Are You READY! Some disasters strike without any warning. Have you thought about those supplies you ll need the most? They will usually be the hardest to come by. Enlist your children to help gather supplies for your family s emergency kit. It ll bring you a sense of relief, and your kids a feeling of empowerment. Make sure you have enough supplies to last for at least three days. Think about where you live and your needs. Consider having a large kit at home, and smaller portable kit in the car or your workplace. If a big storm is coming... Fill your car with gas Fill plastic bags with water and place them in the freezer Get extra cash out of the bank Fill prescriptions Emergency Supplies List 3-day supply of non-perishable food (dried fruit, canned tuna fish, peanut butter, etc.) Can opener Paper plates, plastic cups and utensils, paper towels Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Water at least a gallon per person, per day for drinking and hygiene First aid kit Prescription medication and glasses Sleeping bag or warm blanket for everyone in your family Change of clothes to last for at least 3 days, including sturdy shoes; consider the weather where you live Matches in a waterproof container Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and other personal items Feminine hygiene supplies Fire extinguisher Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Dust mask, and plastic sheeting and duct tape, to help filter contaminated air Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio and extra batteries Flashlights and extra batteries Cell phone with charger, extra battery and solar charger Whistle to signal for help Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper (when diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liuid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.) Local maps Cash or traveler s checks Emergency reference material such as first aid book or information from www.ready.gov Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, ID, and bank records in a waterproof, portable container Pet supplies Infant formula and diapers Paper and pencil Books, games or puzzles (let your kids pick these out themselves!) Your child s favorite stuffed animal or security blanket Pet food and extra water for your pet Don t forget to think about infants, elderly, pets, or any family members with special needs! 2014 Cailfornia State PTA Convention C-1 Disaster Preparedness
Family Communication Plan Emergencies can happen at any time. Do you know how to get in touch with your family if you are not together? Let them know you re OK! Pick the same person for each family member to contact. It might be easier to reach someone who s out of town. Text, don t talk! Unless you are in immediate danger, send a text. Texts often have an easier time getting through during emergencies, and you don t want to tie up phone lines needed by emergency responders (like 911). Parent: Work: Parent: Work: My cell: Sibling: Sibling: Know the Numbers! Adult: Neighbor: Neighbor: Out of state friend/relative: Memorize your home and parents cell phone numbers! Cut this out and keep it somewhere safe like your backpack, school notebook, or wallet. Or input these numbers into your cell phone if you have one. 2014 California State PTA Convention 1 C-1 Disaster Preparedness
Know Where to Go... and How to Get There. Pick a Meeting Spot Where will you meet up with your family if you have to get out of your house uickly? Where will you meet if your neighborhood is being evacuated and you re not at home? In your neighborhood: (such as neighbor s house or big tree) Draw a Map Put a to show your home. Put a O to show your school. Mark your out-of-neighborhood meeting spot with an X and label it. Out of your neighborhood: (such as the library or house of worship) Know the Exits Do you know two ways out of every room in your house in case of a fire? Draw a floor plan of your bedroom in the space below and circle the two ways to get out. Hint: one may not be a door! 2014 California State PTA Convention 2 C-1 Disaster Preparedness
Additional Items to Consider Adding to an Emergency Supply Kit: Prescription medications and glasses Infant formula and diapers Pet food and extra water for your pet Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container Cash or traveler s checks and change Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate. Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate. Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liuid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners. Fire Extinguisher Matches in a waterproof container Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels Paper and pencil Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children Emergency Supply List www.ready.gov 2014 Cailfornia State PTA Convention C-1 Disaster Preparedness
Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit: Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) Local maps Through its Ready Campaign, the Federal Emergency Management Agency educates and empowers Americans to take some simple steps to prepare for and respond to potential emergencies, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Ready asks individuals to do three key things: get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses. All Americans should have some basic supplies on hand in order to survive for at least three days if an emergency occurs. Following is a listing of some basic items that every emergency supply kit should include. However, it is important that individuals review this list and consider where they live and the uniue needs of their family in order to create an emergency supply kit that will meet these needs. Individuals should also consider having at least two emergency supply kits, one full kit at home and smaller portable kits in their workplace, vehicle or other places they spend time. Federal Emergency Management Agency Washington, DC 20472 2014 Cailfornia State PTA Convention C-1 Disaster Preparedness
Family Communication Plan Emergencies can happen at any time. Does your family know how to get in touch with each other if you are not all together? Before an emergency happens, have a family discussion to determine who would be your out-of-state point of contact, and where you would meet away from your home both in the neighborhood and within your town. Let them know you re OK! Pick the same person for each family member to contact. It might be easier to reach someone who s out of town. Important Information Fill in this information and keep a copy in a safe place, such as your purse or briefcase, your car, your office, and your disaster kit. Be sure to look it over every year and keep it up to date. Email: Out-of-Town Contact Neighborhood Meeting Place: Regional Meeting Place: Work Information Workplace: Workplace: School Information School: School: School: 2014 California State PTA Conventnion 1 C-1 Disaster Preparedness
Important Information (continued) Family Information Medical Contacts Doctor: Doctor: Pediatrician: Dentist: Dentist: Specialist: Specialist: Pharmacist: Veterinarian/Kennel: Insurance Information Medical Insurance: Policy Number: Homeowners/Rental Insurance: Policy Number: Text, don t talk! Unless you are in danger, send a text. Texts may have an easier time getting through than phone calls, and you don t want to tie up phone lines needed by emergency workers. 2014 California State PTA Conventnion 2 C-1 Disaster Preparedness
Recommended Supplies to Include in a Basic Kit: p Water one gallon per person per day, for drinking and sanitation p Food at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food This common sense framework is designed to launch a process of learning about citizen preparedness. For the most current information and recommendations, go online to http://www.ready.gov. Distributed in partnership with: p Battery-powered radio and extra batteries p Flashlight and extra batteries p First Aid kit p Whistle to signal for help p Filter mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air p Moist towelettes for sanitation p Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities p Manual can opener for food ( if kit contains canned food ) p Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place p Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation p Uniue family needs, such as daily prescription medications, infant formula or diapers, and important family documents Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20472 FEMA R-3 / Catalog No. 09077-1 Prepare for Emergencies Now: Information to Get Ready. http://www.ready.gov 2014 California State PTA Convention C-1 Disaster Preparedness
Preparing Makes Sense. The likelihood that you and your family will survive a house fire depends as much on having a working smoke detector and an exit strategy, as on a well - trained fire department. The same is true for surviving a terrorist attack or other emergency. We must have the tools and plans in place to make it on our own, at least for a period of time, no matter where we are when disaster strikes. Just like having a working smoke detector, preparing for the unexpected makes sense. Get ready now. 1 Get a Kit of Emergency Supplies. Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to make it on your own for at least three days, maybe longer. While there are many things that might make you more comfortable, think first about fresh water, food and clean air. Consider two kits. In one, put everything you will need to stay where you are and make it on your own. The other should be a lightweight, smaller version you can take with you if you have to get away. You ll need a gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Include in the kits a three day supply of non-perishable foods that are easy to store and prepare such as protein bars, dried fruit or canned foods. If you live in a cold weather climate, include warm clothes and a sleeping bag for each member of the family. Some potential terrorist attacks could send tiny microscopic junk into the air. Many of these materials can only hurt you if they get into your body, so think about creating a barrier between yourself and any contamination. It s smart to have something for each member of the family that covers their mouth and nose, such as two to three layers of a cotton t-shirt, handkerchief or towel or filter masks, readily available in hardware stores. It is very important that the mask or other material fit your face snugly so that most of the air you breathe comes through the mask, not around it. Do whatever you can to make the best fit possible for children. Also, include duct tape and heavyweight garbage bags or plastic sheeting that can be used to seal windows and doors if you need to create a barrier between yourself and any potential contamination outside. 2 Make a Plan For What You Will Do in an Emergency. Plan in advance what you will do in an emergency. Be prepared to assess the situation. Use common sense and whatever you have on hand to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Develop a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations. Consider a plan where each family member calls, or e-mails, the same friend or relative in the event of an emergency. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members. Be sure each person knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. You may have trouble getting through, or the phone system may be down altogether, but be patient. Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the attack, the first important decision is whether you stay put or get away. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and the information you are learning here to determine if there is immediate danger. Watch television and listen to the radio for official instructions as they become available. Create a Plan to Shelter-in-Place. There are circumstances when staying put and creating a barrier between yourself and potentially contaminated air outside, a process known as sheltering-in-place and sealing the room can be a matter of survival. If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to shelter-in-place and seal the room. Consider precutting plastic sheeting to seal windows, doors and air vents. Each piece should be several inches larger than the space you want to cover so that you can duct tape it flat against the wall. Label each piece with the location of where it fits. Use all available information to assess the situation. If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to shelter-in-place. Quickly bring your family and pets inside, lock doors, and close windows, air vents and fireplace dampers. Immediately turn off air conditioning, forced air heating systems, exhaust fans and clothes dryers. Take your emergency supplies and go into the room you have designated. Seal all windows, doors and vents. Understand that sealing the room is a temporary measure to create a barrier between you and contaminated air. Watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet for instructions. Create a Plan to Get Away. Plan in advance how you will assemble your family and anticipate where you will go. Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency. If you have a car, keep at least a half tank of gas in it at all times. Become familiar with alternate routes as well as other means of transportation out of your area. If you do not have a car, plan how you will leave if you have to. Take your emergency supply kit, unless you have reason to believe it is contaminated and lock the door behind you. Take pets with you if you are told to evacuate, however, if you are going to a public shelter, keep in mind they may not be allowed inside. If you believe the air may be contaminated, drive with your windows and vents closed and keep the air conditioning and heater turned off. Listen to the radio for instructions. Know Emergency Plans at School and Work. Think about the places where your family spends time: school, work and other places your family freuents. Talk to your children s schools and your employer about emergency plans. Find out how they will communicate with families during an emergency. If you are an employer, be sure you have an emergency preparedness plan. Review and practice it with your employees. A community working together during an emergency also makes sense. Talk to your neighbors 3about how you can work together. Be Informed About What Might Happen. Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling a supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or manmade emergency. However there are significant differences among potential terrorist threats, such as biological, chemical, explosive, nuclear and radiological, which will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. By beginning a process of learning about these specific threats, you are preparing yourself to react in an emergency. Go to www.ready.gov to learn more about potential terrorist threats and other emergencies or call 1-800-BE-READY (1-800-237-3239) for a free brochure. Be prepared to adapt this information to your personal circumstances and make every effort to follow instructions received from authorities on the scene. With these simple preparations, you can be ready for the unexpected. 4Get ready now. Get Involved in Preparing Your Community. After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies, take the next step and get involved in preparing your community. Join Citizen Corps, which actively involves citizens in making our communities and our nation safer, stronger and better prepared. We all have a role to play in keeping our hometowns secure from emergencies of all kinds. Citizen Corps works hard to help people prepare, train and volunteer in their communities. Go to www.citizencorps.gov for more information and to get involved. 2014 California State PTA Convention C-1 Disaster Preparedness