Emergency Disaster Planning in Case

Emergency Disaster Planning

In Case of an Emergency

Ponder, Plan and Practice

General Emergency "Kit" Guidelines

Past Lessons

Current Considerations

III Moving Forward

Somewhat Prepared?

EMERGENCY DISASTER PLANNING

In Case of an Emergency

Ponder, Plan and Practice

In emergency men will do many things they would scorn to do in easy circumstances.

Darius and Alexander will drink dirty water and think it nectar when distressed with thirst.

Kings and queens, to make good their escape in times of danger, will put on the most menial disguise.

And hungry men will not be over particular as to the food they eat. (Brewer, 1898)

Preparing for an emergency or disaster before it occurs, helps diffuse panic when an emergency happens, Linda Moss contends. Emergency Disaster Planning also helps build confidence and self-reliance. Moss reported she has set aside enough food, water and firewood, as well as, other necessities for herself, her husband and two children to "shelter-in-place" for several weeks if something were to happen. (Boston, 2004) "Shelter-in-place" means to live one's house without amenities like electricity and/or running water. Potential emergencies that could force a family to put their emergency plans into place include: tornados; ice storms; hurricanes; ice storms; thunderstorm blackouts; terrorism. Mrs. Moss reported that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks stimulated more awareness regarding the significance of being prepared for an emergency or disaster.

Her emergency preparations, albeit, work as well for an emergency or a natural disaster. (Ibid.) Barbara Childs-Pair, acting director of the D.C. Emergency Management Agency, stresses, "One of the things about emergencies is they have commonalities. You need a meeting place if you get separated from your family.... You need food and water and medications." (Ibid.) Most emergency-management agencies advise a household to be prepared with emergency kits that include at least 72 hours' worth of water, food, water, medical supplies and other necessary items. (Ibid.)

Preparing an emergency kit does not have to be overwhelming, Debra Fuller, who teacher emergency preparedness classes, encourages. Fuller tells those she teachers to.".. take a first step, like making sure you have enough water for three days." (Ibid). General Emergency "Kit" Guidelines:

Keep a gallon of water per person per day.

Nonperishables such as canned food (with manual can opener) snacks, crackers and peanut butter.

Include some "comfort food," particularly for kids.

A first-aid kit,

Prescription medication, antibacterial hand cleaner, washcloths, feminine hygiene products, scissors and tweezers (tweezers can remove glass splinters)

Basic tools;

Battery-powered radio

Plastic sheeting

Duct tape;

Flashlights;

Extra batteries;

Change of clothes;

Blankets or space blankets (thermal, light-weight emergency blankets);

Closed-toe shoes in case of excessive debris.

If there are young children, diapers and wipes should be included.

Bleach, which can help clean contaminated water

Garbage bags

If pets are owned, pet supplies such as food, water, plastic bags to deal with waste, and veterinary records. (Ibid.)

Keeping a copy of important documents with the emergency kit is also recommended. Financial records, birth certificates and homeowner's insurance are examples of papers to keep copies of - ready to grab and run with. Rotate food and prescription medication regularly to insure items remain fresh.

Another family, the Mosses, stores emergency items in duffel bags, plastic bins and other containers that are easy to grab and run with if necessary. They also store MREs (meals ready to eat), regularly used by the military, purchased from an Army-Navy surplus store. Think through specific needs and various scenarios. At work, it is a good idea to store several protein bars and a small backpack with toiletries, critical medication, some water and food. It's also a good ides to keep a small emergency disaster kit in a car," experts recommend.

At home, along with an emergency kit or kits, determine a course of action for emergency and disaster situations. Know evacuation routes. Identify a place family members can meet if they are separated. Each family member needs to have an emergency contact list that includes names and phone numbers for immediate family members and also relatives who live out-of-town. It is a good idea to have two escape routes. One plan is needed for each person to get out of each room; the other, the best way to out of the house. Experts recommend that after the plan is mapped out, it is practiced on a regular basis. (Ibid.)

The following books provide additional, helpful survival information:

The U.S. Government Guide to Surviving Terrorism," by H. Keith Melton (compiled from U.S. Marine Corps and Department of Homeland Security documents) utilizes diagrams and instructions to help prepare Americans for terrorist activity, including "conventional, chemical, biological and nuclear."

Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Keep Your Family Safe in a Crisis," by Peggy Layton, provides instructions how to build and store a three-month supply of necessities for use during an emergency.

Living Safe in an Unsafe World: The Complete Guide to Family Preparedness," By Kate Kelly, offers safe travel techniques and ways to help safeguard a home

How to Be Safe in Any Emergency: The Family Take Charge Book," by Dian Dincin Buchman, guides families on ways to prepare for, as well as, prevent most emergencies.

The D.C. Emergency Management Agency, 2000 14th St. NW, eighth floor, Washington, D.C. 20009. Phone: 202/727-6161. Web site: http://dcema.dc.gov....gives out information and brochures about how families can best prepare for emergencies." This agency also presents workshops on Emergency Disaster Planning. Helpful online organizations for emergency planning include: The American Red Cross Web site (www.redcross.org);The Department of Homeland Security's Web site (www.dhs.gov);

The Humane Society of the United States' Web site (www.hsus.org/ace/352).

II: Past Lessons

Current Considerations

Emergency management stems from the cold war days. Back in time, civil defense, bomb shelters, space food, evacuation, and sheltering drills were regular considerations for many. ("Disaster Planning...,") Today, although some of the past practices are still taught and practiced, new counters to new emergency disaster challenges have to be learned. One new system known as Interoperable will enable individuals to communicate with other regions, states, and countries if necessary. After 911, Hawver (2006) reports.".. millions of people scrambled to snap up just about everything (from gas masks to parachutes) an army/navy store carried to help out in a crisis." From 911 and Hurricane Katrina, Army/Navy retailers learned to keep an abundance of hey basic emergency necessities stocked; that blankets, first aid kits, cots and food/water products during peak hurricane and storm seasons will always sell.

Harris (1995) reports that the Santa Clarita, California's Emergency Plan helped the city rebound swiftly from the aftermath of the Northridge Earthquake on January 17, 1994 which damaged $400 million of public and private property. The primary lesson, he notes, was the affirmation that being prepared for emergency situations is vital.

Although a computers and emergency power are not mandatory, they may be useful. stand-alone power supply can also to be helpful. An emergency on-site generator needs to be protected from falling debris or other potential access problems. Harris (1995) stresses that the best time to devise a plan to survive a natural disaster or emergency is before it happens. Most people, however, wait until afterwards. When Cameron (2006) compiled his list, his family had 30 items ready for an action they hope does not come. Each April, Disaster Preparedness Month, presents the perfect time to plan what items to put into an emergency. Along with a cellphone, Cellboost is another item that ought to be included in the primary emergency survival kit. "Cellboost provides power to cell phones when batteries die or are low on battery power, and recharging is not an available option.," (Enhance Disaster Preparedness..Because cell phone batteries lose their charge after a period of time," simply having an extra batter is not always enough. Cellboost allows a person to continue using his/her phone while simultaneously charging it. In addition to insuring cell phones keep working during an emergency or disaster situation, having a product "to prolong the battery life of an iPod, Nintendo Game Boy or Sony PSP can help alleviate some of the stress in these situations." (Ibid)

III. Moving Forward

Somewhat Prepared?

When questioned by pollsters for the Red Cross, seven out of ten people state they are " somewhat prepared." The Red Cross stresses, most individuals need to take the first basic steps and form their family's emergency plan. The poll learned hat sixty-nine percent had not agreed upon a meeting place to reunite with family members if they are "lost" from each other. Sixty-five percent of pet owners do not yet have a plan for their pet's safety. Fifty-nine percent do not have an emergency con tact. Sixty percent have not made any specific evacuation plan, and seventy-three percent have not practiced their family's disaster plan. (Bubny, 2006) For a car, a working tire change/repair kit, as well as, a good spare tire are also necessary emergency items. A compass; road maps; jumper cables; a shovel; knife; tow rope; umbrella may prove to be "life-savers." (Hawver, Ibid.) In addition: Lighting products are needed, including battery-powered flashlights, chemical light sticks and hand-cranked or solar powered flashlights..Additional batteries are also needed, however, not the rechargeable batteries or flashlight. To help full the numerous lists of "necessary" items to prepare for an emergency disaster the army/navy retailer is generally not the best place to purchase batters; bottled water; etc.. These stores do on the other hand provide emergency water filtration and purification products. They also market field food prep kits and portable cooking accessories. Other items readily available at these stores include: "Shelter -- military surplus blankets, cots, sleeping bags, tents, duffels, shovels... outerwear are very practical, well-made and inexpensive components of any home disaster preparation kit. Military-style inflatable lifeboats and vests are great for flood use." Gas masks, on the other hand, are not a particular item needed for emergency disaster planning and as Hawver contends, "best promoted as Halloween items rather than as effective for use in emergency situations." In the same sense, helmets, chemical protection suits, along with body armor best fit the most paranoid. The Department of Homeland Security recommends a first aid kit contain: "two pairs of sterile gloves, sterile dressings to stop bleeding, a cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect wounds or burns, antibiotic ointment and burn ointment to prevent infection, adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes, eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as a general decontaminant, a thermometer, any prescription medications, and prescribed medical supplies. The department also suggests scissors, tweezers, and petroleum jelly." (Bubny, Ibid.) The Red Cross would add a first aid manual -- for a customer who isn't trained in first aid, trying to figure out what to do can consume precious time -- as well as a blanket, a flashlight and extra batteries, a face mask for CPR use, a cold pack, aspirin, and gauze bandages. "Are You Ready?" is the name of the 139-page guide FEMA publishes to help individuals deal with natural disasters.

Understanding the following forces of natural disasters can help a person better prepare for an ensuing emergency:

Hurricane

What it is: A hurricane is a tropical storm that reaches sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or greater.

When: The season lasts from the start of June to the end of November, but the peak months are August and September.

Where: Hurricanes often occur in the Caribbean and can hit anywhere in the U.S. from the Gulf of Mexico to the East Coast.

Tornado

What it is: A tornado is a violent windstorm with a funnel shaped cloud.

When: The season lasts from March to August.

Where: They tend to occur in the center of the country. But tornadoes can occur anywhere and at any time.

Earthquake

What it is: An earthquake is shaking of the ground and movement of the earth caused by a release of energy along the geologic faults, or by volcanic activity. Earthquakes are measured on the Richter scale, which goes from 1 to 10.

When: Earthquakes occur without warning.

Where: Earthquakes tend to occur on the West Coast, but can happen anywhere.

Wild Fire

What it is: A wild fire is an unplanned, naturally occurring fire on wild land, requiring human intervention to avoid mass spreading.

When: Late summer and early fall. The flames are further fanned by the combination of drought-like conditions and high winds.

Where: Wild fires can happen anywhere you find dry conditions. The West is prime fire territory.

Flood

What it is: A flood is the rise of large amounts of water onto dry land. Next to fires, floods are the most common natural disasters.

When: Any time.

Where: Anywhere. (Bauer, 2005)

Wipfler (2003) wrote an article on 911 and later revised the work, sharing her thoughts aobut terrorism,"and the cascade of feelings it has triggered."

As America currently regularly experiences thoughts and images of death, strife and war, Wipfler questions what do parents and those who care about youth tell the child now exposed to daily images of death and strife. How can a parent best explain war to the little one?

In the following excerpt from Wipfler's thoughts following 911, she says best what needs to be heard by hearts of adults who think they must always be read to expect the unexpected.

First, we need to set aside time to talk with each other, and work through some of our feelings and reactions, at times and places separate from our children. We adults carry a heavy load of feelings about these events. We have been made to feel helpless and hopeless about both current events and historical events over and over again. We've had to cover our grief and outrage with resignation or indifference, because there is so little room in our society for the full expression of healthy protest. So often, the first task is to remember what and who we care most about. From there, we can remember the hopes we had as children that the world would be sweet, safe, and just. We need to let our thoughts about who we love and our longings for safety and justice lead to emotional release in crying, trembling, and an open show of upset. We need to do this with other adults. It will help us recover our ability to pay attention to the power we do have and to what we can do in our own families and communities to make the world right. We won't communicate well with our children unless we take time to express and unload our deep feelings. We should not expect our children to handle the bulk of that load.

It is important, however, for our children to see that we care about people, about justice in the world, and about bringing an end to people harming people. If you are upset, go ahead and cry openly, but without detailed explanation of your feelings. "I'm sad about something I heard on the news" is fine, along with "and I just need to cry for a little while to get the sadness out." What children don't need to hear is expressions of anger, hopelessness, or helplessness.