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Entries in Safety (18)

Wednesday
Feb222012

Disaster Tip of the Week: Setup Predetermined Meet-up Locations for After an Emergency or Disaster

One of the more common things to occur after an emergency or disaster is families becoming separated. This is particularly true after sudden large region disasters like earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, and mudslides.

This occurs for a variety of reasons, though most commonly because these events can happen when you and your spouse are at work, and the kids are off at school. Though you can’t prevent things like this from happening to you and your family, you can take steps to speed up reunification with your family.

The first step would be to set up predetermined meet-up locations with your family. I recommend that you choose at least three locations, but probably no more than five maybe six locations since someone will have to check each location until everyone is reunited again.

Doing this is quite simple and starting with your first location which I recommend be either the sidewalk or at the end of your driveway in front of your home or apartment. This makes meeting up after an emergency or disaster fairly quickly, especially if everyone is nearby when something happens.

Since this location is the easiest, but also not always practical after an event the second location should also be close by such as across the street from your home or at a designated neighbor’s house.

The third location can be the nearest corner to your home or other location, but I would suggest that you choose an exact cross street location to make things easier. You should also keep it close to home in a familiar place incase street signs are unreadable or missing after the event.

Any additional locations should be at a specific location that is easy to find both geographically or by what is at the location. An example would be the Lowe’s parking lot on Friendly Street and Lovely Place. Well, you get the idea.

If you have school age children you should also check with your school to see what the school has planned in case of a large event. All schools should have such plans in place and they will not release the children to go off on their own. A parent may have to come and pick up the child, or they may go to another school or shelter. I suggest you find out now so you won’t be “surprised” when it happens.

To make your location planning easier, I found a website called Safety Maps that you can use to set up predetermined meet-up locations for after an emergency. It is a free tool set up these locations and lets you include instructions. Just go to Free Planning Map to get started creating yours.

If you have family that works more than an hour’s drive from where you live it may not be practical to meet-up immediately following an event. In that case, I recommend you set up a family crisis communications plan, and I will be doing a post on that for next weeks tip.

Wednesday
Mar162011

Statement from California’s Department of Public Health and Emergency Management Agency on Risk of Radiation Exposure

*The following news release was issued by Cal EMA on Tuesday, March 15, 2011.*

SACRAMENTO – Today the interim director of the California Department of Public Health, Dr. Howard Backer, and acting secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency, Mike Dayton, issued the following statement emphasizing Californians’ safety from radiation exposure and the risks of taking potassium iodide as a precautionary measure.

“The safety of all Californians is our highest priority, and we are in constant contact with the federal agencies responsible for monitoring radiation levels across the West Coast.

We want to emphasize that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have all stated that there is no risk expected to California or its residents as a result of the situation in Japan.

We are actively monitoring the situation in Japan and are ready to take all steps necessary to protect Californians should risks develop.

We urge Californians to not take potassium iodide as a precautionary measure. It is not necessary given the current circumstances in Japan, it can present a danger to people with allergies to iodine, shellfish or who have thyroid problems, and taken inappropriately it can have serious side effects including abnormal heart rhythms, nausea, vomiting, electrolyte abnormalities and bleeding.

Our thoughts are with the people of Japan at this tragic time.”

Californians with questions about radiation exposure can contact the California Department of Public Health’s Emergency Operations information line at 916 341-3947.

For updated information on monitoring, response and relief efforts in California and Japan, please visit the California Emergency Management Agency website at www.calema.ca.gov.

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For more you can go to our recent Disaster Preparedness Blog post on:

What You Need To Know About Potassium Iodide or KI

Monday
Mar142011

Earthquake and Tsunami In Japan

The earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan makes us all realize just how fragile life can be, and how powerful the forces of nature are. Events like these can be both unpredictable and unforgiving to our ways of life.

Japan was, and remains to be, one of the best prepared countries in the world when it comes to earthquakes and tsunami preparedness. The building codes are one of, if not the best in the world and yet no amount of preparedness can keep such events from happening to us anywhere in the world.

As I sit and write this I shudder to think about how such an event might impact other cities and countries around the world if the same event occured in another place. It reminds me of a conversation I once had with someone about being prepared to go at a moments notice with my go-bag ready at all times.

I would like to think that I am ready, but the truth is you never really know until that time is upon you. I only hope I never will be tested or have to put my last resort SHTF plan to work.

With this said, my thoughts and prayers are with the Japanese people in there time of need. I ask that if you can to please make a donation to a charity that is actively helping the Japanese to recover.

A good one is always the Red Cross the only thing that you should be aware of when making donations to other charities is to be sure they are legitimate since fraud becomes an unfortunate event during these tragedies.

Just so you are aware March 27, 2011 kicks off Tsunami Awareness week, and I will be doing some posts on that starting that week.

So far estimated costs of the disaster are estimated to be around $180 Billion (U.S.) and the death toll estimated to be around 10,000 and expected to climb as whole towns and infrastructures have been wiped out.

Thursday
Feb172011

Is Your Business Prepared To Shelter In Place?

Does your business know how to handle a shelter in place situation? Chances are if you are like most businesses you do not currently have a plan or the supplies needed to shelter in place.

Fairly recently I was consulting with a client and asked if they had made any preparations or had plans to shelter in place. The response I got back was very interesting, "Sheltering in place, thats only for hospitals isn't it?" This told me all I needed to know about how adequate their planning was.

As a side note, here in the CA, Bay Area, Shelter In Place orders are issued fairly frequently due to various incidents from gas leaks to industrial accidents.

Though I wont mention the particular business I am speaking of, I am paying particular attention to them for a reason. They had just relocated to a new building, that is located right next to an electrical sub-station which if it were to catch fire releases a very large amount of toxic fumes and smoke. These types of fires also burn extremely hot, and have the potential to place nearby structures in danger.

Just to provide you with some example of these types of fires, see the videos below.

 

Florida Sub-Station Fire & Explosion

 

March 2009 Ottawa Sub-Station Fire

Warning: The Video below contains Expletives


 

San Leandro Sub-Station Fire

 These are not the only situations for which a shelter in place can be called, but as I stated, the fumes and smoke from these fires are extremely toxic, and generally contain PCB's. However, transformer fires are fairly a common event and as you can see from these videos, people are unfamiliar with the potential dangers, even having their kids outside to watch.

What does this have to do with business? Well, businesses have a duty to act appropriately to safe guard both employees, and guests or visitors at the business site and knowing what to do when a shelter In Place order is given.

There is a lot more to a Shelter In Place program, but here are some basics to get you started:

  • Close the business, no one should come in or out.
  • Choose an interior room, preferably with no windows, hopefully with a telephone.
  • Ensure and provide for the safety of visitors, and clients, someone will need to direct them what to do
  • Close and lock ALL outside windows and doors If you can close all blinds and curtains
  • Turn off all Fans, heating, and air conditioning systems
  • If possible, have people call their emergency contacts to let them know where they are and that they are safe
  • Get the names of all the people in the room or onsite
  • Seal off the room using the plastic sheeting and duct tape, cover all doors, windows, and vents
  • Listen to the radio for instructions, and for when the shelter in place advisory is over

 If you have questions or concerns about Sheltering In Place feel free to Contact me and I will be glade to help you get this done the right way at your business. 

Wednesday
Feb092011

Severe Weather Safety & Preparedness Tips From the Folks at GEMA

Winter storms having been causing havoc and chaos in many areas throughout the country, and another storm is currently about to hit again along with a major cold front. Many people have been caught off guard by these storms and without adequate supplies. In light of this, I received an email from the Georgia Emergency Management Association (GEMA) asking me to pass along some information in conjunction with the Ready Georgia campaign and the Governor's Office to remind people about preparedness and severe weather.

Click to read more ...