Emergency Preparedness James Caesar, Campus Emergency ManagerUniversity of California, Santa Barbara

March 1, 2011

Disasters

Disasters are disasters to those who are affected – whether large or small.

What types of disasters happen here in Santa Barbara County?

Source: earthobservatory.nasa.gov, ucsb.edu, santabarbararealestatevoice.com, cityofgoleta.org

Santa Barbara County experiences. . . Earthquakes, Tsunami, Fire,

and Floods

Disasters

How can you prepare? Make a family plan Build an disaster supply kit Participate in Community Emergency Programs

Earthquake

Crumbled bell tower of the Santa Barbara Mission after the 1925 earthquake. Earthquake Engineering Research Center at the UC Berkeley.

Earthquakes can . . .

Cause buildings and bridges to collapse

Disrupt gas, electric, and telephone service

Trigger landslides, avalanches, flash

floods, tsunamis, and fires

Earthquakes after a main shock – may or may not be smaller than main shock

May cause further damage to weakened buildings

Occur within the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after an earthquake

Aftershocks

What should you do?

Drop

Cover

Hold

Tsunami

Indian Ocean Tsunami – December 26, 2004

Tsunami CharacteristicsTsunami CharacteristicsTravel speeds of 300 to 600 mphTsunami waves hardly noticeable in deep

ocean waters (Indonesian quake: 600 miles long x 100 miles

wide x 6 feet vertical displacement)

Waves slow down as they encounter land ~ 20 to 30 mph

Time between successive wave crests of 10 to 45 minutes

2nd, 3rd, or even 4th wave can be most destructive

Many tsunamis may be triggered by quake-induced landslides

Local Tsunami Possibilities Local Tsunami Possibilities

Teletsunami• Less common and greater damage potential• Long travel times up to 6 hours (Alaska, Chile,

etc) Regional

• Most common form but lower damage potential• Up to 2 hour travel time (Cascadia Subduction)

Near-source• Local offshore earthquakes• Landslides - above ground or submarine• Very likely no warning

Santa Barbara Waterfront

Pink areas at risk of inundation

Airport / UCSB

Airport

UCSB

Click here for more inundation maps.

Fire

Be careful when using sources of heat or flame Store matches and lighters out of children’s

reach Install all-purpose fire extinguishers Sleep with your door closed Inspect extension cords for frayed or exposed

wires or loose plugs Clear at least 100 ft of defensible space around

your home to help firefighters and prevent a house fire from spreading

Preventing Fires

During a Fire:

One of the most frequent natural disasters in the United States

As much as 90% of damage from all natural disasters is caused by floods and related debris flow

Floods are one of the most dangerous natural disasters because they are often underestimated

Floods

Click to read full article

Getting Prepared

Four (4) Steps to Preparedness

Be Informed Make a Plan Build A Disaster Supply Kit Maintain Your Plan

Know your risksYour homeLocal environment

Be aware of your community response planAt workAt school In your neighborhood

Keep informed

1. Be Informed

Develop your plan with your family

Make a family communication plan

Make a list of important contacts, including an Out-of-Town contact

Have an evacuation plan (consider pets, and any Access and Functional needs)

Set a meeting place outside your home

Share your plan with your neighbors

2. Make a Plan

Five-day supply of nonperishable food

Five-day supply of water

Flashlight and batteries

Battery-operated radio

First Aid kit

Extra clothing

Blankets

Cash

Special needs items

3. Build A Disaster Supply Kit

Review your plan every year

Update contact information

Practice your evacuation plan

Replace expired items in your disaster kit

Check with your insurance carrier

4. Maintain Your Plan

Download Emergency Planning Forms

Go to www.VOADsbc.org

Click Emergency Preparedness

Build a kit

Make a plan

Staying Informed

Download fromwww.VOADsbc.org

Radio stations with emergency information

Additional TrainingCommunity Emergency Response Team Training

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

Disaster Preparedness. Instructs team members how to prepare themselves and their community for the various types of hazards that may occur.

Fire Suppression. Covers fire chemistry, fire hazards, and fire suppression strategies.

Medical Operations Part I. Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstructions, bleeding, and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.

Medical Operations, Part II. Covers evaluating patients, establishing a medical treatment area, and performing basic first aid.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

Light Search And Rescue. Participants learn light search and rescue planning, techniques, and rescuer safety.

Team Organization And Disaster Psychology. Addresses CERT organization and management principles necessary for a CERT to operate successfully. Covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and worker.

Terrorism And Homeland Defense. Do’s and don’ts during a terrorist act and homeland defense tips.

Course Review And Disaster Simulation. Participants review the course and practice the skills that they have learned during the previous eight sessions in a disaster simulation.

CERT Training Activities

Four Phases of the Disaster Response Cycle1

23

4

The role of VOAD is to help organizations prepare so they can coordinate and collaborate effectively in the response and recovery phases.

Additional TrainingContinuity of Operations Planning

Continuity Planning

Business Continuity Planning is the advanced preparation and planning that will enable VOAD member organizations to resume viable public service operations following an event/disruption of any size or type.

A Business Continuity Plan is a collection of critical information that a person stepping into a leadership role would need in order to manage effectively during the recovery process.

Critical Functions performed by VOAD member organizations and the factors needed for their continuance.

Information And Strategies that will help during and after the disaster event

Action Items that can be completed, starting now, to lessen the impact of these events and enhance our ability to cope.

Continuity Planning

Contact Information

Jim Caesar

805-450-1437

james.caesar@ehs.ucsb.eduhttp://emergency.ucsb.edu/

james.caesar@ehs.ucsb.eduhttp://emergency.ucsb.edu/

www.VOADsbc.org/preparewww.VOADsbc.org/prepare