PRE-DEPLOYMENT & PREPARATION:
Public Disaster Preparedness (The Big Struggle)
We tend to have a very short collective memory when it comes to past disasters.
Surrounding areas and the general public, the state, the nation will tend to forget about the impact a disaster had on a particular area (especially if it wasn’t theirs). Selling the preparedness program! Before they were victims, they were prepared citizens. That’s the preparedness thing.
Now what? O.K., the response has kept many victims from being swept away by the floods, extinguished fires, secured un-safe structures from an earthquake, or cleared access paths following tragedies. Now what? The victims are still victims. We may have dealt with the initial threat, but the disaster area is still a disaster area. It’s now long term.
There seems to always be a will and desire (calling) to aide those in need, following a disaster. This will or desire might become over shadowed if a responder is not truly prepared to deploy to an event. They must be prepared for themselves and the protection for their families and loved ones before deploying.
One of the first steps to accomplishing a successful response and recovery is not just showing up, but showing up prepared.
What do you prepare for and which comes first? Most all local, county or state emergency management organizations have placed at our disposal a vast array of tools and guidance for disaster/emergency preparedness relative to those disasters and emergencies that are most likely to impact our homes and areas where we live. If you’re serious about being part of a response team you should already have your home front preparedness established. If you’re a responder, you must assure the safety and welfare of your family and home front before you assist others.
Emergency Supplies:
What do you have ready at home and if you must leave what do you bring, quantities, realistic accommodations?
If you’re a responder, has your immediate area been impacted? If so, how bad have things gotten? Do you have egress and access to needed supplies, materials, medical supplies, meds, etc.?
FEMA recommends that you have a plan with food and water and supplies in sufficient quantity to last at least seventy two (72) hours. As opposed to presenting a recommended plan and what supplies you should have in place, we’d like to offer you some references which you should review and use to put a realistic with what you need in place.
- Be Informed
- Make A Plan
- Build A Kit
- Get Involved in Community Preparedness Programs
In putting together a kit, consider the following:
- Basic Disaster Supplies
- Maintaining A Kit
- Kit Storage Locations
- Food & Food Safety
- Managing Water
Reality Check: When it comes to disaster planning and establishing a disaster kit, most of us fall short of actually making it happen. Even if we do, we tend to ignore maintaining the supplies. Another issue to consider for many is the lack of available funds to actually pay for the supplies needed. Many are literally living check to check and the notion of using money for something that might likely happen tends to push the need to the end of the list. Reality is that’s exactly where municipal, county and regional emergency management programs suffer the most. The justification of funding to be spent on an unknown event. It’s a real problem.
Bottom line is you need to be prepared for you and your family. If you cannot care and be prepared for yourselves during a crisis, your ability to respond will be hindered.
Go Bags: A go bag will typically be those items and necessities that a responder will have on hand (already assembled and prepared) that they will need when they are called into action. What do you bring? What are the right quantities and what will the realistic accommodations be? There are numerous references available that will help you determine what your “Go Bag” should include. Find out what is right for you.
Preparing to Respond: You’re a responder whose region or community has not been impacted directly. You’re family and their welfare have been addressed. You have registered and have a standard under which you respond. Where do you go?
Limited Resources:
Responders will jockey over acquisition of limited resources. There is a sense of self survival and obtaining the basic comforts such as a dry, clean place to sleep, food, fuel, etc. Those that demonstrate ability for resourcefulness seemingly, help lessen the impact. It appears that getting resources early on helps make things (life) more tolerable under the circumstances.
Know that early on in an event there will be great competition for limited resources. Very little resources are typically available and unless you carry a crystal ball, you’ll be in the middle fighting just like everyone else for what’s not available.
Shelter:
If you’re fortunate, you’ll find some solace in a make shift tent city or base (if you’re lucky). Keep in mind, your showing up to a disaster site, where in many instances; the victims of a disaster site may have just lost literally everything. They’ve become homeless, with literally “Nothing”. Your coming to render aid, but you are also competing for the same shelter, food, etc they are needing.
Gas/Fuel: There’s going to be a huge issue with fuel. If power outages are widespread and lengthy, the issue of fuel will become paramount.
Although many large supporting stores and businesses that are recognized as a source of supplies, food, materials during disasters, may have also been impacted and may very well be victims themselves. Things just slowed down to a crawl.
Now mind you, there isn’t enough of anything to aid victims, be careful how you tread to assure your (a responders’) needs.
We have witnessed how hundreds of thousands of citizens were displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, while Responders fared much better for housing, food and basic needs. Don’t send a message that your needs always come first. Yes your there to help, make sure you do not do so at the expense of impacted victims.
Pre-Existing Health Concerns: If you deploy with any existing illness or injury you increase the likelihood that you will become a liability instead of an asset to the operation. Don’t deploy under such conditions.
Disaster Plan / Supply Recommended References:
FEMA: A great resource for planning and creating emergency supply kits and supplies
FEMA: Responder Preparedness at Home / Source: http://www.ready.gov/responder
American Red Cross: Survival/: http://www.redcross.org/prepare
Center for Disease Control (CDC): Gather Emergency Supplies: http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/
