Preparedness For District Employees

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PreparednessFor District Employees Our Family
It Only Takes One.
Presented By Safety, Security Emergency
Management
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2009 Hurricane SeasonNational Weather Service
Predictions

• NWS Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast
• 7-11 Named Storms (10)
• 3-6 Hurricanes (4)
• 1-2 Major Hurricanes (2)

We foresee slightly below-average activity for
the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season. Dr. William
M. Gray, Colorado State University
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Hurricane Andrew

• Formed August 16, 1992
• Highest Winds- 175 mph (5)
• Fatalities- 26 Direct 39 Indirect
• Damage- 26.5 Billion
• Hurricanes are Killer Storms must be considered
  as a serious, life-threatening situation.

PREPARE TO SURVIVE!
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Lessons Learned

• NHC Forecast is NOT as good as people think.
• Areas of Watches Warnings Account For This
  Uncertainty .

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Lessons Learned

• Poor planning leads to panic and bad decisions.
• Many people who should have evacuated, stayed.
• Expect the Unexpected.

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Steps The District Has Taken To Ensure The
District Is Hurricane Ready
Updated the following Districts Plans and
Procedures

• Continuity of Operations Plan
• Hurricane Annex
• Debris Management Plan
• Emergency Fuel Plan

Conducted Hurricane Freddy Catastrophic
Exercise Participated Assisted in Planning
(USACE) Exercise
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District Emergency Assignment Pay Procedure

• Available on the IWEB under HR Procedures
• Defines A, B C employee designations.
• District office closing procedures
• Reporting to work procedures leave use
• Pay during an emergency
• Employee contact responsibilities

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Deciding to Stay or Go !
This game is called You Bet Your Life
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Deciding to Stay or Go !
Unnecessary evacuees' may contribute to road
congestion and shelter overload.

• When ordered to evacuate (Go)
• Mobile Home (Go)
• Damaged Home (Go)
• Serious Medical Issues
• (Go)
• Run from water (Go)
• Hide from wind (Stay)

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If Staying Prepare

• Assemble Disaster Supply Kit
• Develop Follow Family Emergency Plan
• Stock extra supplies cash
• Protect important documents
• Fill your car with gas
• Check on your neighbors
• Install hurricane shutters
• Review generator operator manual and test run
• Secure Your Home

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If Staying Use A Safe Room

• Interior Room or Hallway
• No Windows
• Preferably Hardened
• Much Safer Than Your Car
• Hotels May Be Unsafe/Full
• Ensure Supplies are with you

• Know where your nearest Emergency Shelter is,
  what to bring the rules in case your home is
  damaged.

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Disaster Supply Kit

• Water
• Food
• Flashlight / batteries
• Blankets / Pillows
• Clothing
• First Aid Kit / Medicine
• Special Items (babies/elderly)
• Toiletries
• Moist Wipes

• Radio / batteries
• Cash
• Keys
• Toys, Books, and Games
• Documents
• Tools
• Gas
• Pet Items
• Mobile chargers

TV is Now Digital ! !
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If Evacuating
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If Evacuating

• Disaster Supply Kit
• Have a place to go (family/shelter)
• Know Your Routes
• Fill your car with gas, dont idle engine
• Enact your pet plan
• Secure your home (Shutters, Locks)
• Bring books, toys and games
• Mobile charger for your electronics

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Security For Your Home Family

• Emergency Lighting
• Battery Powered Radio/TV
• Emergency Generator
• Maintain Vigilance
• Never Stay Alone

Dont try this at homeLeave it to the
Professionals
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Security For Your Home Family

• Have an alternate family meeting location away
  from the neighborhood.
• Before the storm gather repair tools supplies.
• Before the storm take photographs and make a
  detailed inventory of all items in your home.
• Use chains padlocks to secure generators,
  chainsaws, etc. against theft.

• Use your camera after the storm to document
  damage.
• If your generator is wired to your house be sure
  the burglar alarm is on that circuit.
• Quickly repair/secure damages that make it easier
  for thieves (broken windows, doors, garage doors,
  holed roof)

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Security For Your Home Family

• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• Start a CERT in your neighborhood
• Neighbors taking care of neighbors
• CERT on-line www.floridadisaster.org/CitizenCorps
  /About.htm

• Neighborhood Watch
• Start a neighborhood watch in your community
• Coordinate with local law enforcement agency
• www.usaonwatch.org/default.aspx?

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Safety For Your Home and Family

• Use only qualified electrician to hard wire the
  generator.
• Verify generator can carry the electrical load
  you intend to use.
• Plug appliances into generator.
• Turn generator off to refuel.

• Do not touch downed power lines
• Power lines can become live at any time
  automatically.
• Three automatic attempts to become live before
  shut down.
• Power Lines can become entangled in wheel of
  vehicle passing over them energizes vehicle.
• Uprooted trees can bring buried power lines to
  the surface.

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Safety For Your Home and Family

• Most flood related drowning occurs as a result of
  vehicles attempting to transit flood waters.
• Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most
  passenger cars causing loss of control and
  possible stalling.
• A foot of water will float many vehicles.
• Two feet of rushing water can carry away most
  vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs)
  
• Water hides dips in the road, the edge of the
  road, debris, washouts.
• Flood waters may be contaminated avoid contact !

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PREPARING CHILDREN

• Involve children in preparing family disaster
  plan and disaster supplies kit.
• Give children specific tasks to let them know
  they can help restore family and community life.
• Spend extra time with your children listening to
  their concerns.
• If you prepare your children, this will give them
  a strengthened sense of safety and security.

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Seniors Special Needs
Consider Mobility Medication Needs
Register In Your County of Residence
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Taking Care of Pets

• If you stay, you may want to place pet in
  shelter.
• If you must evacuate, the most important thing
  you can do for pet is to take them with you.
• Keep a list of pet friendly
  
  hotels at destination
• Ask local animal shelters
  
  if they provide emergency
  shelter or
  foster care for pets
• Ask friends, relatives, or others
  outside the affected
  area if they
  can shelter your pet
• Assemble a Portable Pet Disaster
  Supplies Kit (medications,
  photos, food,
  water, bowls, etc.)

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Emergency Communications

• The Districts Emergency Notification Line
  800-432-2045 Then Dial 9
• Family Members (Outside the Area)
• Log Unlisted Telephone Numbers
• Remember Cell Phones May Not Function During
  Emergencies
• Check Vehicle Home Phone Chargers
• ICE In Case of Emergency
• Remember REDLINE

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District IWEB Resources
Emergency Management
Safety
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WEB Resources
fema.gov/plan/index.shtm
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Historical Information
Gee, I think it is going to be a quiet hurricane
season!
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• Hurricanes have predictable consequences.
• There is a wealth of information available to
  help your planning and decision-making.
• Therefore, it is Up to You!
• Plan ahead and be prepared to survive a hurricane!

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Remember.All Hazard Emergency Planning
Flooding
Chemical
Water Shortage
Wild Land Fires
Homeland Security
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Hurricane Terminology

• Tropical Depression
• Tropical Storm
• Hurricane
• Watch vs. Warning
• Evacuation Time
• Eye of the Storm
• Storm Surge / Tide
• Path vs Cone

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Flu Season Is Around The CornerDont Let Your
Guard Down

• Frequent Hand Washing
• Proper Hand Washing Technique
• Social Distancing (6 feet)
• Stay Away From Sick Persons
• Watch Where You Touch

Check Out the District EM Website
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Sources For More Information on Emergency
Preparedness?

• Preparedness Information
• www.ready.gov
• www.floridadisaster.org/family/
• Emergency At Home Supply Kit Evacuation Plans
• www.ready.gov/america/index.html
• Emergency Evacuation Supply Kit
• www.ces.ncsu.edu/disaster/factsheets/html.
• Individuals with disabilities other special
  needs
• www.ready.gov/america/getakit/disabled.html

• Wind Storm Home Protection and Qualified
  inspectors
• www.mysafefloridahome.com/
• Preparing Children
• www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/cope_children
• Taking Care of Senior
• www.redcross.org
• Taking Care of Pets
• www.ready.gov/america/getakit/pets.html

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WEB Resources
redcross.org
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WEB Resources
bt.cdc.gov/disasters/
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Questions ?

• The Districts ability to effectively respond to
  an emergency depends on YOU having a well
  developed Family Emergency Plan !
• Prepare prevent rather than repair and
  repent.
• S. Thompson 1856