Personal and Family Preparedness

1
Personal and Family Preparedness
2
Introduction

• Diana Mata - Intern
• Kevin Dodge - Intern

3
Pre-TestHow Prepared Are You???

• Do you know where your car title is located?
• Do you have a list of all medications your
• household takes on a daily basis?
• Do you know what frequency the emergency
• broadcasting channel is on an AM/FM radio?

4
What Should We Do?

1. Be Informed
2. Make a Plan
3. Build a Kit
4. Get Involved

5

• What are some potential hazards we face in North
  Texas?

6
Be Informed

• Thunderstorms and Lightning
• If a sturdy shelter is not available, get inside
  a hardtop vehicle and keep the windows up
• Lightning strike victims carry no electrical
  charge and should be attended to immediately
• Avoid showering or bathing. Plumbing and
  bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity
• Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge
  of a thunderstorm

7
Be Informed

• Tornados
• They may strike quickly, with little
• or no warning
• Before a tornado hits, the wind
• may die down and the air may
• become very still
• A cloud of debris can mark the
• location of a tornado even if a
• funnel is not visible

8
Be Informed

• Look for the following danger signs
• Dark, often greenish sky
• Large hail
• A large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if
  rotating)
• Loud roar, similar to a freight train
• Take shelter by going to the center
• of an interior room on the lowest
• level of a building
• Put as many walls as possible
• between you and the outside

9
Be Informed

• Warning sirens are generally
• activated when
• Tornado warnings from the National Weather
  Service naming your location in its path
• Severe thunderstorm warnings from the National
  Weather Service with winds forecast over 73mph
• When deemed necessary by city officials (civil
  unrest, Hazmat, disasters)

10
Be Informed

• Watches vs. Warnings
• Watch Conditions are favorable for the severe
  weather event in or near the watch area. When a
  watch is announced, stay alert and be ready to
  take action
• Warning Severe weather event is imminent or
  occurring in the warned area. Take action based
  on the emergency at hand

11
Be Informed

• Floods/Flashfloods
• It only takes six inches of fast-moving
  floodwater to knock over an adult and two feet to
  carry away most vehicles, including pickups and
  SUVs
• High winds
• Can accompany other natural disasters
• Debris can turn into damaging projectiles
• Can cause power outages

12
Be Informed

• Hail
• Most commonly causes damage to property, vehicles
  and crops
• more than 1 billion in damage each year
• The costliest thunderstorm event in U.S. history
  struck Dallas-Fort Worth on May 5, 1995

• What to do
• Cover windows with curtains or close blinds to
  reduce the impact of breaking glass
• Provide shelter for any outdoor pets or farm
  animals. Animals are particularly vulnerable to
  hail
• Pull over if you are driving

13
Be Informed

• Heat and Drought
• Older adults, young children, and those who are
  sick or overweight are most likely to suffer when
  the mercury rises
• Wildfires
• Wildfires often begin unnoticed. These fires are
  usually triggered by lightning or accidents

14
Be Informed

• Winter Storms
• A winter storm can last for several
• days and be accompanied by
• high winds
• freezing rain
• sleet
• heavy snowfall
• cold temperatures
• People can become trapped at home,
• without utilities or other services, or in
• their vehicle

15
Be Informed

• Hazardous Materials
• Chemical manufacturers are one source of
  hazardous materials, but there are many others,
  including 18-wheelers, service stations,
  hospitals and hazardous materials waste sites
• Anyone living near an Interstate is susceptible
  to hazardous material exposure
• Transportation Accidents
• 10.8 million in 2009
• 35,900 deaths in 2009

16
Be Informed

• Blackouts/Loss of Electricity
• Follow energy conservation measures to keep the
  use of electricity as low as possible, which can
  help power companies avoid imposing rolling
  blackouts
• More likely during hottest and coldest periods of
  the year

17
Be Informed

• Epidemic
• An epidemic occurs when a disease affects a
  greater number people than is usual for the
  locality or one that spreads to areas not usually
  associated with the disease
• Pandemic
• A pandemic is an epidemic of world-wide
  proportions

18
Be Informed

• H5N1 (Avian Flu)
• A relatively new Influenza A virus
• Extremely virulent, capable of causing severe
  disease
• Not currently transmittable

19
Be Informed

• West Nile Virus
• The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times
  for many species of mosquitoes
• Control measures
• Avoid containers that allow standing water
• Insect repellant
• Long sleeves

20
Be Informed

• E. coli
• Although most strains of E. coli are harmless,
  others can make you sick
• Infections start when you swallow E. coli
• Can be found in unpasteurized milk, contact with
  cattle, and contaminated food

21
Be Informed

• Salmonella
• A bacteria and may be a common cause of foodborne
  illness, sometimes called "food poisoning"
• Although many other foodborne illnesses have
  declined in the past 15 years, Salmonella
  infections have not declined at all

22
Be Informed

• Practice good Cough Etiquette
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  When you are sick, keep your distance from others
  to protect them from getting sick too
• Avoid touching
• your eyes, nose
• or mouth

23
Be Informed

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water,
  especially after you cough or sneeze
• Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective
  but second to soap and warm water
• Stay home if you get sick. Germs spread that way

24
Be Informed

• Carbon Monoxide
• You cant see or smell carbon monoxide, but at
  high
• levels it can kill a person in minutes

25
Be Informed

• House Fires
• Fire is Fast!
• Fire is Hot!
• Fire is Dark!
• Fire is Deadly!

26
Be Informed
27
Be Informed

• Gas Leaks
• Natural gas is odorless and colorless, so
  harmless substances are added to it to make it
  smell like rotten eggs, to assist in identifying
  leaks

28
Be Informed

• Personal Health and Wellness
• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Limiting tobacco and alcohol use
• Food safety
• Vaccines and immunizations

29
Be Informed

• Holiday Travel
• Inform someone from your support network
• Avoid less travelled surface roads if possible
• Check weather before you leave
• Ensure your vehicles maintenance is up to date

30
Be Informed

• Biological Threats
• Biological agents are organisms or toxins that
  can kill or incapacitate people, livestock and
  crops
• The three basic groups of biological agents that
  would likely be used as weapons are bacteria,
  viruses and toxins

31
Be Informed

• Chemical Threats
• Chemical agents are poisonous vapors, aerosols,
  liquids and solids that have toxic effects on
  people, animals or plants
• While potentially lethal, chemical agents are
  difficult to deliver in lethal concentrations

32
Be Informed

• Explosions
• Explosive devices can be highly portable, using
  vehicles and humans as a means of transport
• Terrorists have frequently used explosive devices
  as one of their most common weapons

33
Be Informed

• Nuclear Blast
• The danger of a nuclear attack on the United
  States is predicted by experts to be less likely
  today
• Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD)
• often called dirty nuke or dirty bomb is
  considered far more likely than use of a nuclear
  explosive device

34
Be Informed

• Comanche Peak Power
• Station
• Located 100 miles southwest of McKinney, TX
• Nuclear Power Plant
• Nearly 3 million Americans live within 10 miles
  of an operating nuclear power plant
• Nuclear power plants operate in most states in
  the country and produce about 20 percent of the
  nations power

35
Make a Plan
36
Make a Plan

• Your family may not be together when a
• disaster strikes.
• Making a plan is essential
• How will you get to a safe place?
• How will you contact one another?
• How will you get back together?
• What will you do in different situations and
  disasters?
• Who should you ask for help?

37
Make a Plan

• Plan for your risks
• Before, during, and after
• Identify common hazards in your area
• Share information from the Be Informed section
  with all members of your household or your
  support network
• Inquire about alert and warning systems at
• home
• work
• school
• locations where you spend time
• Make preparations to shelter in place or evacuate

38
Create a Personal Support Network

• Members of your network can be
• roommates
• relatives
• neighbors
• friends
• co-workers
• family members
• They should be people you trust and who can check
  to see if you need assistance. Tell them about
  your capabilities and needs, so they can provide
  help when needed

39
Make a Plan

• Sheltering in Place
• Appropriate when conditions require that you seek
  protection in your home, place of employment or
  other location
• To effectively shelter, consider the hazard and
  then choose a place in your home or other
  building that is safe for that hazard

40
Make a Plan

• Plan to protect yourself / family
• Make an emergency plan
• Plan together with your support network
• Arrange for more than one person from your
  support network to check on you in an emergency,
  so there is at least one back-up person
• Keep your plan in a safe place where everyone can
  find it

41
Make a Plan

• Communications Plan
• Fill out a family emergency plan
• Identify and confirm with the out-of-town contact
• Someone who can establish contact with everyone
  during a disaster
• Ways to communicate
• Cell phone
• Text messaging
• Pay phone
• Internet/email
• Online registration programs
• Social media

42
Make a Plan

• ICE, or In Case of Emergency
• EMT and first responders actually look for this!
• Put a new contact in your cell phone
• Call it ICE (or ICE1, ICE2, etc., for multiple)
• Add phone number
• Add notes for who this contact is, such as Wife
  Alice or Dad Bill (if your phone lets you)

43
Make a Plan

• File of Life Program
• The File of Life is a red, magnetic packet that
  contains vitally important medical information
  about you.
• The File of Life also provides an area to list
  contact information for your family members, and
  includes doctor, insurance information and any
  other special circumstances that rescue personnel
  should know in caring for you.

44
Make a Plan

• Escape routes for your home
• Identify at least two escape routes for each room
• If your home is taller than one story plan to use
  escape ladders
• Establish a place to meet in the event of an
• emergency

Where you are Where to meet
Near the home The next door neighbors telephone pole
Outside the immediate area The neighborhood grocery store parking lot
45
Be Informed
Get Tech Ready
46
Make a Plan

• Utility Shut-off
• It is very important to contact your service
  provider in order to determine the safest
  shut-off and start-up procedures for each utility
  in your home
• gas
• water
• electricity
• There is always a possibility of secondary
  emergencies and accidents if not followed
  properly

47
Make a Plan

• Vital Records and Documents
• Store important documents in an electronic
• format or in a safe location away from your
• home
• Safe deposit box
• Someone from your support network
• Remember to update any information as soon as
  changes take effect

48
Make a Plan

• Examples of Vital Records and Documents
• Drivers License or ID card
• Medical records
• Marriage, birth, death certificates
• House/car deeds
• Insurance policies
• Bank records/credit card accounts
• Divorce decrees adoption records
• Home inventory list (with photos)

49
Make a Plan

• Safety
• Take first aid and CPR classes
• Learn to use a fire extinguisher
• Update the medical information for everyone
  included in your plan
• Learn how to care for those in your family with
  serious medical conditions and/or physical
  limitations

50
Make a Plan

• Be sure to include pets in your plan
• Pet Alert Decal for your home, it alerts first
  responders that there is a pet inside the home

51
Make a Plan

• Tailor a Plan for Your Needs
• Its important to consider any challenges or
  barriers that might limit your independence and
  self-reliance
• As you answer the following questions think about
  a day when you might feel your worst

52
Make a Plan

• On your worst day
• Could you move around on your own?
• Would you be able to lift, grab or carry your
  disaster kit?
• Could you evacuate on your own?
• Would you be able to safely drive a vehicle?
• Would you be able to get access to news and
  important information?
• How long could you take care of yourself?

53
Make a Plan

• Planning
• Consider how a disaster might affect your needs
• Plan to make it on your own for a several days
• Identify what kinds of resources you use on a
  daily basis and what you might need if these are
  limited
• Consider your unique needs as you plan to keep
  your health, safety and independence
• Keep in mind any pets or livestock that may rely
  on you for food and shelter

54
Make a Plan

• As you identify your needs and the resources
• available during a disaster remember to keep in
• mind
• Ages of members in your family or group
• Your responsibilities for assisting others
• Locations you frequently visit
• Dietary needs
• Medical needs
• Transportation needs
• Disabilities or functional needs
• Pets or service animals

55
Make a Plan

• Locations to consider as you plan
• Home
• Workplace
• Vehicles
• Commuter transportation
• Schools
• Places of Worship

• Sports arenas and playing fields
• Entertainment locations
• Shopping malls or retail centers
• Travel locations or hotels

56
Commit a weekend to

• Update telephone numbers
• Start buying emergency supplies
• Review your emergency plan with everyone

57
Make a Plan

• Several resources provide step-by-step
• instructions on how to create a plan
• National
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• www.ready.gov
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• www.cdc.gov/phpr/
• State
• Texas Division of Emergency Management (DEM)
• www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem

58
Make a Plan

• Regional
• North Central Texas Council of Governments
• www.nctcog.org/ep
• Know What 2 do
• www.knowhat2do.com
• DFW Get the Plan
• www.dfwgettheplan.org
• County
• Collin County Homeland Security
• www.co.collin.tx.us/homeland_security/

59
Build a Kit
60
Build a 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.
• Radio
• battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA
  Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries
  for both.
• Flashlight
• with extra batteries.
• Can opener
• make sure its a manual can opener.

• Whistle
• to signal for help.
• Cash and change
• in case ATMs are unavailable or
• something prevents the use of
• credit/debit cards.
• Wrench or pliers
• to turn off utilities.
• First-Aid kit
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Mess kit
• Important documents
• Emergency plan

61
Build a Kit
Additional emergency supplies

• Change of clothes and shoes per person
• Duct tape
• Plastic sheeting
• Work gloves
• Rain gear/poncho
• Tarp
• Helmet
• Baby Needs
• Elderly Needs

• Matches and/or lighter
• Local maps
• Emergency reference materials such as first aid
  book
• charger and/or cell phone battery
• Entertainment items for all ages
• Medications

62
Build a Kit

• Additional kits would be
• Pet/livestock
• Vehicle
• Work
• Pandemic

63
Build a Kit

• Maintaining a kit
• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place
• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or
  metal containers to protect from pests and to
  extend its shelf life
• Be sure to write the best by date on all
  containers
• Rotate your food stock on a regular basis
• Reevaluate supplies on an bi-annual basis

64
Build a Kit

• Pack supplies in a duffle bag, suitcase or
  storage container and keep it in an easily
  accessible place.

65
Build a Kit

• Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety,
• and losses that accompany disasters.

66
Get Involved

• Preparing your community by identifying
• local partners
• MRC
• Salvation Army
• VOAD
• Fire Corps
• CERT
• VIPS

67
Get Involved

• Build a team
• Start a house meeting/grassroots effort
• Set goals
• Be engaged and educated
• Serve your community
• Create an event for your community
• Be a preparedness leader
• Become a trainer to teach others in the community

68
Get Involved

• Purchase and program a NOAA weather radio
• 162.400 MHz
• Monitor news and weather alerts
• WBAP-820 AM
• KRLD-1080AM and 96.7 FM

69
Post-Test

• What is one item you want to include in your
  emergency supply kit?
• Who is one person you will you include in your
  support network?
• Do you know how to get emergency information if
  you had to right now?

70
QUESTIONS
Collin County Homeland Security Public Health
Emergency Management Office 214-491-6834 Email
dmata_at_co.collin.tx.us Email
kdodge_at_co.collin.tx.us