Preparing for the Unexpected
Get Informed ● Get Involved ● Get Prepared
Overview
• Disasters
• The role of emergency management
• The role of individuals and families
– Informed
– Prepared
– Involved
Preparing for the Unexpected
Disasters destroy property, disrupt lives,
cause bodily injury and even death.
Recent Disasters in Texas
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Winter Storms
Explosion
Effects of Katrina
Hurricanes Rita, Ike, Dolly
Wildfires
Droughts
Types of Disasters
Natural: Drought, fire, floods, hurricanes,
tornadoes, winter storms, disease epidemics,
wildfire
Accidental: Chemicals, crashes, equipment
failure, explosions, hazardous materials incidents,
nuclear incidents
Terrorism: Assassinations, biological and
chemical weapons, bombings, cyber attacks,
hijackings, kidnappings
Goals of Emergency
Management
• Save lives
• Prevent injuries
• Protect property and the environment
Emergency Management Plan
• Organized analysis, planning, decisionmaking, and assignment of available
resources
• Identifies the players
• Involves a cycle of activities before,
during, and after an emergency
situation
Cycle of Activities
Mitigation
Preparation
Recovery
Response
Your Role as a Private Citizen
• To protect yourself and your family by
knowing what to do before, during, and
after an event.
Private Citizens as Partners
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Reduce hazards in and around homes
Develop a family plan
Prepare a disaster supply kit
Monitor emergency communications
carefully
• Volunteer with an established
organization
• Train as an early responder
“Preparing for the
Unexpected”
• A booklet designed for families to help
them prepare for the unexpected
• All-hazard approach to planning
Private Citizens as Partners
Get informed
Get prepared
Get involved
Get Informed
• Know the types of potential disasters for
you and your area
– Natural
– Accidental
– Terrorism
Get Informed
For disaster/emergency information
– Tune in your local TV or radio station for
information from the Emergency Alert
System
– Listen for instructions from local authorities
Get Informed
National Incident Management System (NIMS) – Incident Command System (ICS)
Get Prepared
Planning for a disaster
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Make a family disaster plan
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Create a family disaster supplies kit
Get Prepared
Disaster plan checklist
– Escape routes
– Special needs
– Family communications
– Safety skills
– Utility shut-off and safety
– Pet care
– Insurance and vital records
Get Prepared
Escape routes
• Establish escape routes
– From your home
– From your neighborhood
– From your city
• Designate two meeting places
– One for directly outside your home
– Another for outside the neighborhood
• Practice, practice, practice!
Get Prepared
Family communication
– Make a communication plan
• Decide how you will make contact
• Plan for different situations
– Complete contact cards
• Blank cards are located in the booklet
• Keep a card with you at all times
– ICE phone numbers
• Add an entry in the contacts list of your cell phone
labeled ICE (in case of emergency)
Get Prepared
Utility services
– Unexpected loss of utilities
• A disaster may result in the loss of electricity, gas and/or water
• Store flashlights and extra batteries in your disaster supplies kit
– Utility shut-off and safety
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Know where utility switches and valves are located
Learn how to turn off utility services to the home
Ask your utility company for shut-off procedures
Never turn gas service back on by yourself
Get Prepared
Insurance and vital records
– Make copies of personal records
• Prescription medications
• Insurance policies
• Driver’s license
• Bank account information
• Credit card information
• Financial records
• Inventory of home possessions
• Pictures of inventory
• Small amount of cash
• Travelers checks
– Make 2 copies and keep 1 off site (safe deposit
box or a family member)
(or scan materials onto a thumb drive)
Get Prepared
Special needs
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People with physical or mental disabilities
People with medical conditions
Elderly
Infants and toddlers
Special assistance programs
– Special needs registry
– Call your local emergency management office for additional
information
www.prepare.org/disabilities/disabilities.htm
Get Prepared
Learn safety skills
– Basic first aid
– How to use a fire extinguisher
– CPR
http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses
Get Prepared
Pet care
– Decide where your pet will go in an emergency
• Hotel/motel pet policies
• Out-of-town friends
• Pet-boarding facilities
– Prepare an emergency pet supplies kit
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Vaccination records
Pet medications
Cat litter and box
Paper towels, plastic bags and bleach to handle pet
waste
www.americanhumane.org/
Get prepared
Build a disaster supplies kit
- Water
- Food
- Clean air items
- Extra clothing and bedding
- First aid kit
- Emergency equipment
- Special needs items
Get Prepared
Disaster supplies kit
Water
• Bottled water and water purification tablets
• Each person requires 1 gallon per day
• Pack enough water to last for 3 -7 days
Food
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Nonperishable foods that you know your family will eat
Enough food to last for 7-10 days
Hand-operated can opener
Disposable eating utensils
www.umext.maine.edu/emergency/9006.htm
www.ready.gov/index.html
Get Prepared
Clean air items
• Nose and mouth protection masks (N-95 Rating)
• Plastic sheeting (pre-cut for doors, windows and air
vents)
• Duct tape
• Scissors
Extra clothing/bedding
• 1 complete change of clothes per person
• 1 pair of sturdy shoes per person
• 1 blanket or sleeping bag per person
Get Prepared
First aid kit
Two pairs of sterile gloves
Sterile gauze
Soap
Antibiotic towelettes
Prescription medications
Antibiotic ointment
Prescribed medical supplies
Aspirin
Scissors
Adhesive cloth tape
Burn ointment
Thermometer
Adhesive bandages
Get Prepared
Survival items
Battery-powered radio
Whistle
Battery-powered flashlights
Shovel
Extra batteries
Basic tools
Antibacterial wipes
State map
Garbage bags and twist ties
Toilet paper
Extra set of car keys and house keys
Tools
Axe
Get Prepared
Special needs items
Infants, toddlers and youth
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Ready-to-drink formula
Diapers
Bottles
Powered milk
Baby wipes
Diaper rash ointment
Age-appropriate activities (games, puzzles, books)
Snacks
Get Prepared
Elderly, disabled and medically
challenged
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Prescription medication
Medical supplies (syringes, glucose kit, cold pack…. )
Eye glasses, contacts and solution
Lightweight portable wheelchair
Cane and/or walker
Appropriate food for special dietary needs
Get Prepared
Evacuate
• Listen to public health officials
• Evacuate immediately if directed by
officials
• Use common sense
• Call 2-1-1 for additional evacuation
routes & information
• Grab your disaster kit
• Wear long pants and sturdy shoes
• Use routes specified by the authorities
• Pets need to evacuate as well
Get Prepared
Shelter-in-place
– Taking protection in your home, place of
employment, school, or other location when
disaster occurs
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Different types of disasters required different action
Listen to officials for instructions
Use common sense
Be prepared for loss of utility services
http://www.disastereducation.org/library/public_2004/Evacuation_Shelteri
ng.pdf
Get Involved
Help make your community safe
Recognize and report suspicious activity
– A person showing unusual interest in utilities or
government buildings
– Abandoned packages
– Strangers loitering in the neighborhood or near
school property
– An unidentified person tampering with electrical,
gas or sewer systems
www.texashomelandsecurity.com
https://tips.fbi.gov
Get Involved
Volunteer your time and special skills
to support emergency management
efforts.
Call your local emergency management office or
local county judge to inquire about volunteer
opportunities in your area.
Get trained and involved before the disaster
• Protect Texas Volunteers – health care plus coordination
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/comprep/protect/default.shtm
Special Issues
Food safety
ABCD’s of keeping food safe in an
emergency/disaster
• Always keep meat, poultry, fish and eggs refrigerated at
or below 40 degrees
• Be prepared for a disaster by keeping foods that need no
refrigeration
• Consider how you can store food safely in an
emergency
• Digital, dial or instant-read food thermometers should be
kept in your refrigerator at all times
www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets
Special Issues
Discussing disaster with children
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Children know more than you think
Reassure them
Be available
Say how you feel
Recognize their fears
Be aware of other emotions
Find emotional outlets
Help them take action
www.ces.purdue.edu/terrorism/children/index.htm
Special Issues
Wastewater treatment systems
– Protect public health
– Failure can make people and animals sick, harm
the environment
– Residential on-site systems are the homeowners’
responsibility
– Municipal treatment systems can also be affected
by disaster
– Main problems: electrical outages and floods
Special Issues
Disaster response for septic system
owners
• Electrical outage
– Limit water usage
– Stop all water usage if electrical outage is extended or the
plumbing begins to drain slowly
• Flooding
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Before a flood, turn off power to electrical components
Do not use water until flood waters have receded
Plug the floor drains in your home to prevent backups
After a flood, check the system for damage
Do not pump tanks empty or below normal levels
Special Issues
Farmstead disaster preparedness
Farmers and ranchers should consider
• Safety of family, workers and emergency
personnel
• Protection for crops and livestock
• Equipment, agricultural chemicals, water
supplies, food stores for animals
• Steps to take before, during and after a disaster
Special Issues
Make a farmstead disaster plan
– Establish escape routes for livestock
– Plan for providing food and water to relocated
livestock
– Know how to turn off electrical power to machines
– Plan for how to move hay, machinery
and chemicals out of flood-prone areas
Special Issues
Before a disaster
• Attach ID tags to all livestock
• Take inventory:
– Livestock
– Machinery and equipment
– Pesticides, fertilizers, fuels,
medicines and other
chemicals
Special Issues
Farmstead disaster supplies
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Sandbags and plastic sheeting
Wire and rope
Lumber and plywood
Extra fuel
Hand tools
Fire extinguishers
Livestock feed
Gas-powered generator
Special Issues
During a disaster
Livestock
Drive large animals out of flooded barns
Provide food and water
Property
Move hay, machinery and chemicals out of flood-prone
areas
Secure loose items
Utilities
If floods are expected, turn off power to machines and
barns
Special Issues
Farmstead disaster recovery
– Check utilities
– Care for the animals
– Take inventory
– Farm disaster assistance
Preparing for the Unexpected
Keep your family and community safe
Make an effort
– Get informed
– Get prepared
– Get involved
Take Action
– Make your plan
– Build your disaster supplies kit