Disaster Preparedness Plan

# PLANNING Have an actual plan: If you have a good household location, maybe your plan is to stay-at-home for 30 days. If you need to evacuate, have a plan for it! Select rally-points with your household and community. Write down emergency contact numbers and evacuation plans and send them to your family members or support system so they know what will happen when/if you lose contact. Make sure you have check in times and provide as much detail as you can. Route planning is also essential. Having paper maps of your surrounding areas with marked locations can be extremely helpful. There are services that will print paper maps of your areas on water-resistant paper and mail it to you. You can then mark locations, trace routes and have copies made to give to other community or household members. There are also map resources like [Caltopo](https://caltopo.com/) that will allow you to create quick printable maps to scale for use in emergency situations if you don’t already have paper maps on hand, You can laminate these maps with simple supplies found at Walmart and use dry erase or map markers to draw on them with. Also make sure you have your critical documents stored in secure, (fire-proof, water -tight) area alongside your plans and maps. Critical documents and information should be in water-proof document bags and easily accessible. Store it near your 72-hour evacuation kit in case you need to quickly leave your home. # SKILLSET Having all the right gear is useless if you aren’t proficient with it and understand what scenarios it can be used in and the limitations of that equipment. Another thing to consider is, can you keep that equipment serviceable and effective? This can apply to anything. Your car, a chainsaw, generator, water filter, shovel, etc.. Be able to care for the items that are going to ensure your families survival in an emergency. Basic mechanical skills AND the tools to work on your stuff is extremely important. Since all of this is very situationally dependent, we’ll skip trying to give you an extensive list of all the tools you might need, but you should make your own list. Identify the hazards you will encounter for the emergencies you are preparing for and have tools that allow you to solve problems that arise. Chainsaw for downed trees, a winch for getting vehicles unstuck, a generator for power, hand tools for fixing things, a shovel.. etc Training, experience and individual capability is often the most valuable thing you can bring to a dire situation. The gear will fill in the rest. Test yourself AND your gear regularly to understand if there are any gaps in your capabilities, This gives you immense confidence when a real-world situation arises. # FOOD You'll need food to live on and ways to cook it. A good example is backpacking or camping stove with enough fuel for 30 days, or your backyard grill. Usually, your home pots and pans will be enough to cook in. Make sure you have enough fuel as your primary oven or stove at home may not be working depending on the disaster or catastrophic event. Generally, foods with low-moisture and fat levels have the most extended storage lives when stored correctly. Store foods in air-tight containers such as mylar bags or sealed jars or five-gallon containers. Placing food-safe desiccant packets inside will help ensure moisture and air is removed! Canned goods can often last for long periods of time as well. Plan about 2,000 calories per adult per day. That means, for a 30-day supply, you'll need about 60,000 calories per adult stored. That may seem like a lot but bulk items high in calories will help. **MEDICATIONS** - Aspirin – Pain & Fever Reducer - Acetaminophen/Paracetamol – Pain & Fever Reducer - Ibuprofen – NSAID Pain & Fever Reducer - Naproxen Sodium – NSAID Pain & Fever Reducer - Benzocaine – Common oral topical pain medication - Omeprazole – Acid reducer - Pepto - Acid reducer - Imodium – Anti-diarrheal - Diphenhydramine – Antihistamine also commonly used as OTC anxiety med - Loratadine – Antihistamine - Activated Charcoal – Poisoning aid - Potassium Iodide – Radiation Poisoning - Clotrimazole/Lotrimin - Antifungal cream - Triple Antibiotic Ointment - Antibacterial cream - Sunscreen - Cough and cold symptomatic medicine - Insect and rodent control - Insect bite and repellant - General Antibiotics (Amoxicillin or similar) - Any medications you may need for your own personal health - Medications often are in short supply during a disaster so ensuring you have a 30 day supply will greatly help you in handling disruptions. If you have children, you'll want to also have this medication for child doses. There are sites that will prescribe and ship you prescription meds that are commonly needed in a survival / disaster situation, having these on hand when medical services may be unavailable is crucial. [Duration Health](https://durationhealth.com/) is an example of one such company. # WATER PURIFICATION / Hygiene Handwashing and brushing teeth are critical to maintain to prevent illness. Use only clean water to brush teeth. Use soap and water to clean hands repeatedly during a disaster. If water is in low supply, use CDC’s recommendations to create handwashing solution in low resource environment using chorine. Use the MILD chlorine water to wash hands. Make new mild chlorine water every day. 1. Mix 14 tablespoons of 5% bleach into 20 liters of clear water every day. Stir well. 2. label plastic bucket for handwashing only / MILD 0.05%. Do not drink or use for cooking. 3. Make sure the bucket is covered. Use the MILD chlorine water to wash hands. 4. Use warm water and soap to clean, followed by diluted bleach water Avoid entering floodwaters due to high contamination levels. Make sure your toilet areas are well away from food preparations areas and any water potentially contaminated is flowing downstream of water where you may using for personal hygiene. Store personal wipes for wiping down your body each day and be sure to have enough clean water to clean out any wounds. You should aim for a half gallon of drinking water a day per person. A full gallon of water per person per day is ideal as it allows for cooking water as well. That means, for a 30-day supply for a single adult, you may need 30 gallons of water stored. Consider pets and children in your math. Have a stockpile of clean drinking water usually a good rule of thumb is 2 weeks of drinking water per person. Either buy cases of bottled water or store it in a DEDICATED container like this [Wavian water jerry can](https://wavianusa.com/wavian-water-can-blue-5-8-gallon-22-liter.html?srsltid=AfmBOorE545E4JOx4n5xmwCf_8lEa3wcN8aRkqIp5oZmuR9aSYFnk34q). Water purification is paramount to ensuring your survival where access to clean water is restricted or unavailable. Have a way to purify enough water for everyone you are caring for. Solutions: - [Platypus GravityWorks](https://www.platy.com/filtration/gravityworks-water-filter-system/gravityworks.html) gravity filter for first filtration (or something similar) - Water purification tablets (Aquatabs or similar) - [H2go Chlorine Generator](https://www.cana-provisions.com/store/p/aqua-research-h2go-global-chlorine-disinfectant-generator) (great for when you have to be mobile and pack light) - [Cana Provisions Personal Decon Kit](https://www.cana-provisions.com/store/p/personal-water-decon-kit) (have atleast one of these per person. This will be the lightest and most portable solution for short term purification. If you can’t buy anything else in this list, get these) ^ Their Water Data Cards are also a great resource. - Berkey filter for final filtration (good for stationary situations like inside your house) If you have a bathtub, consider emergency bladders that sit inside the entire bathtub and can be filled directly prior to an emergency before water is shut-off. It allows a greatly expanded water storage in an area that most likely will not be used during a disaster. # COMMUNICATION ## Emergency Radio Get an Emergency Radio! Having a radio that can receive AM/FM and NOAA Weather Stations (or equivalent in your country) is critical. Make sure it can be powered via common battery types, such as AA. Hand-powered or solar-powered is an added benefit. Some emergency radios can also receive amateur bands. They are essential for a kit. ## Two Way Radios -In a communications blackout, the ability to talk to members of your household or community over a few miles can be incredibly useful. Look at what radios are available in your country. Almost all countries have a license-free radio service available for civilians. Have a way to charge the radios and extra batteries on hand. In the US, Citizen Band is a license-free radio service and handheld radios can be bought cheaply. Family Radio Service (often sold as cheap bubble-packs of walkie-talkies) are also license free but poor range. A great alternative is General Mobile Radio Service or GMRS. An FCC License can be bought for an entire household for $70 and the radios offer good range and urban propagation. Having a number of charged GMRS radios ready-to-go can come in handy. A comms plan is essential, even with all the right gear if you don’t know how, when and where to use your communication equipment it’s useless. Put together a PACE plan that contains the details of how to communicate in an emergency. Baofeng’s are great for these types of situations as they are cheap so convincing family members or your community to buy them is easier than other multi-hundred dollar handheld options. They have FM receive capability and with a good antenna, adequate range for a community comms plan. **IN AN EMERGENCY YOU ARE PERMITTED TO TRANSMIT ON AMATEUR RADIO BANDS. YOU DO NOT NEED A HAM LICENSE FOR THESE SITUATIONS.** With that being said, getting your HAM license and being more involved with the amateur radio community can be extremely beneficial when trying to coordinate wide spread communications and especially when working with emergency services. ## Emergency Signals In case of a disaster, search-and-rescue services will usually arrive at some point to damaged communities. Have a way to signal for aid if needed! Flare guns, road flares, handheld marine smoke signals and flares, and orange distress panels (VS-17 panel) are all usually available from local marine / mil surplus stores. Bright orange cloth is usually a great signaling device as well as signal mirrors and can be found in outdoor stores. Road flares and automative distress signals such as electronic flares or triangles also can be used for signals. Bright orange ground marking spray paint can be purchased cheaply and used to create all kinds of emergency signage. Mirrors or flashers. Audible signalers, such as distress whistles or handheld sirens, are also a great tool to have. Have several different signal types such as flares, smoke and whistles so you can alert emergency services to your presence. Great video on signaling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvNIiuCDElg # SAFETY Learn how to shut off natural gas in your area and in your home. Online resources are available to identify natural gas regulators and shutting them down. Many utility companies offer free safety training as well for residential gas shutoff. Turning off natural gas in a collapse or damaged building often is critical to stop further catastrophe! Ensure you have proper tools to do so! A rescue wrench often has glass hammer, seatbelt cutter, gas wrench and other common safety tools on it. Watch for live wires, down power lines and other electrical hazards. Understand where your breaker boxes and master disconnect switches are in your own residential area. Know how to use your fire extinguisher and make sure it’s rated for multiple types of fire hazards. If you have an Electric Vehicle, you should be preparing during a water event. If you live near someone with an EV during a water event, you should be preparing yourself for the chance of fire. Running a generator inside of an enclosed area kills many people per year, ensure your gas powered items are not venting down-wind of your home and you do NOT have them running inside of a confined space. Purchase battery operated C02 detectors and place them in common gathering spots and sleeping areas to ensure you don’t take a forever nap. # SHELTER IN PLACE If you plan to have your primary shelter be your home, make sure you have items to keep it in repair! Have a roof tarping kit for fixing large holes in the roof during extreme weather. Keeping a number of large tarps on hand can be very handy in fixing holes or covering windows. They can pull double duty by being bright orange and thus also be a signaling device! Make sure you have a plan for heating your home. If your infrastructure is knocked out, having a wood stove in the home is a great way to have back-up heating source and cooking area. Understand or learn how to store and handle propane or electric heaters as they are can be safety hazards. Have tools ready, such as flashlights, heavy utility tape, basic home repair tools and safety items. Wool blankets and below-zero sleeping bags can help keep you warm inside your shelter and also help protect you when sheltering elsewhere. # MISC ALWAYS include several different ways to start a fire in every kit and in every possible shelter. Stormproof matches, lighters, flint and steel and combustible fire starters can be bought cheaply and should accompany every emergency preparation. Clothing is critical to shelter. Learn to layer effectively! Moisture-wicking materials are vital as the first layer, with warming layers and moisture- and wind-resistant layer as the outermost. Remove layers to prevent sweating during activities (as it will cool you) and replace when activities lessen. If you anticipate losing power and have access to washing and drying machines, do all items of laundry before the expected disaster for yourself and your family members. # Helpful Links FEMA Food & Water Handout - https://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/f&web.pdf University of Georgia Extension - https://www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/preparing-an-emergency-food-supply-short-term-food-storage Texas A&M Disaster Education Network - https://texashelp.tamu.edu/browse/disaster-preparedness-information/emergency-food-and-water-supplies/ Ready.gov - https://www.ready.gov/food Emergency Supplies Calculator from WhatIf Colorado - http://www.whatifcolorado.com/scorm/courseFiles/calculator/index.html#:~:text=To%20prepare%2C%20pack%20at%20least,sanitation%20in%20clean%20plastic%20containers. EPA Drinking Water Guidelines - https://www.epa.gov/waterutilityresponse/emergency-drinking-water-supply-guidance Ready.gov Communications Plan - https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/family-emergency-communication-plan.pdf Red Cross Planning - https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/make-a-plan.html Habitat for Humanity Family Communications - https://www.habitat.org/our-work/disaster-response/disaster-preparedness-homeowners/family-communications-plan#:~:text=Include%20an%20emergency%20contact%20name,to%20call%20911%20for%20help. FCC Tips for Communications during Disaster - https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/guides/tips-communicating-emergency https://www.cdc.gov/prepyourhealth/takeaction/index.htm https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/bleach.html Ready.gov Safety - https://www.ready.gov/safety-skills FEMA You Are The Help - https://community.fema.gov/until-help-arrives ## Video Resources Signaling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvNIiuCDElg&ab_channel=SpiritusSystems Water / Water Purification: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnOB6azosbg&pp=ygUjc3Bpcml0dXMgc3lzdGVtcyB3YXRlciBwdXJpZmljYXRpb24%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVFvtIuUkdA&pp=ygUjc3Bpcml0dXMgc3lzdGVtcyB3YXRlciBwdXJpZmljYXRpb24%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtMeHyGwcK0 Communications: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjnVypmqGoo&ab_channel=S2Underground https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzDj0u1HhvE&pp=ygUTdHJleCBhcm1zIHBhY2UgcGxhbg%3D%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ixj-AmTbB8&pp=ygUTdHJleCBhcm1zIHBhY2UgcGxhbg%3D%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td6fozpEb1U&t=1s&pp=ygUdczIgdW5kZXJncm91bmQgY2l2aWxpYW4gaW50ZWw%3D (Not directly communications related, but a great video about standing up a civilian intel shop, very useful if you have the manpower & equipment in a emergency / disaster scenario) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxyYB8RBbJs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSmMS8b1TfQ&ab_channel=DirtyCivilian ## Low Bandwidth News Sites text.npr.org lite.pbs.org lite.cnn.com www.cbc.ca/lite/news