Checklist & Planning
Hurricanes
Flooding
Tornadoes
Severe Weather
Extreme Temperatures
Fire
Nuclear Safety

Create an emergency plan for your household.

• Meet with household members to discuss the dangers of fire, severe weather, earthquakes, and other emergencies. Explain how to respond to each.
• Identify the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster.
• Discuss what to do about power outages.
• Discuss what to do about personal injuries.
• Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes from each room.
• Show family members how to turn off water, gas, and electricity at main switches when necessary.
• Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones.
• Teach children how and when to call 911, police, and fire.
• Instruct household members to turn on the radio for emergency information.
• Designate 1 out-of-state and 1 local friend or relative for family members to call if separated during a disaster. (During emergencies, it is often easier to call out of state than within affected areas.)
• Teach children your out-of-state and local contact's phone numbers.
• Pick 2 emergency meeting places. 1) A place near your home in case of fire. 2) A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.
• Take a basic first aid and CPR course.
• Keep family records in a water- and fire-proof containers.
  
  

In a disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire is a potential hazard.

• Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.
• Fasten shelves securely and brace overhead light fixtures.
• Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves.
• Hang pictures and mirrors away from bed.
• Strap water heater to wall studs.
• Repair cracks in ceilings or foundations.
• Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products away from heat sources.
• Place oily polishing rags or waste in covered metal cans.
• Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors, and gas vents.
  
  

If you need to evacuate, do the following:

• Listen to a battery-powered radio for the location of emergency shelters. Follow instructions of local officials.
• Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
• Take your Emergency Supplies Kit.
• Lock your house (doors and windows).
• Use travel routes specified by local officials.

If you are sure that you have time, do the following:

• Shut off water, gas, and electricity at main switches, if instructed to do so.
• Notify your emergency contacts, telling them when you are leaving and where you are going.
• Make arrangements for pets. Animals may not be allowed in public shelters.
  
  

Prepare a disaster supplies kit to keep at home. Assemble supplies that you might need at home during a natural disaster, or in case you must evacuate. Store them in an easy-to-carry container, such as a backpack or duffle bag. Include the following:

• A supply of water (one gallon per person, per day). Store water in sealed, unbreakable containers. Mark the storage date on container, and replace every six months.
• A supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food, and a non-electric can opener and bottle opener.
• A change of clothing, rain gear, and sturdy shoes for each family member.
• Blankets or sleeping bags.
• A first aid kit and prescription medications (such as inhalers).
• An extra pair of eyeglasses, hearing aid (and batteries), if required.
• A battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra (fresh) batteries.
• Credit cards and cash.
• An extra set of car keys.
• A list of family physicians.
• Special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members. Also, provisions for your pets.
• A list of important family information: style & serial number of medical devices (such as pacemaker, hearing aid); both prescription and allergic medications; emergency phone numbers; etc.
  
  

Prepare an automobile emergency kit to include the following:

• Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra (fresh) batteries.
• Blanket or sleeping bag.
• Booster cables.
• Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type).
• First aid kit and manual.
• Bottled water and non-perishable, high-energy foods -- such as granola bars, raisins, and peanut butter. A small cooler makes an ideal storage container.
• Maps, shovel, flares.
• Rope.
• Tire repair kit and pump.

 Before developing a disaster plan to meet the needs of your organization and your constituents, ask yourself these questions:

1. Who will activate the plan?
2. How will others involved be notified?
3. Have those involved already prepared a plan for themselves and their family?
4. Do you have on hand survival equipment and emergency supplies?
5. What procedures are in place for evacuation?
6. How will records and equipment be protected?
7. What happens if you lose power/phones?
8. What if your facility is inaccessible?
9. Are there procedures in place for identifying community needs?
10. What can you do to best serve your constituents during a disaster?
11. What is the purpose of your plan? What do you want to accomplish?

 
Advance preparation, a well-drawn plan and a command team with community support will go a long way toward making your response effective.

 
There are several stages of response to a major disaster;

(a). Emergency relief

(b)  Short tern recovery

(c)  Long term recovery

(d)  Long term assistance

Decide if you want to address all these stages or just one or two. Assess your capacity to aid others and the degree of readiness you want to prepare for.  Also, different disasters will demand a different response.

Leadership is critical.  Select a coordinator and an assistant coordinator whose primary role is planning.  When disaster strikes, many others will be needed to activate your plan.  Make sure you have enough members of your group (volunteers) to properly carry out you plan.

Make sure each member of team has their own plan.

Everyone must first take care of themselves and their own family first.

Every member of the team should have a portable disaster kit which can be kept in office or cars.

What will you need at your facility.

Make a list of supplies and equipment that will be needed at your disaster facility.  Make arrangements for members of the team to be able to stay there for an extended period.

Have a “Go-Kit” ready to set up at another location, if necessary. Have a duplicate set of accounting records and essential computer programs and data stored off site.

Develop an Evacuation Plan

Should you need to evacuate in the event of a loss of your facility, establish a place where team can meet after an evacuation.  Develop a contingency plan to set up at this location.  Also develop a call list for keeping in touch during an evacuation.

During a severe disaster you may have to leave and return to a location where you can temporarily set-up operations.  During a severe disaster, the health and safety of those on your premises is the first concern.

Public Information Plan

Decide how you would keep your constituents informed after a disaster as to where you are and what you can offer in emergency assistance.  Appoint someone in the group to be in charge of this messaging.  Clearly define what you can and cannot provide. 

Training may include personal preparedness, donations management, sheltering and evacuation plans.  There are many sources for training materials. Consider working with Emergency Management as well as other national organizations such as the Red Cross.

Also consider in your disaster plan mutual aid agreements with affiliates in other areas.

Donated Goods.

Ask for and accept what you can handle and confirm that there is a need for what you ask for.  Think about how the goods will be stored and transported.  Decide who is in charge and identify what is needed and what is not needed.  Don’t hesitate to say no if you don’t have use for something.

Define where your assistance can be most effective.

Don’t try to do too much at once.

Emergency Relief: food, clothing, shelter, medical assistance and immediate needs.

Short Term Recovery: Assisting survivors in finding family members, helping them to find temporary housing or connecting them with assistance agencies ( state, federal and local).

Long Term Recovery: requires volunteers with different skills.  Peak interest in the disaster may have dissipated and the rush to help may be over. This is the area where there may be the greatest need.  When the crisis is over, recovery and rebuilding may require a major commitment.