Post on 29-Mar-2015
Preparing Your Family for Hurricanes
Lou Romig MD, FAAP, FACEPMiami Children’s Hospital
FL-5 DMAT© 2006 Lou Romig
A.K.A…
My New Best Friend is a My New Best Friend is a Generator!Generator!
My 2004 Hurricane Season
My 2005 Hurricane Season
Take disasters personally.
Put our families first.
In a “culture of preparedness”,
emergency planning becomes a matter-of-
fact part of life.
Things to do Things to get Living the Generator Life My favorite gadgets
Things To Do: Throughout the Year
Reassess homeowner’s or renter’s insurance annually
Assess need for and complete major preparedness projects such as hurricane shutters, a generator, roof repairs, etc.
Put away emergency cash
Things To Do: Throughout the Year
Spare two week supply of usual prescription medications
Update vaccinations for all pets in case of need for kenneling or evacuation
Watch for bargains on hurricane supplies and equipment (Tax Free days?)
Learn about disaster plans at family members’ schools and workplaces
Things to Do: Hurricane Season
Things To Do:June 1st
Review family disaster plan with family members. Update as needed.
Evaluate evacuation routes, closest shelters, triggers for evacuation
Register with shelters if pre-registration program is available. Include considerations for pet-friendly shelters.
Things To Do:June 1st
Designate and notify a long-distance emergency phone contact
Review school and workplace disaster plans
Gather copies and/or originals of important documents. Keep documents together in a portable format (paper or electronic).
Important Documents
Mortgage, leases, taxes Insurance policies Pending bills and account
numbers (credit cards, banks, utilities, etc)
Identification documents (birth certificates, passports, etc)
Emergency contact information Important medical records,
including doctors’ phone numbers
Important Documents
Copies of medication lists and prescriptions, including glasses, contact lenses, etc.
Recent photos of all family members Photo/video inventory of home and
most important belongings Phone numbers, websites of
commonly used repair/maintenance services
Serial numbers of important equipment, including medical devices
Blank checks, envelopes, stamps
Things To Do:June 1st
Keep emergency cash reserve with important papers
Complete needed home and vehicle repairs
Have trees trimmed and clean up the yard
Inventory, rotate and stock non-medical hurricane supplies
Things To Do:June 1st
Inventory, stock, and repair emergency and back-up medical supplies and durable equipment. Assure the availability of prescription medications.
Perform generator maintenance as specified in owner’s manual
Back-up computer hard drives Identify storm information resources
My Favorite Websites
www.hurricanecity.com
www.nhc.noaa.gov
www.wunderground.com
TTD When a Storm Threatens
Things to Do: Before A Storm
Review plan with all family members. Inform extended family (especially your long-distance contact) and others of your family’s immediate plans.
If evacuating, do so as early as possible. Consider making hotel reservations outside the threat area if you can’t stay with outside family/friends.
If evacuating, turn off water and gas mains
Things to Do: Before A Storm
Move emergency equipment and basic supplies to home “safe space”.
Things to Do: Before A Storm
Gas up all vehicles. Safely store limited quantities of fuel for generator.
Fill LP gas tanks for grills or generators as needed
Top off emergency supplies if necessary
Charge all rechargeable batteries (cell, cameras, etc)
Deal with pets as per your disaster plan
Things to Do: Before A Storm
Assure that important documents and cash reserve are stored safely. Take documents and cash with you if you evacuate.
Refill prescriptions if possible Secure protective measures such as
storm shutters. Secure garbage and loose objects in yard, on balconies, etc.
Shutter installation and removal can be very dangerous. Be careful!
Things to Do: Before A Storm
Test all battery-powered equipment Turn refrigerators and freezers to
coldest settings Sanitize bathtubs/sinks with bleach.
Seal drains and fill basins with water if there’s any question about the water supply after a major storm.
Freeze drinking water in clean partially-filled soda bottles or other food-grade containers
Soda bottles are preferred
Things to Do: Before A Storm
Catch up on laundry Unplug major electrical appliances,
including computers If riding out a storm, make sure all
family members are adequately clothed (with shoes!) in case of the need to leave the home emergently during the storm. All family members should have some form of ID.
TTD During a Storm
© John Pritchett, Honolulu Weekly 10/26/05
Things to Do: During a Storm Keep up with information Know where everyone is in the
house Establish a signal for retreat to
your safe room Turn off electrical equipment if
power goes out Don’t run a portable generator Constantly reassess your safety Be very careful during the eye of
the storm
After a Storm
Before Wilma
After Wilma
Be careful!!!
Things to Do: After the Storm
Assess immediate surroundings for safety hazards. Leave the area if possible if there are serious safety issues.
Be alert for newly evolving hazards such as flooding
Access the media for situation reports
Document damage as soon as it’s safely possible to do so
Things to Do: After the Storm
Make critical emergency repairs as soon as it’s safely possible
Supervise children at all times and don’t allow them to get into hazardous situations during the assessment and recovery phases.
Be very cautious if using a generator.
It’s never appropriate for a child to be on the roof of a house unless they’re being rescued from it.
Things to Do: After the Storm
Use open flames only for cooking, never for lighting. Keep a fire extinguisher at hand.
Keep all chemicals and fuels out of reach of children. Use clearly marked containers.
Communicate with family and friends when possible but don’t make unnecessary calls that may burden an overwhelmed communication system
Things to Do: After the Storm
Watch family members (including children) for signs of stress. Make allowances for stressed-out behavior.
Maintain family routines whenever possible
Replace used disaster supplies as soon as it’s practical
Safely and properly dispose of waste chemicals such as generator oil, gas, kerosene, etc.
Things to Do: After the Storm
Evaluate and revise your disaster plan as needed. Share what
you’ve learned!
Don’t forget to include your children in the evaluation process.
Next: Things to Get
Disclaimer: Products shown are included as representative samples, not endorsements
Safety and Information
Battery-powered radio
NOAA weather radio, preferably with Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) feature
Battery powered TV Wireless internet
device Hardwired, non-
powered phone Work gloves Eye protection
Sturdy shoes Rain gear Emergency
signaling devices Fire extinguisher Flashlights First aid kit Smoke alarms Carbon monoxide
monitors Spare batteries for
all electronics
Shelter/Protection
Plastic sheeting Large plastic
garbage bags Duct tape Tie wraps Rope
Bungee cords Basic tools Broom Staple gun for
tacking plastic sheeting
Blankets/mattresses
Water
One gallon/person/day for a minimum of three days (includes ½ gallon of potable water/person)
Potable water for pets Eyedropper Nonscented chlorine bleach OR
Iodine water treatment tablets
Purifying water
Rolling boil for at least 15 minutes. 2 drops of non-scented chlorine
bleach per quart of water (8 drops per gallon).
Iodine tablets or solution per package instructions.
Food
Canned and packaged food that doesn’t require cooking
Include some “comfort” and snack foods
Consider self-contained meals with heaters included
Powdered flavoring packets for water (Kool Aid®, Crystal Lite®, etc)
Baby food/formula if necessary (premixed formula if you have the room)
Special nutritional formulas/supplements as needed
Pet food Manual can opener Non-electric (usually
propane) burner/stove Propane for burner/stove Charcoal, matches if
using charcoal grill Spare gas, matches if
using gas grill Grilling tools Coolers, cold/ice packs
Self-heating Food
Chef5minutemeals.com
Heatermeals.com
Sunmeadow.com
Labriutemeals.com
Propane Burner/Stove
Look for wide-based stable burners, preferably not requiring matches.
Hygiene
Moist towelettes Toilet paper Alcohol-based
sanitizer Napkins, paper
towels, shop towels
Paper plates/cups and plastic eating implements
Waterless teeth cleaners (such as Oral-B Brush-ups®)
Feminine hygiene products
Diapers and diaper wipes
Cornstarch-based body powder
Comfort!
Gotta go? Line the empty toilet
bowl with a double layer of plastic garbage bags
Pour in clumping cat litter.
Do your business.
Discard when necessary.
Medical
Basic first aid kit with lots of supplies for minor injuries
Prescription medications
Copies of prescriptions (include glasses and other prescribed aids) and prescription bottles
Human and pet vaccination and medical records
Spare glasses & contact lenses
Sunscreen Insect repellant Anti-itch
medications Nail clippers Hydrocortisone
cream Diaper
cream/ointment (for adults too!)
Medical
Antifungal cream/powder Disposable cold packs Creams, gels, disposable patches for
muscle aches Topical oral anesthetic & dental
emergencies kit Battery-powered nebulizer if needed
(with spare batteries) Other supplies as needed for specific
medical conditions (i.e. oxygen, battery-powered suction, monitors, etc)
Secure all medications against curious children!
Lighting
Flashlights for everyone
Battery-powered lanterns
Lots of spare batteries
Never use open flames around children!
Other
Emergency cash Checkbook Pending bills Stamps Writing paper/pens/pencils Personal phone/address book Family communication plan
Family Communication Plan
www.fema.gov/areyouready/emergency_planning.shtm
Other
Digital or disposable camera(s) Vital family documentation (see
the “Things to Do” list) Household inventory Chargers and spare batteries for
cell phones, cameras, portable entertainment devices, etc.
Spare car, home and property keys
Generator keys
My New Best Friend…
Power is never more important than safety!
Living With a Portable Generator
Get to know your machine before you need it
Outside, ventilated! Never during the storm Point the exhaust away Danger – hot parts! Store fuel away from the
generator, in approved containers No smoking or open flames
Living With a Portable Generator
Wear protective clothing and shoes when fueling. Consider eye protection.
Never fuel a hot generator
Living With a Portable Generator
Never run the generator without an adult on-site
Have a way to call for help if possible
Use the right cords Watch out for cords – trip hazard! Only a professional should wire a
portable generator into home circuitry
Living With a Portable Generator
Keep up maintenance before, during and after use or disuse
Know your power limitations Keep a log of run-time and fuel
usage Protect your machine in the off-
season
Equipment & Supplies for Generator Living
Equipment and Supplies
Fuel stabilizer Spare fuel in approved storage
containers Spare oil as specified by
manufacturer Funnel for fueling Fuel siphon Protective eyewear, clothing and
shoes for fueling
Equipment and Supplies
Locally-approved containers for discarding waste oil/fuel
Basic tools with appropriate wrenches for drain plugs, etc.
Fire extinguisher(s) Cat litter to absorb fuel spills Small notebook/pad and pen for
generator run-time and fuel log Carbon monoxide monitors for
each sleeping area and at site of cord entry into structure
Equipment and Supplies
Print simplified start/stop operation instructions. Consider labeling the start and shut-down sequences on the generator itself.
Flashlight or lantern for checking/fueling the generator in the dark
Various lengths of manufacturer-specified cord
Surge-protected heavy gauge power strip(s)
Multi-outlet adaptors
Equipment and Supplies
Small, lightweight electric stick lamps with low-watt bulbs
Refrigerator and freezer thermometers
Universal AC adaptors A toaster oven Consider marking cords with
reflective tape or glow-sticks to reduce trip hazards in the dark.
Protective cover for generator
Portable Air Conditioner?
$300-$600
A nice-to-have item. Frail people
may really benefit from heat
relief.
Dr. Lou’s Favorite Gadgets
#5 Food Safety Thermometer
First Alert Fridge Guard
#4 Fluorescent Lanterns
#3 Multifunction Radios
#2 Battery-powered TV
#1 Battery-powered Fans
Wrap-up
Protecting your family is a 24-7-365 job.
A family hurricane plan is a good base for an all-hazards family disaster plan.
If you can take a few days to plan and prepare for the holidays or a vacation, you can also take a few days a year to
plan and prepare for a disaster.
Excrement occurs…
Then it hits the
Be sure your family’s ready!
Presentation and checklists available at
www.jumpstarttriage.com“Other lectures” page
Thank you!louromig@bellsouth.net