Transcript Preparing Your Family for Hurricanes

Preparing Your Family
for Hurricanes
Lou Romig MD, FAAP, FACEP
Miami Children’s Hospital
FL-5 DMAT
©
2006 Lou Romig
A.K.A…
My New Best Friend is a
Generator!
My 2004 Hurricane Season
My 2005 Hurricane Season
Take disasters personally.
Put our families first.
In a “culture of
preparedness”,
emergency planning
becomes a matter-offact part of life.
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Things to do
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Things to get
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Living the Generator Life
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My favorite gadgets
Things To Do:
Throughout the Year
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Reassess homeowner’s or
renter’s insurance annually
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Assess need for and complete
major preparedness projects such
as hurricane shutters, a generator,
roof repairs, etc.
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Put away emergency cash
Things To Do:
Throughout the Year
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Spare two week supply of usual
prescription medications
Update vaccinations for all pets in
case of need for kenneling or
evacuation
Watch for bargains on hurricane
supplies and equipment (Tax Free
days?)
Learn about disaster plans at
family members’ schools and
workplaces
Things to Do: Hurricane Season
Things To Do:
June 1st
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Review family disaster plan with
family members. Update as
needed.
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Evaluate evacuation routes,
closest shelters, triggers for
evacuation
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Register with shelters if preregistration program is available.
Include considerations for petfriendly shelters.
Things To Do:
June 1st
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Designate and notify a longdistance emergency phone
contact
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Review school and workplace
disaster plans
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Gather copies and/or originals of
important documents. Keep
documents together in a portable
format (paper or electronic).
Important Documents
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Mortgage, leases, taxes
Insurance policies
Pending bills and account
numbers (credit cards, banks,
utilities, etc)
Identification documents (birth
certificates, passports, etc)
Emergency contact information
Important medical records,
including doctors’ phone numbers
Important Documents
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Copies of medication lists and
prescriptions, including glasses,
contact lenses, etc.
Recent photos of all family members
Photo/video inventory of home and
most important belongings
Phone numbers, websites of
commonly used repair/maintenance
services
Serial numbers of important
equipment, including medical devices
Blank checks, envelopes, stamps
Things To Do:
June 1st
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Keep emergency cash reserve
with important papers
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Complete needed home and
vehicle repairs
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Have trees trimmed and clean up
the yard
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Inventory, rotate and stock nonmedical hurricane supplies
Things To Do:
June 1st
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Inventory, stock, and repair
emergency and back-up medical
supplies and durable equipment.
Assure the availability of prescription
medications.
Perform generator maintenance as
specified in owner’s manual
Back-up computer hard drives
Identify storm information resources
My Favorite Websites
www.nhc.noaa.gov
www.hurricanecity.com
www.wunderground.com
TTD When a Storm Threatens
Things to Do: Before A Storm
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Review plan with all family members.
Inform extended family (especially
your long-distance contact) and
others of your family’s immediate
plans.
If evacuating, do so as early as
possible. Consider making hotel
reservations outside the threat area if
you can’t stay with outside
family/friends.
If evacuating, turn off water and gas
mains
Things to Do: Before A Storm
Move emergency equipment and basic
supplies to home “safe space”.
Things to Do: Before A Storm
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Gas up all vehicles. Safely store
limited quantities of fuel for generator.
Fill LP gas tanks for grills or
generators as needed
Top off emergency supplies if
necessary
Charge all rechargeable batteries
(cell, cameras, etc)
Deal with pets as per your disaster
plan
Things to Do: Before A Storm
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Assure that important documents and
cash reserve are stored safely. Take
documents and cash with you if you
evacuate.
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Refill prescriptions if possible
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Secure protective measures such as
storm shutters. Secure garbage and
loose objects in yard, on balconies,
etc.
Shutter installation and removal can be very dangerous.
Be careful!
Things to Do: Before A Storm
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Test all battery-powered equipment
Turn refrigerators and freezers to
coldest settings
Sanitize bathtubs/sinks with bleach.
Seal drains and fill basins with water
if there’s any question about the
water supply after a major storm.
Freeze drinking water in clean
partially-filled soda bottles or other
food-grade containers
Soda bottles are preferred
Things to Do: Before A Storm
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Catch up on laundry
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Unplug major electrical appliances,
including computers
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If riding out a storm, make sure all
family members are adequately
clothed (with shoes!) in case of the
need to leave the home emergently
during the storm. All family members
should have some form of ID.
TTD During a Storm
© John Pritchett, Honolulu Weekly 10/26/05
Things to Do: During a Storm
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Keep up with information
Know where everyone is in the
house
Establish a signal for retreat to
your safe room
Turn off electrical equipment if
power goes out
Don’t run a portable generator
Constantly reassess your safety
Be very careful during the eye of
the storm
After a Storm
Before Wilma
After Wilma
Be careful!!!
Things to Do: After the Storm
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Assess immediate surroundings
for safety hazards. Leave the area
if possible if there are serious
safety issues.
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Be alert for newly evolving
hazards such as flooding
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Access the media for situation
reports
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Document damage as soon as it’s
safely possible to do so
Things to Do: After the Storm
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Make critical emergency repairs
as soon as it’s safely possible
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Supervise children at all times and
don’t allow them to get into
hazardous situations during the
assessment and recovery phases.
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Be very cautious if using a
generator.
It’s never appropriate for a child to be on the roof of a house
unless they’re being rescued from it.
Things to Do: After the Storm
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Use open flames only for cooking,
never for lighting. Keep a fire
extinguisher at hand.
Keep all chemicals and fuels out
of reach of children. Use clearly
marked containers.
Communicate with family and
friends when possible but don’t
make unnecessary calls that may
burden an overwhelmed
communication system
Things to Do: After the Storm
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Watch family members (including
children) for signs of stress. Make
allowances for stressed-out
behavior.
Maintain family routines whenever
possible
Replace used disaster supplies as
soon as it’s practical
Safely and properly dispose of
waste chemicals such as generator
oil, gas, kerosene, etc.
Things to Do: After the Storm
Evaluate and revise your
disaster plan as needed.
Share what you’ve learned!
Don’t forget to include your
children in the evaluation
process.
Next: Things to Get
Disclaimer: Products shown are included as representative samples, not endorsements
Safety and Information
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Battery-powered
radio
NOAA weather
radio, preferably
with Specific Area
Message Encoding
(SAME) feature
Battery powered
TV
Wireless internet
device
Hardwired, nonpowered phone
Work gloves
Eye protection
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Sturdy shoes
Rain gear
Emergency
signaling devices
Fire extinguisher
Flashlights
First aid kit
Smoke alarms
Carbon monoxide
monitors
Spare batteries for
all electronics
Shelter/Protection
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Plastic sheeting
Large plastic
garbage bags
Duct tape
Tie wraps
Rope
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Bungee cords
Basic tools
Broom
Staple gun for
tacking plastic
sheeting
Blankets/mattresses
Water
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One gallon/person/day for a
minimum of three days (includes
½ gallon of potable water/person)
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Potable water for pets
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Eyedropper
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Nonscented chlorine bleach OR
Iodine water treatment tablets
Purifying water
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Rolling boil for at least 15 minutes.
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2 drops of non-scented chlorine
bleach per quart of water (8 drops
per gallon).
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Iodine tablets or solution per
package instructions.
Food
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Canned and
packaged food that
doesn’t require
cooking
Include some
“comfort” and snack
foods
Consider selfcontained meals with
heaters included
Powdered flavoring
packets for water
(Kool Aid®, Crystal
Lite®, etc)
Baby food/formula if
necessary (premixed
formula if you have
the room)
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Special nutritional
formulas/supplements
as needed
Pet food
Manual can opener
Non-electric (usually
propane) burner/stove
Propane for
burner/stove
Charcoal, matches if
using charcoal grill
Spare gas, matches if
using gas grill
Grilling tools
Coolers, cold/ice
packs
Self-heating Food
Chef5minutemeals.com
Heatermeals.com
Sunmeadow.com
Labriutemeals.com
Propane Burner/Stove
Look for wide-based stable burners,
preferably not requiring matches.
Hygiene
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Moist towelettes
Toilet paper
Alcohol-based
sanitizer
Napkins, paper
towels, shop
towels
Paper plates/cups
and plastic eating
implements
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Waterless teeth
cleaners (such as
Oral-B Brushups®)
Feminine hygiene
products
Diapers and diaper
wipes
Cornstarch-based
body powder
Comfort!
Gotta go?
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Line the empty toilet
bowl with a double
layer of plastic
garbage bags
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Pour in clumping cat
litter.
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Do your business.
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Discard when
necessary.
Medical
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Basic first aid kit with
lots of supplies for
minor injuries
Prescription
medications
Copies of
prescriptions
(include glasses and
other prescribed
aids) and
prescription bottles
Human and pet
vaccination and
medical records
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Spare glasses &
contact lenses
Sunscreen
Insect repellant
Anti-itch
medications
Nail clippers
Hydrocortisone
cream
Diaper
cream/ointment (for
adults too!)
Medical
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Antifungal cream/powder
Disposable cold packs
Creams, gels, disposable patches for
muscle aches
Topical oral anesthetic & dental
emergencies kit
Battery-powered nebulizer if needed
(with spare batteries)
Other supplies as needed for specific
medical conditions (i.e. oxygen,
battery-powered suction, monitors, etc)
Secure all medications against curious children!
Lighting
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Flashlights for
everyone
Batterypowered
lanterns
Lots of spare
batteries
Never use open flames around children!
Other
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Emergency cash
Checkbook
Pending bills
Stamps
Writing paper/pens/pencils
Personal phone/address book
Family communication plan
Family Communication Plan
www.fema.gov/areyouready/emergency_planning.shtm
Other
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Digital or disposable camera(s)
Vital family documentation (see
the “Things to Do” list)
Household inventory
Chargers and spare batteries for
cell phones, cameras, portable
entertainment devices, etc.
Spare car, home and property
keys
Generator keys
My New Best Friend…
Power is never more important
than safety!
Living With a Portable Generator
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Get to know your machine before
you need it
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Outside, ventilated!
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Never during the storm
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Point the exhaust away
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Danger – hot parts!
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Store fuel away from the
generator, in approved containers
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No smoking or open flames
Living With a Portable Generator
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Wear protective clothing and
shoes when fueling. Consider eye
protection.
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Never fuel a hot generator
Living With a Portable Generator
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Never run the generator without
an adult on-site
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Have a way to call for help if
possible
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Use the right cords
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Watch out for cords – trip hazard!
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Only a professional should wire a
portable generator into home
circuitry
Living With a Portable Generator
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Keep up maintenance before,
during and after use or disuse
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Know your power limitations
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Keep a log of run-time and fuel
usage
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Protect your machine in the offseason
Equipment & Supplies for
Generator Living
Equipment and Supplies
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Fuel stabilizer
Spare fuel in approved storage
containers
Spare oil as specified by
manufacturer
Funnel for fueling
Fuel siphon
Protective eyewear, clothing and
shoes for fueling
Equipment and Supplies
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Locally-approved containers for
discarding waste oil/fuel
Basic tools with appropriate
wrenches for drain plugs, etc.
Fire extinguisher(s)
Cat litter to absorb fuel spills
Small notebook/pad and pen for
generator run-time and fuel log
Carbon monoxide monitors for
each sleeping area and at site of
cord entry into structure
Equipment and Supplies
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Print simplified start/stop operation
instructions. Consider labeling the
start and shut-down sequences on
the generator itself.
Flashlight or lantern for
checking/fueling the generator in
the dark
Various lengths of manufacturerspecified cord
Surge-protected heavy gauge
power strip(s)
Multi-outlet adaptors
Equipment and Supplies
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Small, lightweight electric stick
lamps with low-watt bulbs
Refrigerator and freezer
thermometers
Universal AC adaptors
A toaster oven
Consider marking cords with
reflective tape or glow-sticks to
reduce trip hazards in the dark.
Protective cover for generator
Portable Air Conditioner?
$300-$600
A nice-to-have
item. Frail people
may really
benefit from heat
relief.
Dr. Lou’s Favorite Gadgets
#5 Food Safety Thermometer
First Alert Fridge Guard
#4 Fluorescent Lanterns
#3 Multifunction Radios
#2 Battery-powered TV
#1 Battery-powered Fans
Wrap-up
Protecting your family is a 24-7-365 job.
A family hurricane plan is a good base
for an all-hazards family disaster plan.
If you can take a few days to plan and
prepare for the holidays or a vacation,
you can also take a few days a year to
plan and prepare for a disaster.
Excrement occurs…
Then it hits
the
Be sure your family’s ready!
Presentation and checklists
available at
www.jumpstarttriage.com
“Other lectures” page
Thank you!
[email protected]