Steps of Personal Emergency Plan
The first step is to develop a disaster-preparedness plan and to practice it with the family. The plan should highlight where the members of the family should meet in case of emergency. The plan should also highlight the special needs of every member of the family. This should include stocking medications and sufficient drinking water at the meeting point. It is also important to ensure there is a form of communication at the meeting point for the family to be aware of the events in other parts of the city. The information can be vital in helping the family to be evacuated safely by the rescue teams. There should also be a clear map of the escape routes to be used in every building. The family should also have a go-bag that contains copies of the medical information of the family members, their medical prescriptions, sufficient drinking water, and some cash. Everyone in the family should know where to go to find shelter. An emergency supply kit is necessary to carry supplies of food and water for at least three days. This should provide ample time for rescue teams to get to the family. The emergency plan should be available in every place where the family members spend most of the time. For instance, there should be an emergency plan at the workplace, school, and home.
What’s your Plan?
This video is quite informative about preparedness for disasters and emergency evacuation. The video reveals that ignorance can be catastrophic for families, especially if they live in areas that are prone to natural disasters. ‘Mr. Preparedness’ reveals that people should always take a special interest in the information about possible emergencies in their cities and states. The information can have a positive impact on people’s ability to prepare an exit plan to escape from disasters. The video also reveals that people should consider the needs of the children and the elderly in the family. For instance, when the family finally made it to the evacuation center, they did not have any games or entertainment forms to keep the children engaged. The video also touches on the need to have an emergency plan known by the entire family, including the children. Additionally, there should be a plan B for emergency response.
Free Preparedness Programs
The Red Cross has a program that looks into providing people with information on the development of an efficient emergency plan. The program highlights the various items that need to be included in the emergency plan and the procedural aspects of the response to disasters. The Citizen Preparedness Corps also has a program that provides educational courses to the citizens. The courses cover the preparation for various forms of natural disasters. Ready Citizens has a program that facilitates education in disaster preparedness for various emergencies, including fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters.
Evacuees Experiences in Shelters
Shelters are safe points during disasters, but they might be associated with several hazards, including lack of sufficient food, exposure to harsh environmental conditions, predisposing people to contagious diseases as they get crowded in the shelters, poor hygiene, and psychological stress and trauma. Children and their parents may experience strong emotions that may lead to depression, especially if they are kept in the shelters for a long time.