GETTING PREPARED

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GETTING PREPARED

• FAMILY DISASTER PLANNING
• Stroger Hospital of Cook County
• Department of Emergency Medicine
• Research Division
• August 2006

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Why Be Prepared?

• Every year a disaster disrupts hundreds of
  thousands of lives
• A disaster can have a lasting effect on both
  people and property
• If a disaster occurs in your community, local
  government and disaster relief organizations
• will try to help you, but you may need to
• help yourself as well

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Why Be Prepared?

• You should know how to respond to severe weather
  or any disaster that could occur in your area -
  extreme cold, heat, flooding, or even acts of
  terrorism
• You should also be ready to be self-sufficient
  for at least three days
• This may mean providing for your own shelter,
  first aid, food, water, and sanitation

4
Past Events

• Pandemic Flu 1918
• Deaths 675,000 in U.S. alone
• Pandemic Flu 1957/1968
• Deaths 69,800 (57) 33,800 (68)
• Hurricane Katrina
• Thousands left homeless
• Deaths ??? (never announced)

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Who Should Be Prepared?

• Communities, families, and individuals
• Everyone should know what to do in a disaster
• Families should be ready to evacuate their homes
  and take refuge in public shelters and know how
  to care for their basic medical needs

6
Benefits of Being Prepared

• Reduces
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Losses that accompany disasters
• Outcome may not be as severe
• Some problems can be prevented

7
Are YOU ready?

• What if you had to survive on your own after a
  disaster?
• Do you have a 3-day supply kit?
• What if you were unable to leave work?
• Who will care for your
• children?
• elderly family members?
• What about your Friends? Neighbors? Pets?

8
Create a Family Disaster Plan

• Set up a planning meeting with your family
• Know the possible hazards in your area
• Know your communitys warning signals
• Make a list of your family members names,
  addresses and phone numbers
• Distribute them to each family member and include
  this in your disaster supply kit
• Include all work and school contact information
• Take photos of your home, family members, and
  pets
• Always take into consideration the special needs
  of children and elderly family members
• Wheel chairs, canes, walkers, strollers, diaper,
  food, etc.

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Family Disaster Plan

• Set up meeting areas in and out of the city
• Establish an out of town contact
• Establish a buddy system within the family so
  that one person may not become overwhelmed
  searching for relatives
• Buddies should share keys and important
  confidential information
• Get to know your neighbors
• Encourage your family members to take a basic
  first aid course (contact the Red Cross for
  additional information)

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Where Should Your Disaster Supply Kit be Stored?

• Home
• Work
• Car

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Items to Include in Your Disaster Supply Kit

• Backpack or duffle bag
• Water
• Canned food goods
• First aid kit
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Blanket
• Personal Hygiene items

• Eating utensils, plate, bowl
• Can opener
• Matches
• Transistor radio
• Gloves (cold weather and rubber)
• Bug Spray and Sunscreen
• Whistle
• A complete change of clothes including sturdy
  shoes (including underwear and socks)

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Items to Include in Your Disaster Supply Kit

• Additional medication
• Extra pair of eyeglasses
• Cash and credit cards
• Plastic garbage bags
• Books or magazine
• Pen, paper, marker

• Pictures of family, pets, house
• Extra set of keys to house and car
• Deck of playing cards, Uno cards, or coloring
  books

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Pet Items to Include in Your Disaster Supply Kit

• Pet food
• Pet carrier
• Extra leash
• Water and food dishes
• Names for your local pet boarding facility

• Names of hotels that will allow pets
• Any additional items your pet may need
• Chew toy
• Pet meds
• Current shot record
• City tags

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Additional Information

• www.ccbh.org/home_disaster_prep.htm
• www.ready.gov
• www.fema.gov
• www.redcross.org

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ARE YOU PREPARED?