We began our discussion last week by describing three components in the development of a family emergency plan: establishing meeting locations, developing a contact plan, and building an evacuation plan. This week we will talk about some remaining components of such a plan. Knowing that each family is different, there are still common pieces that will make a solid plan to protect your family.
When you begin to develop your plan, it is a good idea to include all members of your household to ensure they understand the plan, know how to communicate in an emergency, how to address any medical needs, and how to find each other. This week we will address each of the following components:
• Planning for sheltering in place or at home
• Planning for special needs and medical issues
• Practicing your plan
• Learn other plans
There may be times when an emergency arises that the best action is to remain
where you are. This is Shelter in Place. Whether you are at home, work or anywhere else you frequent regularly, there may be situations when it’s best to stay where you are and avoid any uncertainty outside. This may occur if you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated. If you are not in your home when this occurs, here are some tips:
• Pay attention to local media or social media for official news and instructions
• Lock doors, close windows, air vents and fireplace dampers
• Turn off fans, air conditioning and forced air heating systems
• Seal all windows, doors, air vents with thick plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand
If you are at home, this is Stay-at-Home. This situation is similar to what we
experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Remain indoors as much as possible, using porches and patios is fine. Continue only essential services; grocery shopping, gas station fueling, pharmacy pick-ups, but limit the time spent in these activities. If you receive medical care services, work with your provider to determine how to maintain your care when not able to leave your home for an extended period.
This leads right into planning for special needs and medical issues. First and foremost, make a plan for your family members who require medications or specialized care by working with their medical provider(s). If possible, have a 2-3 day supply of medications on hand. If specialized equipment is used, contact the supplier for instructions about keeping it running during a power outage. These actions done in advance will make responding to an emergency less stressful.
Practicing your plan may not seem like an important component in developing an emergency plan, but even the best plan will fail if no one knows how to implement it. Practice your plan at least 2-3 times a year. This will build muscle and mental memory within all the family members, so when it is a real situation, they will automatically begin to work the plan.
Finally, for this week, learn other plans. What is the plan at work? What is the plan at school? Does the library or post office have a plan? What about the grocery store? Wherever you spend time, it is good to know what their plan is. If there isn’t one, maybe you could volunteer to help them build one. The better prepared everyone is, the more resilient we will be as a community and as individual citizens.
Next week: Building an
emergency kit.
For questions or more information contact Humboldt County Emergency Management at carol.lynn@humboldtcountynv.gov.