FAMILY PREPAREDNESS FOR DISASTER. Mississippi Baptist Convention Board Disaster Relief. P. O. Box 530 Jackson, MS

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1 FAMILY PREPAREDNESS FOR DISASTER Mississippi Baptist Cnventin Bard Disaster Relief P. O. Bx 530 Jacksn, MS

2 Family Preparedness fr Disaster Gal: t help families learn abut the disaster hazards in their cmmunity and develp a plan t survive after a disaster event as well as t minister t thers. Tday mre peple live in disaster prne areas. It may take a few hurs r a few days fr help t reach yur family. Therefre, it is imprtant fr yu t prepare yur family t survive in the event a disaster affects yur cmmunity. Families are encuraged t develp a plan and assemble a supply kit t insure survival until assistance arrives. This manual is divided int fur basic sectins: 1. The Family Disaster Plan 2. The Family Disaster Supply Kit 3. When a Disaster Strikes 4. Checklists: The Family Disaster Plan and the Family Disaster Supply Kit The Family Disaster Plan Develping a Family Disaster Plan The first step in develping a family disaster plan is t identify the disaster hazards that may affect yur cmmunity. Examples are chemical spills, earthquakes, fires, flds, hurricanes, pwer failure, terrrist attacks, trnades, transprtatin accidents, snw/ice, etc. Take time t educate yur family abut the disasters that can happen in yur cmmunity r t yur family. The purpse is nt t frighten family members but t help them identify the pssibilities and develp an apprpriate respnse. After identifying the disaster hazards, determine the needs f yur family in case such an event ccurs. A list shuld be created by yur family fr yur family s any special needs and desires f yur family can be cnsidered. This list shuld cver what it wuld take t survive fr three days in the event f a disaster. Give time t writing the family disaster plan n paper s n ne will frget. Shelter fr the Family Careful cnsideratin must be given t sheltering the family during crisis. This decisin will depend n the size and nature f the crisis. Is yur hme damaged? T what extent? D yu need t evacuate the neighbrhd? Can yu travel utside f the area? D yu have utilities? Other ptins fr yur family are public shelters spnsred by the American Red Crss r yur church. Be prepared t take clthes, medicatins, blankets, sleeping bags, and items t entertain family members. Shuld yu need t evacuate the area, use rutes that have been identified in yur disaster plan. Knw the predetermined place yur family shuld evacuate t. 1

3 If yur family wns a camper r tent, yu can use them t shelter yur family until evacuatin is pssible r until utside help arrives. If necessary, yur family can use a van r autmbile fr shelter until better accmmdatins are available. D nt run the engine r radi in the vehicle. The dangers f causing the battery t die r carbn mnxide pisning are t great t allw the vehicle t run with yur family inside. Training Yur Family Training is an imprtant part f yur family disaster plan. Training gives family members cnfidence and experience. The stress f a disaster situatin is nt the time t try t figure ut hw t d smething r use a piece f equipment frm yur family disaster supply kit. The nnthreatening atmsphere f pre-event training is a better time fr familiarizing yur family with yur disaster plan and equipment. Take time t discuss yur family disaster plan and supply kit. Seek pprtunities t have yur family trained in disaster relief by yur state Baptist cnventin disaster relief directr. The American Red Crss als prvides training in the fllwing areas: disaster services, first aid, cardipulmnary resuscitatin (CPR), mass care, and sheltering. Many lcal, city, cunty, and state emergency management agencies prvide training fr disasters cmmn t their area. Educating yur family abut emergency management services at all these levels will help them understand the rle f the varius agencies during times f disaster. Yur family disaster plan training shuld als include hw t use the equipment in yur family disaster supply kit. Hw t place batteries in a radi r flashlight and hw t light a lantern, candles, r camp stve safely are examples f what shuld be cvered during a training time. Planning fr a rendezvus site fr yur family in the event f an emergency shuld als be part f yur family s disaster plan. If yur family had t evacuate yur hme during an emergency, where wuld yu meet? Meeting in a neighbr s yard r n the street crner culd save the lives f family members. In the event yur neighbrhd is destryed r restricted, where wuld yur family meet? A lcal stre, church, r friend s hme culd becme a rendezvus site utside yur neighbrhd. Yur family shuld knw where t rendezvus utside yur neighbrhd. Yur family shuld identify an ut-f-state cntact persn. A family member r friend identified as a cntact persn may becme the ne persn wh can prvide infrmatin n the whereabuts and status f family members, especially if yu becme separated. 2

4 The Family Disaster Supply Kit Develping Yur Family Disaster Supply Kit Make a list f thse items yur family will need t survive three days in the event f a disaster: 1. Water - One galln f water per day per persn. Special needs shuld be cnsidered and additinal water supply may need t be placed in yur family disaster supply kit. 2. Canned and packaged fd - Canned meat, fruit, vegetables, juice, sup, and milk; high energy and granla bars; peanut butter; jelly; crackers; trail mix. 3. Cmfrt fd - Ckies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lllipps, instant cffee, and tea bags. 4. First aid kit - If a family member takes a maintenance prescriptin, a three-day supply f this drug shuld be included. 5. Equipment and tls - Eating utensils frks, spns, knives, hand-perated can pener, matches, signal flares, fire extinguisher (ABC), a battery-perated radi and flashlight with extra batteries, a camp stve r sme ther device t heat fd, pliers, wrenches, tape, rpe, plastic sheets, sewing kit, a tent, tilet paper, twelettes, persnal hygiene items, plastic bags, a plastic bucket with lid, chlrine bleach and disinfectant, paper, pencils, whistle, cmpass, and a map f yur cmmunity 6. Clthing and bedding - Sturdy shes, wrk bts, rain gear, hats, glves, blankets, sleeping bags, thermal underwear, and cats. 7. Special items - Baby items, eyeglasses, cntact lenses, cpies f imprtant family dcuments, entertainment items (games, bks), cash, etc. Strage f the Family Disaster Supply Kit Care shuld be taken t prvide adequate and safe strage. Keep yur disaster supply kit in a dry, cl place. The kit shuld be cvered t prtect the supplies and fds frm being damaged. Be sure t peridically inspect the items in yur disaster supply kit fr spilage and expiratin dates. One suggestin is t d this with the time change each spring and fall. Change the batteries in yur smke detectr and replace fd in yur disaster supply kit as needed. Practicing the Family Disaster Plan Invest time in practicing the family disaster plan with each family member. Everyne shuld be familiar with all cmpnents f the family plan. Hw t use the tls and equipment, where the kit is stred, hw t retrieve the kit, hw t prepare the fd, what t d if separated frm ther family members are all imprtant lessns t learn. 3

5 When a Disaster Strikes Stay calm. Keep yur family members calm. Institute yur family disaster plan. Inspect yur huse. Turn ff utilities that are damaged and thse yu suspect are damaged Help thers in yur neighbrhd. They may need first aid. Begin immediately t seek infrmatin. The lcal televisin and radi statins that are part f the emergency bradcast system will be back n the air as sn as pssible. Lk fr the lcal plice, fire, and emergency management agencies t begin mving thrugh the area t d damage assessment and respnd t emergency calls. Prvide infrmatin abut yur family and neighbrhd t these lcal gvernment fficials. Share with them needs r cncerns but be prepared fr them t handle life-threatening emergencies first. Once yu have determined that yu and yur family are safe, seek pprtunities t minister t yur neighbrs and share yur faith with thse arund yu. Yu can prvide hpe. Hpe in Crisis is an excellent witnessing bklet that can be used during disasters. Cnclusin N ne knws when a disaster will strike. Hwever, we can and shuld be prepared in the event ne happens. This curse has given yu practical suggestins and tw checklists n preparing yur family t survive in a disaster. May Gd bless yu and yur family. 4

6 Family Disaster Plan Checklist Develp a list f disaster hazards fr yur cmmunity. Develp a list f the supplies yur family will need in the event f a disaster. Develp a list f training needed by yur family. Select yur ut-f-area cntact persn. Practice yur family disaster plan. Lcate the cut-ff fr the utilities fr yur hme. Gas Electricity Water Phne Cable Assemble the family disaster supply kit. Select a cl dry place t stre the disaster supply kit. Identify the fficial cmmunity shelter nearest yur family. Develp a list f telephne numbers yu wuld need in a disaster. Identify the neighbrs yur family shuld check n in a disaster. 5

7 Family Disaster Supply Kit Checklist Water (One galln per persn per day) Fd canned fruit canned juice canned meat canned milk canned vegetables cereal crackers energy bars hard candy instant cffee instant tea jelly peanut butter salt/pepper sugar trail mix Health Items antacid anti-diarrhea medicatin first aid kit maintenance drugs mediatin pain relievers paper twels persnal hygiene items plastic bags plastic bucket and lid tilet paper twelettes Clthing and Bedding blankets sleeping bags change f clthes cats glves hat rain gear shes/bts Autmbile emergency kit flashlight tls Special Items eye glasses cntact lens and slutin games/bks paper pencils/pens phne numbers family dcuments shelter lcatin Tls and Equipment candles chlrine bleach cmpass/gps disinfectant eating utensils fire extinguisher flashlight and batteries hammer hand-held can pener map matches/lighter plates/cups/bwls pliers screwdriver shvel pts and pans radi and batteries rpe sewing kit signal flare sap (dish and hand) tape tarp/plastic sheets tent whistle camp stve wrench Other Needs 6

Southern Baptist. Family Disaster Preparation. Adopted from: North American Mission Board, SBC

Southern Baptist. Family Disaster Preparation. Adopted from: North American Mission Board, SBC Southern Baptist Family Disaster Preparation Adopted from: North American Mission Board, SBC Table of Contents Section One The Family Disaster Plan... 1 Developing a Family Disaster Plan... 1 Shelter for