Individual & Neighbourhood ALL-HAZARD Emergency Preparedness Workbook National Library of Canada cataloguing in publication data Main entry under title: Individual & neighbourhood all-hazard emergency preparedness workbook At head of title: Emergency preparedness, get ready. ISBN 0-7726-4750-X 1. Emergency management - British Columbia. 2. Emergency management. 3. Survival skills. I. British Columbia. Provincial Emergency Program. II. Title: Individual and neighbourhood all-hazard emergency preparedness workbook. HV551.5.C32I52 2002 363.34'7'09711 C2002-960074-X ALL-HAZARD Emergency Preparedness Workbook TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv INTRODUCTION iv HAZARDS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA iv 1. PREPARING YOUR FAMILY FOR A DISASTER 1 Guide to Family Safety 1 Tips for the Elderly and/or Disabled 3 Lessening Your Children’s Fears 4 • Prepare in Advance 4 Caring for Your Pets in an Emergency 4 2. THE FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN 5 Reuniting Your Family 5 Emergency Evacuation 6 Evacuation of Seniors and/or Disabled 7 3. IMPORTANT FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION 8 Legal and Financial Information 8 • Name and Social Insurance Numbers of All Family Members 8 • Bank Accounts 8 • Insurance Policies 9 • Vehicle Registration Numbers 9 Emergency Supply Kit Information 10 • Names of Household Members (including boarders) 10 • Employment Information 10 • School Information 10 • Medical Contacts 11 • Personal Medical Information 11 • Other Important Numbers 12 4. EMERGENCY SUPPLY KITS 13 Home Emergency Kit 13 • Food Supplies 13 - Infant Needs 14 - Food Related Supplies 15 i • Water Provisions 15 - Additional Sources of Water 16 - Purification Techniques 16 • First Aid Supplies 17 - Medicine 17 - Medical Equipment 17 - Bandages 17 • Additional Supplies 18 - Clothing 18 - Lighting 18 - Other Necessary Items 19 Pet Emergency Kit 19 Vehicle Emergency Kit 20 • Personal Supplies 20 • Vehicle Supplies 20 Workplace Emergency Kit 21 5. SANITATION 22 Disposing of Human Wastes 22 Handling Garbage 23 6. HAZARDS/EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 24 Earthquakes 24 • Before an Earthquake 24 • Home Hazard Hunt 25 • During an Earthquake 32 - In Your Home, Workplace or Other Building 32 - In a High-Rise Building 32 - In Shopping Malls and Other Public Places 32 - Outdoors 32 - In a Vehicle 32 - On a Bus or Train 33 - On a Boat or Ferry 33 - Seniors and/or Disabled 33 • After an Earthquake 33 Tsunamis 33 • Preparing for a Tsunami 34 • During a Tsunami 34 Floods 35 • Before a Flood 35 • When Flooding Occurs 35 - If Outdoors 35 - In a Vehicle 35 - In Your Home 36 • Flood Threat Precautions 36 ii • Flood Threat Precaution 36 - Electrical Service 36 - Electrical Appliances 36 - Gas or Oil Furnaces and Appliances 36 - Plumbing Fixtures and Water Supplies 36 - Other Precautions 37 - Sandbagging 37 Landslides and/or Avalanches 38 • Landslide 38 - Indoors 38 - If Outside 38 • Avalanche 38 - Recommended Equipment for Avalanche Areas 39 • Preparing Your Home and Property for a Landslide or Avalanche 39 Forest Fires and Interface Fires 40 • Protecting Your Property 40 • In an Interface Fire 41 • If Trapped in a Forest Fire 41 Severe Storms 41 • Thunderstorm 41 • Hailstorm 41 • Lightning Storm 42 • Severe Rainstorm 42 • Tornado 42 • Blizzard or Snowstorm 42 • Protecting Your Property Against a Severe Storm 43 Power Outages 43 • During a Power Outage 43 • Power Generators 45 • Fallen Power Lines 46 Hazardous Materials 46 • When a Hazardous Spill Occurs 46 Volcanoes 47 • Protection from Volcanic Activity 48 7. MOBILE HOME PREPAREDNESS 49 8. AFTER ADISASTER 50 Addressing Your Children’s Needs 50 If you had to Leave Your Home 51 9. WEB SITES, RESOURCES AND REFERENCES 52 Additional Sources of Information 53 iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This workbook was originally developed as an earthquake preparedness publication by the Greater Victoria Emergency Coordinator’s Committee. Because British Columbia is a province of many hazards the workbook has been updated as an all-inclusive guide to family emergency planning. The workbook now covers additional hazards such as floods, forest fires, landslides, severe storms, and tsunamis. This workbook, and other materials that provide information about individual and neighbourhood safety, has been developed in co-operation, and with the support of, various agencies, groups and individuals such as: the Greater Victoria Emergency Preparedness Committee, Thrifty Foods, Coast Capital Credit Union, Honda City, TTC Design Group Inc., BC Transit, BC Gas, BC Hydro, Telus, BC Housing, the Credit Association of Victoria, Roger’s Cable, First Aid & Survival Technologies (FAST), JJM Group, Puget Sound Power and Light Company, the Strengthening Preparedness Among Neighbors (SPAN) Program, the Justice Institute of B.C., individuals and first responders. The Justice Institute of B.C. also produces a companion guide, the Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness: Program Guide, to help communities create and sustain neighbour helping neighbour programs. INTRODUCTION The diverse climate and land base of our province affords a variety of potential disasters. In an emergency, telephone, gas, electricity and water services may be disrupted for days. Roads could be blocked and stores and gas stations closed. Being aware of the dangers and the best ways in which to lessen their impact is the core of emergency preparedness. This workbook provides information and useful guidelines to help you protect your family and property. When a disaster strikes, there won’t be time to find flashlight batteries or replace missing first aid supplies; the time to prepare, is NOW! HAZARDS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA It is important to know the dangers that exist in your community and to design your Family Emergency Plan with those hazards in mind. Earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, avalanches, interface fires, severe storms and hazardous material spills are some of the dangers that could threaten lives and cause extensive damage in our province. iv ALL-HAZARD Emergency Preparedness Workbook Section 1 PREPARING YOUR FAMILY FOR A DISASTER Make safety a natural part of your lifestyle. When a crisis occurs, you’ll be thankful for that list of emergency numbers on your fridge, for knowing your family’s daily schedule and for having an emergency kit ready to use. Although we can’t prevent natural disasters from happening, we can prepare to avoid injury, minimize damage and come through the clean-up period as quickly and comfortably as possible. GUIDE TO FAMILY SAFETY (cid:84) Contact your local authority to find out if there is a Neighbourhood Emergency Program or Block Watch Program to assist residents in preparing for a disaster. (cid:84) Check with local authorities to find out what hazards could occur in your area and the impact they could have. (cid:84) Develop a Family Emergency Plan that addresses these issues and suits your family’s individual needs and limitations. (cid:84) Sketch the floor plan of your home showing the two main exit routes and an alternate second exit from each room if possible. (cid:84) Keep your Family Emergency Plan in a visible place, such as the front of your refrigerator. Share your plan with your neighbours. Be sure to go through the steps with anyone who stays in your home. (cid:84) Mark on your plan the date it was prepared and update any changes in your household when they occur. (cid:84) Assign specific safety tasks to family members (e.g. one person responsible for gathering pets, one person responsible for first aid, etc.). (cid:84) Practice your Family Emergency Plan until everyone is sure of their role and keep it current by practicing every six months. Rehearsing can be fun, quality time with your family. All-Hazard Emergency Preparedness Workbook 1 Section 1 - Preparing Your Family for a Disaster (cid:84) For earthquake safety, you can go through your home with the Home Hazard Hunt checklist and take measures that make your home safer. (cid:84) Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit to keep your family self sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours. Be sure to include any special needs items you may require. (cid:84) Also have Emergency Supply Kits in your vehicles and at your workplace. (cid:84) Mark the areas where any special medical equipment, the Emergency Supply Kit and the fire extinguishers are kept. (cid:84) Your family may not be together at home when an emergency occurs. So plan a family meeting place that’s central to most of your regular away-from-home spots. (cid:84) In some emergency situations, local phone service may be limited. Plan to have an out-of-area telephone contact where all family members can check in, in case you are separated. (cid:84) Check your insurance policies to ensure you have all the coverage you need for fires, earthquakes, flooding, etc. (cid:84) Knowing how to use a ham radio can be a valuable asset in a crisis. Consider taking a course, especially if you live in an isolated area. (cid:84) Take first aid classes and keep your training current. (cid:84) Keep your vehicle in good repair and keep your gas tank at least half full. (cid:84) Stay in touch with the world around you. This will keep you informed of any impending dangers to your community, such as a possible flood. When warnings occur, do a quick run through of the Family Emergency Plan and stay tuned to the radio or TV. All-Hazard Emergency Preparedness Workbook 2 Section 1 - Preparing Your Family for a Disaster TIPS FOR THE ELDERLY and/or DISABLED The information given in this workbook applies to everyone, but additional precautions should be taken for those who are elderly and/or disabled. Family Emergency Plans should always include any special needs considerations: (cid:84) If you live alone, get to know your neighbours and choose (if possible) two people you trust to be your helpers during an emergency. Explain your special needs, and share your Emergency Plan with them, show them how to operate any medical equipment you use, and practice your emergency procedures. (cid:84) Adapt home safety measures to suit your needs. For example, safety clips on cupboards may not be appropriate for your particular disability; experiment with other options, such as elastics joining drawer knobs together. (cid:84) Keep extra emergency supplies at your bedside or by your wheelchair if you have mobility problems. (cid:84) Keep your walking aids near you at all times, and, if possible, an extra cane or walking aid in different rooms at home and at work. If you have a seeing eye dog, keep a cane handy as well, as your dog may be injured or too frightened to help you during a major disaster like an earthquake. (cid:84) In your Emergency Supply Kit, remember to include extra prescription medications and any medical equipment you use, such as catheters or inner tubes for your wheelchair. (cid:84) Keep a whistle and small flashlight near you as this will help others find you in an emergency situation. The international signal for help is three short blasts. All-Hazard Emergency Preparedness Workbook 3 Section 1 - Preparing Your Family for a Disaster LESSENING YOUR CHILDREN’S FEARS Your children’s recovery time will be reduced if they understand the dangers of a hazardous situation and are practiced and comfortable with their role in the Family Emergency Plan. PREPARE IN ADVANCE Talk with your children about what to expect during and after a disaster. For example use the resources of your local library for books and videos on earthquakes or floods. The goal is to create awareness, not to frighten them. (cid:84) Emphasize that they are learning to be safe when you practice the Family Emergency Plan together and allow them to react. (cid:84) Be sure they are adept at finding the safe place in each room and identify the safe places in their outside play areas. (cid:84) Ask your children’s school about their disaster response plans. If the school holds the children until a parent picks them up, explain this to your children so they’ll know this in advance. (cid:84) Choose a friend or relative close to the school who will care for your children if you’re unable to leave your location when the disaster strikes. Make sure that your children and the school know who this is. CARING FOR YOUR PETS IN AN EMERGENCY Your pets won’t be able to fend for themselves in the event of an emergency and it is your responsibility to protect and care for them. Be sure your pet has a current I.D. tag, licence or identifying tattoo. When possible, keep your pet with you and remember that your pet will be frightened and confused. If it is necessary to evacuate your house, be aware that pets are not allowed in most emergency shelters. If you must leave your pet in the house, confine your animal to one room with plenty of water and dry food. All-Hazard Emergency Preparedness Workbook 4 Section 1 - Preparing Your Family for a Disaster