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DISASTER PLANNING
Issues - Preparedness - Strategies - Solutions
Preparing And Planning
For Prolonged Self-Sufficiency
To prepare for prolonged self-sufficiency, you can build a stockpile of long-term supplies, learn practical survival skills, and create robust emergency plans. The aim is to reduce dependency on external systems that may be disrupted for an extended period after a disaster.
Food and water
A two-week supply of water and non-perishable food is the recommended minimum. However, for prolonged self-sufficiency, expand this to a 3- to 12-month supply based on your family's needs.
Water storage
Containers: Use only FDA-approved food-grade plastic or steel containers for storing water.
Sanitization: Before filling, clean containers with dish soap and sanitize with a mild bleach solution.
Placement: Store containers in a cool, dark place away from strong odors, sunlight, and hazardous chemicals.
Rotation: Replace your stored tap water every six months to a year.
Purification: Invest in water purification tablets or a high-quality filter to make other water sources drinkable.
Long-term food storage
Staples: Stock up on basic, nutrient-dense foods with a long shelf life, such as white rice, dried beans, rolled oats, and canned meats.
Nutritional needs: Store multivitamins, salt, sugar, and non-fat powdered milk to provide essential nutrients.
Meal variety: Include canned vegetables, fruits, and freeze-dried meals for variety and a longer shelf life.
Food rotation: Purchase extra of the non-perishable foods you normally use. Keep newer purchases at the back and older ones at the front to ensure fresh supplies.
Household resources
Beyond food and water, you need to have resources for energy, sanitation, and essential repairs.
Power and heat
Backup power: A solar-powered generator or portable battery pack can provide power for essential electronics like lights and medical devices.
Lighting: Stock up on rechargeable lanterns, headlamps, and flashlights with extra batteries. Avoid using candles, which pose a fire hazard.
Alternative cooking: A camping stove with extra fuel is crucial for cooking if electricity is out. Never use a gas oven or outdoor grill indoors due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Temperature control: Have extra blankets and warm clothing. In extreme temperatures, plan to go to a designated community warming or cooling center.
Health and hygiene
First-aid: Create a comprehensive first-aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, and any essential prescription medications.
Sanitation: Stock personal hygiene items, moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, feminine supplies, and garbage bags.
Waste management: Have a heavy-duty bucket and plastic bags for sanitation needs if water is unavailable.
Essential documents and finances
Secure copies of important documents and ensure you have access to funds without electricity.
Documents: Store paper and digital copies of vital records (birth certificates, IDs, insurance policies) in a fireproof, waterproof safe. Consider also storing digital copies on a flash drive or secure cloud service.
Finances: Keep a supply of cash in small denominations, as electronic payments may not work during an outage.
Emergency plans and skills
Self-sufficiency also requires mental preparation and practical know-how.
Family plan: Establish an emergency communications plan and decide on evacuation routes and meeting points. Review and practice this plan regularly.
Support network: Create a personal support network of friends or relatives who can check on you during an emergency, and vice-versa.
Practical skills: Learn basic first aid, fire-starting, and navigation with a map and compass.
Gardening and preservation: Consider learning to grow your own food, compost, and preserve produce through canning or dehydrating.
Disaster Planning Strategies
Disaster planning involves a cycle of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Key strategies include conducting a risk assessment, developing and practicing family and organizational plans, establishing clear communication channels, stockpiling supplies, training personnel, and coordinating with external agencies like emergency services and community groups. Regular evaluation and updates to plans are crucial to ensure their effectiveness.
1. Mitigation
Identify Hazards:
Determine the potential natural and human-caused disasters that could impact your area or organization.
Implement Safeguards:
Put in place permanent measures to reduce vulnerabilities and the impact of disasters, such as building structural protections or developing water diversion channels.
2. Preparedness
Develop a Plan:
Create detailed plans for your family, home, or organization, outlining specific actions to take before, during, and after a disaster.
Conduct a Risk Assessment:
Analyze potential facility problems, evaluate procedures, and assess capabilities to protect people and prevent damage.
Assign Responsibilities:
Formally designate specific people or teams responsible for planning, response, and recovery efforts.
Stockpile Supplies:
Gather essential supplies such as food, water, first-aid items, and other necessary equipment.
Train Personnel:
Provide training to all members of the planning team and wider organization on the plan's procedures and their roles.
Establish Communication:
Develop robust communication strategies, including alternative methods to use if primary services (like phones or power) are disrupted.
Plan for Pets:
Include arrangements for family pets, identifying pet-friendly shelters and routes along evacuation paths.
Special Accommodations:
Plan for the needs of vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and children.
3. Response
Implement Procedures:
Execute pre-defined response procedures to take immediate action during a disaster, such as managing patient flow or directing evacuations.
Communicate Effectively:
Utilize established communication channels to provide updates and information to affected individuals and groups.
4. Recovery
Restore Operations:
Take steps to restore areas and services to their pre-disaster condition.
Conduct Drills and Exercises:
Regularly practice the disaster plan to build capabilities and ensure everyone knows their role.
Evaluate and Update:
Review the plan annually to identify gaps, update procedures, and incorporate lessons learned from drills or actual events.
Coordinate:
Work collaboratively with other organizations, including public emergency services, community groups, and government agencies, to share resources and coordinate efforts.
disaster planning strategies
Effective disaster planning involves a continuous cycle of preparing, responding, and recovering from emergencies. Key strategies include performing risk assessments, developing comprehensive and scalable plans, and training individuals and teams on their responsibilities.
General strategies
1. Conduct a risk analysis
Identify the disasters most likely to occur in your area, such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, or man-made events.
Assess how these risks could impact your people, property, and critical services.
Consider specific vulnerabilities, such as flood-prone locations or critical infrastructure.
2. Develop comprehensive, scalable plans
Create a simple, concise, and easy-to-follow master plan with detailed annexes for specific incidents.
Outline the operational phases: recognition, activation, response, recovery, and evaluation.
Address different scenarios, such as evacuating or sheltering in place.
3. Implement redundancy and communication
Back up essential records and store them in multiple, secure locations, including physically and digitally via cloud storage or external drives.
Develop robust internal and external communication networks that can function even when traditional systems fail.
Establish a clear communication tree with emergency contacts for key personnel.
4. Train and exercise regularly
Run drills and exercises to practice your response plan and evaluate its effectiveness.
Use lessons learned to update your plan and ensure it remains a "living document".
Provide training in first aid and CPR for relevant individuals or teams.
5. Consider the whole community
Reach out to multiple community partners to extend your plan's reach and acceptance.
Engage organizations that can help with special needs populations.
Build partnerships with local fire, police, and emergency management agencies.
Strategies for individuals and families
Create a communications plan: Appoint an out-of-state contact for family members to check in with if separated.
Establish meeting places: Designate an easily accessible place to meet right outside your home and another outside your neighborhood in case of evacuation.
Assemble a "go-bag" kit: Pack a portable kit with essentials like a 3-day supply of water and non-perishable food, a first-aid kit, and important documents.
Protect vital records: Store copies of birth certificates, passports, and insurance policies in a fireproof, waterproof container and make digital backups.
Account for everyone: Include pets and family members with special needs in your plan.
Practice your plan: Review and practice your plan every six months.
Strategies for businesses
Conduct a Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Assess potential disruptions and their consequences for your business.
Develop a Business Continuity Plan (BCP): Outline how your organization will continue essential functions during and after a disaster.
Protect data and systems: Back up critical data off-site or in the cloud. Have an IT recovery plan to restore systems.
Create an emergency response team: Assign specific roles and train employees on emergency procedures.
Manage communication: Use telephone call trees or voice recordings to inform employees. Establish alternate communications for employees with disabilities or functional needs.
Prepare your facility: Secure equipment, back up phone systems, and protect windows.
Strategies for communities
Create a multi-hazard mitigation plan: Identify local risks and develop long-term strategies to protect people and property.
Foster community engagement: Actively engage residents, community leaders, and local groups in the planning and decision-making process.
Map critical infrastructure: Identify and map assets like hospitals, fire stations, and transportation routes, noting those in high-risk areas.
Utilize organizational frameworks: Employ the Incident Command System (ICS) to ensure accountability, clear communication, and effective management during an emergency.
Involve volunteers: Develop organized programs to coordinate volunteers before, during, and after a disaster.
Address social vulnerability: Use tools like the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to identify at-risk populations and ensure equitable planning
