes before use • Or boil vigorously for 15 minutes • Store potable water in clean containers. 25

All surface water is contaminated! • All natural sources (from springs, ponds, rivers or streams) must be boiled or chemically disinfected. • Chemical disinfection or boiling • Kills bacteria and viruses • Doesn’t remove particulates or chemical pollutants • Filtration • Coffee filters, etc. remove gross particulates only • EPA-rated filters (pore size is smaller than 1 micron) are needed to remove bacteria, viruses and Giardia cysts, but don’t remove chemical pollutants. • Distillationis the most effective method. 26

FOOD • Lowest of the seven survival priorities • Need is mostly mental, because we are used to eating regularly • Healthy people will do OK without food for a week or more, if they are well hydrated • Balanced nutrition is a more important health factor for elderly and infants. 27

Shelf life of foods stored in the home • Food in a refrigerator is safe for a day after the power goes off, either use it in 24 hours or throw it away • Frozen food is safe if there are still ice crystals, once thawed, cook and consume it within 24 hours • Next use non-perishables and dry staples • Canned foods are best for long term storage (up to 4 years) but are heavy to transport and bulky to store • Dry packaged foods are easiest to transport • Choose foods requiring minimal preparation • Eat at least one balanced meal daily • Include nutritional supplements in supplies • Drink enough water. 28

Emergency Food supplies • MREs, or Heater Meals® • Prepared survival rations • Primitive survival methods: • Fishing • Hunting • Trapping • Foraging 29

TOOLS and EQUIPMENT • Folding utility knife or multi-tool • Scout type, Leatherman®, Swiss Army or Mil-K-818 • Manual can opener • Sturdy fixed blade • For chopping, digging, or as pry bar • Shovel • Hand saw • Axe ↓ 30

OTHER SUPPLIESEach person should have their own backpack of personal essentials • Flashlight • Portable radio • Extra batteries • First Aid Kit, (containing a first aid manual) • Personal medications and sanitation supplies • Cooking and eating utensils • Wool blanket or sleeping bag for each person • Sturdy shoes and extra socks • Rain gear • Change of warm clothing and underwear • Items for special needs, care of infants 31

DISASTER FINANCIAL PLANNING http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/FinRecovery/FinPlan/ • Electronic transactions, account verifications may be impossible • Evacuate with enough cash for at least two weeks of essentials • Carry account numbers, contact addresses and telephone numbers for all important persons and institutions • Helping one's unprepared friends and neighbors may prove expensive! 32

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF DISASTERSCumulative psychological effects upon survivors • Evacuate or Stay? – Do you have a plan? Where will you go? Is it safe to travel? Can you REALLY get there? Do you have enough resources to make it work? • Warn friends not to invite others to come and evacuate with them • They’ll overwhelm your limited resources! • Never allow family members to be separated • Even if it means waiting for later rescue and/or evacuation • The well prepared may be threatenedby those who weren't – get to know your neighbors NOW for a safer community later in case of a disaster • Make plans to ensure neighborhood security/family protection • Post a guard in rotating shifts, to deter roving criminals or looters • Keep firearms and ammunition safely secured • Take a home firearms safety-protection course 33

Lessons from Hurricane KatrinaWhen help arrives, you may get it “…….whether you want it or not.” • Don't believe that all rescuers will respect your property • Relief workers from other States often don't know local laws • Relief organizations have their own bureaucratic requirements that may conflict with your needs • Expect frustration over lack of communication and empathy by rescuers and local/State government.

IN CONCLUSION: • Positive attitude – StopThinkObservePlan • First Aid / Sanitation – Maintain proper hygiene, preserve family health, and prevent illness or injury • Shelter – Protection from environmental hazards • Signaling / Communication- be heard / seen • Fire – Warmth,light, food prep, water sterilization • Water – Prevent water-borne illnesses through filtration, chemical sterilization, boiling or distillation • Food – Eat at least one balanced meal daily, drink enough water, include nutritional supplements • Equipment- Flashlight, knife, saw, axe, shovel • Planning – Prepare a Kit, Make A Plan!www.Ready.gov

Arlington County ACS-RACES Operator Type III Annual Recertification Unit 1