How to Prepare for Any Disaster

www.areyouprepared.com N E W How to Prepare for any Disaster Your easy step-by-step preparedness guide Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step to getting ready for any disaster. Step 1 Know How to Prepare (Learning and Understanding the Preparedness Process) This book will help you understand the importance of making preparations before anything happens, and help you know what to do and how to act before, during and after a disaster. Step 2 Have the Necessities Ready You may have many of these items already. After reading this book, you should have a pretty good idea about what you will need. If you feel that you are missing something, check out our website at www.areyouprepared.com for a complete list of the necessities. Read, discuss and become familiar with the information contained in this book so that, in the event of an emergency, you can act in a responsible manner to avoid a tragedy. This booklet is intended to assist others in dealing with emergencies. The final decision of any action taken during a real emergency is the sole responsibility of the person involved. Emergency Preparedness Center and “areyouprepared.com” has made its best effort to produce a high quality, informative and helpful book. But they make no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the contents of the book. They assume no liability for danger, harm, difficulty or injury of persons or property, or actions undertaken by any person in attempting to utilize the information contained within this book. No part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited, to digital copying and printing, without the prior agreement and written per- mission of the publisher. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CENTER www.areyouprepared.com 520 C North Main Street Suite 202 Heber City, Utah 84032 Knowledge • Peace Of Mind • Preparation www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 2 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 Getting Ready Before Anything Happens (What to do Now!) 7. Creating Your Own Disaster Plan of Action Finding out what could happen in your area? 4 Steps to putting it together. How to practice and maintain your plan. Your Contact Information. (Post this information by the phone) 12. How Safe is Your House? Checklist Controlling your utilities: How to shut them off in an emergency. What to do with them after an emergency. 14. Preparing some Necessities for Quick Action 3 Day (72 Hrs.) Evacuation Kit- How to Make a 72 Hour Kit. First Aid- How to Make a First Aid Kit. Emergency Water- Recommended amount needed. How to purify water. How to store water. Emergency Water sources inside and out of your home. 18. Take Important Actions and Have this Information in place NOW. 20. How to Report an Emergency. 22. Evacuation- Necessary preparations before an evacuation. How to evacuate. Evacuation worksheet . 24. Action Plan Checklist (Are You Ready?) Be sure all members of your family know this. www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 3 CHAPTER 2 Knowing What to Do: Taking the Appropriate Action (Before - During - After) 26. Acts of Violence: Nuclear or Other Wars 9 steps to prepare The dangers Finding safety Shelter Radiation 27. Terrorism, Riots, Looting, Bomb Threats and Other Violence The dangers Finding safety 28. Hazardous Chemical: Transportation accidents, Accidental spills, Intentional The dangers 8 steps to take to prepare What to do if it happens 29. Earthquakes 7 steps to prepare What to do during if your are: indoors. outdoors. in your car. After the quake, what next? 31. Extreme Weather: Hurricane, Tornado, Winter Storms, Lightning & Thunder, Drought & Extreme Heat. 13 steps to prepare What to do during The dangers Steps to following after it has passed 35. Famine 6 steps to prepare Actions to take during www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 4 36. Plagues What is a plague? 4 steps to prepare for What to do during 37. Floods 5 steps to prepare 7 steps to take during The dangers and what to do after CHAPTER 3 Recovery 38. How to Reduce Anxiety and Fear. Be prepared - 4 steps to take 38. How to Recover (Children). 6 important points 38. How to Recover (Adults). Helping yourself Helping children and others CHAPTER 4 Long Term Preparations You might need them for a while (Helpful suggestions for each of the following) 40. Food Do you want to just survive or do it in style What are your options? Advantages and disadvantages Priorities in building your food storage program Recommendations How much? How to store Rotation www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 5 42. Water Find, store and purify Recommended amounts 42. Clothes Storage plan 42. Finance Cash, important documents and insurances 43. Shelter Alternative Suggestions 43. Heat Alternative Suggestions 43. Light Alternative Suggestions 43. Fuel Suggestions 43. Cooking Easy alternatives 44. Sanitation List of necessary items to store CHAPTER 5 45. Other Important Web Sites www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 6 CHAPTER 1 CREATING YOUR DISASTER PLAN Where will you & your family be WHEN IT STRIKES! Work? School? Home? Traveling? Will you know What to do and where to go? 4 STEPS TO SAFETY 1. Finding Out What Could Happen in Your Area. A. Contact the organizations that are listed at the front of this booklet. They can give you the phone numbers to your local chapter who can tell you what disasters could happen in your area. B. Find out what your community’s warning signals are, what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them. C. Learn about the disaster plans at work, school, daycare and other places where your family spends time. D. If you have animals, find out about animal care. They may not be allowed in some places during and after a disaster. E. Find out how to help the elderly and disabled. 2. Create a Disaster Plan for your family. A. Meet with your family and discuss what types of disasters could happen in your area and what to do. (Page 25) B. Discuss the steps of evacuation. (Page 22) C. Choose 2 places to meet family members: 1. Outside your house if members are home. 2. Outside your neighborhood in case you can’t get to your home. (City park, church, school play ground, etc.) D. Ask an out-of-state family member or friend to be your family’s “Contact Person”. After a disaster, communications can be difficult. Many times it is easier to get through to your contact person out of state than to make a local call. If your family members become sepa- rated in a disaster, have them call this person and let them know where they are and if all is well with them. 3. Practice and Maintain your plan A. Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills. B. Quiz your family every six months so they don’t forget. C. Test and recharge fire extinguishers. D. Check/rotate food & water in your evacuation-kit every 6 months. E. Test smoke detectors monthly. Change batteries every 6 months. F. Remember to always remain calm. Panic causes accidents. www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 7 Important Phone Numbers Post by each phone. My Name ________________________________________________ My Phone________________________________________________ My Address ______________________________________________ My City _________________________________________________ Nearest Intersection to my house______________________________ ________________________________________________________ 911 Ambulance _____________________________________ Paramedics _____________________________________ Fire ___________________________________________ Police _________________________________________ Sheriff_________________________________________ Search and Rescue___________________________________________________ Highway Patrol _____________________________________________________ Coast Guard/Harbor Patrol ____________________________________________ Hospital ___________________________________________________________ Poison Control______________________________________________________ Children’s Hospital __________________________________________________ Trauma Center______________________________________________________ Burn Center ________________________________________________________ Cardiac Center______________________________________________________ Family Doctor ______________________________________________________ Dentist ____________________________________________________________ www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 8 Veterinarian ________________________________________________________ Pharmacy__________________________________________________________ Employer __________________________________________________________ Father’s Work ______________________________________________________ Mother’s Work______________________________________________________ Other Relatives _____________________________________________________ Neighbor __________________________________________________________ Out-of-Town Contact Person __________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Out-of-State Contact Person ___________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Church Leader______________________________________________________ Babysitter _________________________________________________________ Daycare Center _____________________________________________________ Pre-School _________________________________________________________ Elementary School __________________________________________________ Middle School ______________________________________________________ Junior High ________________________________________________________ High School________________________________________________________ Gas_______________________________________________________________ Power_____________________________________________________________ Telephone _________________________________________________________ Handyman _________________________________________________________ Electrician _________________________________________________________ Plumber ___________________________________________________________ Mechanic __________________________________________________________ Family Attorney ____________________________________________________ www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 9 Accountant ________________________________________________________ Banker or Financial Advisor ___________________________________________ Insurance Agent_____________________________________________________ Mortgage Company__________________________________________________ Landlord __________________________________________________________ Emergency Roadside Assistance________________________________________ Taxi ______________________________________________________________ Public Transportation ________________________________________________ Weather ___________________________________________________________ Road Conditions ____________________________________________________ Avalanche__________________________________________________________ Forest Service ______________________________________________________ Snow Removal _____________________________________________________ Time and Temperature________________________________________________ Animal Control _____________________________________________________ American Red Cross _________________________________________________ Disaster Clean -up Company __________________________________________ Crisis Hotline ______________________________________________________ Social Worker ______________________________________________________ Health Department __________________________________________________ Others: ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 10 My Important Numbers My Name___________________________________________ My Phone Number___________________________________ My Address_________________________________________ My City ____________________________________________ If I need: Call 911 Place Picture Place Picture of Father here of Mother here with phone number with phone number Place Picture Place Picture of Neighbor here of Relative here with phone number with phone number www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 11 HOW SAFE IS YOUR HOUSE? Before any disaster, you should inspect your home and eliminate any potential hazards. In an emergency, ordinary items in your home can cause injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall, break or cause a fire is a potential hazard. USE THE FOLLOWING CHECK LIST TO SEE IF YOUR HOUSE IS SAFE. _____ Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors, and gas vents. _____ Place oily rags or waste in covered metal cans. _____ Keep flammables away from heat sources. _____ Repair defective electrical wiring. _____ Don’t overload electrical outlets. _____ Don’t run wires under rugs or carpets. _____ Fix leaky gas connections immediately. _____ Secure water heater by strapping to wall studs. _____ Secure large appliances. _____ Fasten shelves securely to walls. _____ Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves. _____ Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds. _____ Brace overhead light fixtures. _____ Repair cracks in ceilings and foundations. _____ Secure hanging plants. BY TAKING PREVENTIVE MEASURES BEFORE AN EMERGENCY, YOU CAN SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 12 CONTROLLING YOUR UTILITIES ELECTRICAL • GAS • WATER Before any Emergency Know How to Shut off the Utilities: 1. Locate the following: A. Electric Fuse Box and the Electrical Meter. (The fuse box is usually located inside the house. The Electrical Meter is usually outside.) B. Gas Main Valve. (Outside where the gas line enters the house. C. Water Main (usually 2 places - one inside the house and the other outside where the city can read it.) 2. Teach family members how to safely shut off utilities. A. Proper sequence to shut off utilities. 1. Electricity 2. Gas 3. Water B. Attach a wrench to the gas meter so that you will not need to look for one during an emergency. C. Have the proper tool attached near the water main to turn it off. After an Emergency 1. Turn off utilities if you suspect the lines are damaged. 2. Turn off electricity from the safest point. Beware of water. Wires and water don’t mix. 3. If you smell or hear gas, shut off the gas main immediately and open windows. Contact the gas company before turning the gas back on. 4. Turn the water main off only if a line is broken. 5. Shut off utilities if instructed to do so or if you are in doubt and have concerns that you are in danger. IMPORTANT! ELECTRICITY - Stay out of water and don’t touch any bare wires until elec- tricity is turned off. This could electrocute you. www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 13 PREPARING SOME NECESSITIES FOR QUICK ACTION 3 DAY EVACUATION KIT When an emergency strikes you may be forced to leave your home and have only enough time to grab the family and your evacuation-kit. There is a good chance that you may not be able to return for a few days and that outside help may not be available for days. 1. Your evacuation-kit should contain the necessary items to sustain life for the first critical hours/days following a disaster. 2. When assembling a kit remember to make it: A. Portable so that a woman or child could carry it. B. Easy to use. 3. Include the following essentials - Store these items in a sturdy, easy to carry backpack or duffel bag. Larger families may need several packs. Be sure it is accessible in the event of an emergency or evacuation. www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 14 Food: MREs for 3 days Instant Cereal Instant Hot Chocolate Food Bars Shelter/Bedding: Tube Tent Rain Poncho Space Blanket Wool Blanket Sleeping Bags Water: Water Purification Tablets First Aid Kit (see page 15) Sanitation: Toilet Paper Soap/Shampoo Toothbrush/Paste Personal Hygiene Items Heat/Light: Pocket Hand Warmers Matches/Candles Propane Stove Fire Starter Kit Flashlight Gloves Misc. Items: Extra set of Car Keys Credit Cards and Case List of Family Physicians Special Items for Infants,Elderly or Disabled Family Members 1 Gallon of Water per person per day Communications: Battery Powered Radio Extra Batteries FIRST AID How to Make a First Aid Kit 1. When assembling your First Aid Kit, take into consideration the following: A. Specific health needs of family members. B. Include the necessary medications and equipment for them. C. Items that your family is familiar with and knows how to use properly. 2. Discuss with your family doctor your special needs. He can inform you of the specific medications/prescriptions you need and explain how to use, store and rotate them. 3. The following is a list of BASIC MEDICAL SUPPLIES recommended for a kit. Upgrade it as you increase your training: NOTE: The American Red Cross offers classes in First Aid and CPR that cost little or nothing. www.areyouprepared.com ©2001 Emergency Preparedness Center info@areyouprepared.com page 15 First Aid Manual Sterile Adhesive Bandages Sterile Gauze Pads Hypoallergenic Adhesive Tape Triangular Bandages Roller Bandages - 2 & 3 inches Scissors Tweezers Needle Thermometer Tongue Blades Assorted Sizes of Safety Pins Latex Gloves Antiseptic Soap Rubbing Alcohol Cotton Disposable Diapers Insect Repellent Moistened Towelettes Antiseptic-Cream Neosporin Petroleum Jelly Aspirin or Non-Aspirin Pain Reliever Laxatives Anti-Diarrhea Medication Syrup of Ipecac - To induce vomiting if advised by Poison Control Antacid Sterile Adhesive Bandages in assorted Sizes Special Medications for Family EMERGENCYWATER The Absolute Necessity Bare minimum per person per day for cooking and drinking is 1 Gallon. Add additional water for bathing & washing. How to Purify Water Before purifying water in any manner, filter out debris by passing it through a clean cloth. Boil Bring water to a full rolling boil for at least 5 minutes. Add another minute per 1000 ft. that you are above sea level. After boiling, you may improve the taste of the water by pouring it back and forth from one container to another to aerate it. Bleach Use bleach that has sodium hypo-chlorite as its only active ingredient. Add the following dosage according to clear or cloudy water then let stand for 30 minutes. A slight oder of chlo- rine should be detectable if the water is properly treated. Add a little more until smell is detectable. QUART GALLON Clear 2 Drops 8 Drops Cloudy 4 Drops 16 Drops Iodine 2% Tincture Clear