Disaster Preparedness: 4. Family Disaster Planning

Introduction | Fire, Flood or Other Disaster | Plan |
Shelter-in-place | Evacuate

Communication Is The Most Critical Aspect Of Disaster Planning.
Assign Each Family Member A Role.
Consider All Situations Which May Impact You.
Practice Your Plan.

Introduction

• "Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory" ~Miguel de Cervantes
• "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley, [often go awry]"
  ~Robert Burns, "To a Mouse"
• "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong" ~Murphy's law
• "Mother Nature may be forgiving this year, or next year,
  but eventually she's going to come around and whack you.
  You've got to be prepared." ~Geraldo Rivera
• video: Importance of a Disaster Plan CERT; 3:28

Fire, Flood or Other Disaster

• Fire -- Practice crawling low under smoke. Practice STOP! DROP! And ROLL!
• Wildfires; OEM; JCEM; AFR; ARC
• see section: 6. Wildfire
• Earthquake -- Practice DROP! COVER! and HOLD ON!
• Earthquakes; OEM, OEM:Cascadia; DOGAMI, DOGAMI: Cascadia video;
  JCEM; ARC
• see section: 8. Earthquake
• Floods; OEM; DOGAMI; JCEM; ARC
• Landslides; DOGAMI; ARC
• see section: 9. Flood

Plan

• Develop a home evacuation plan,
  including the use of alternative exits such as windows.
• Meeting locations -- you need a location near your home and away from home.
• Informing loved-ones you are safe; will you text them?
  How long before they can reasonably expect to hear from you?
• Identify an out-of-state contact.
  Create a hard copy of relevant Contacts (.pdf) and provide to each family member.
• If you can access your voicemail, update your greeting to include information
  for those who can call you (even if you can't later access their messages).
• Jackson County: Preparedness Plan for Families
• ready.gov: Make A Plan Page
• Family Emergency Communication Form 7/2017
• redcross.org: Create Your Emergency Plan in Just 3 Steps
• Learn CPR and First Aid basics
• Red Cross Family Disaster Plan: Template, Instructions; Plantilla, Instrucciones
• Is Your 'Go Bag' Ready? 'Stay Bin'? NYT; 9/2/2021
• 5 Apps to Prepare You For Any Emergency
  Planning: FEMA; Personal and contact info: ICE (In Case of Emergency);
  Staying connected: Life360; Treating injuries: Red Cross First Aid;
  Protecting pets: Pet First Aid; PC Magazine; 4/27/2020
• other apps: Red Cross: Earthquake, Flood; WebMD; AED; Triage

Shelter-in-place

• In some disasters staying put is safest depending on the situation.
  You may need to stay put for extended periods of time.
• e.g., Cascadia earthquake could damage roads & bridges and prevent evacuation
  -- section: #5. 2 Weeks Ready
• You may be without essential services during these times.
• You may be able to rely on neighbors for support if you've met in advance
  -- section: #10. Get Involved: Map Your Neighborhood
• Know how to seal off a room, if required, and have the proper materials on hand,
  e.g., for smoke, cold
• Shelter-in-Place Advice
  disaster: Active Shooter, Chemical Hazard, Earthquake; Flooding/Flash Flooding;
  Hurricane (High Wind, Flooding and Storm Surge); Nuclear/Radiological Event;
  Pandemic; Thunderstorm; Tornado; Winter Storm;
  structure: Manufactured or Mobile Home; 1- or 2-Story Building (w/ attic and/or basement); Multistory Building;
  FEMA; 13pp; .pdf; 5/25/2021
• ready.gov; Jackson County
• The Best Wildfire Preparedness Supplies and Strategies
  Wirecutter-tested essentials to have on hand in case of emergency; Air purifier;
  Water container; Respirator; USB battery pack; Emergency radio; First aid;
  Headlamp; Extra batteries; Fireproof document safe; Gas can; NYT; 6/14/2021

Evacuation

• Many situations such as wildfire and flood force people
  to leave their homes with little to no warning.
  Plan where and how you will reunite with your loved ones
  if you cannot return to your home immediately.
• Inform your out-of-town contact where you are going.
  Use officially designated routes
  if advised by emergency response personnel.
• section: #2: Evacuation Process: Ready, Set, Go!
• ODOT Emergency on-ramp work begins
  gravel onramp will be built off Mountain Ave. just N of Skylark Senior Living and
  Mountain Meadows, allowing vehicles to enter the southbound I-5; ashland.news; 1/17/2022
• Ashland: Wildfire Action Plan; Evacuation: What's the plan?
• Ashland Evacuation Routes: map; video
• Evacuation: ready.gov; Jackson County; Josephine County