Disaster Plans

There are so many possible contingencies to worry about, that I'm not sure that an individual family has to worry about making a written disaster plan. You can do so if you want, of course.  Certainly it seems absurd to make a diagram of a three-bedroom house that everyone has lived in for ten years and post this on the wall with arrows pointing to "exits", an exercise encouraged by at least one elementary school teacher I know. Organizations, local governments,  and business establishments, on the other hand, are a horse of a different color.

There are so many possible sizes, shapes and colors of disasters.

Your task should mostly be to make up simple lists of "items to have on hand". And to thing about problems of evacuation and survival.

More important than a written plan is "situational awareness". Know when a storm is coming. Learn about any special problems in the geographical area where you live. Know what government aide is available. In some areas unless you pay a special tax the fire department may not respond. Pay the tax.

Learn skills that will be helpful in a disaster. A family camping trip for a few days is always worthwhile to see what happens when normal support and food and electricity may not be available.  Purchase and keep on hand equipment that may be useful if the government temporarily breaks down. Keep extra food and water on hand. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and elementary fire-fighting apparatus will be worth their weight in gold if the need arises.

Support your local paid and volunteer fire, ambulance and police organizations. And your National Guard. While I encourage participation in these groups, remember that if you do so, in a general community disaster, you may be called away to do civic durty when your family needs you the most.

Search the Internet and see what the various sites have to say about disasters, survival and emergency planning.

If you have an elderly person with serious medical problems this person should be foremost in your mind in terms of contingency planning. If a person with dementia has to be moved explain to them carefully about what is happening, taking care not to frighten them. My little one always liked to have her favorite magic clown doll with her when I took her out in her wheelchair. Don't forget such items if you have to evacuate.

Getting your children out of school in a disaster may be a problem, especially if you delegate a relative to pick them up. If your job requires you to be away most of the day, and mom and dad are not around, make sure that grandma and grandpa have the written authority to act on your behalf, and that such a document is filed with the school. Schools are now confiscating cell phones during the day, an idea that I am not happy with. In a school with 1500 pupils the return of these phones in a timely fashion in a true disaster will be wishful thinking. You might think about having an extra cell phone around in the house. Just a thought.

Whatever you do, avoid doing nothing.

Indecision is a decision in itself.

[Basecamp]

I found this video on youtube that really makes you think and how simple items can save your life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4kvVTLZn5I&feature=colike