Disaster and Threat Preparedness: Taking Action
Disaster preparedness is crucial for personal, family, and workplace safety. This presentation by Bob King covers the types of disasters, key questions to ask yourself regarding food, water, warmth, and more, and essential tips for staying safe during emergencies. Being ready to take action can make a significant difference in the face of natural or human-made disasters.
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Personal, Family and Workplace Disaster and Threat Preparedness AM I READY TO TAKE ACTION? Presented by Bob King, Director Safety & Security Department Wenatchee School District #246
What is a Disaster? Natural Disaster A natural disaster is the consequence when a natural hazard (e.g., volcanic eruption or earthquake) affects humans. Human-made Disaster Disasters caused by human action, negligence, error or involving the failure of a system. 2
10 Questions to ask yourself 1. Do or will I have food? Ready-to-eat canned food (meats, tuna, fruit, vegetables) and a can opener. Protein bars, breakfast, bars, energy and granola bars, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts, crackers, canned fruit juices, chips and other comfort foods . Vitamins and other supplements, special needs foods for infants, the elderly or other medical concerns and if you have pets, have pet food stored with the rest of your emergency foods. 3
10 Questions to ask yourself 2. Do or will I have water? At least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Children, people who are ill or nursing mothers may need more and if the weather is warm you may need more. Water should be stored in sealed plastic containers and rotated every year or so. If you have pets, remember they need water too. If you are caught without stored water and a crisis has or is about to happen, fill the bathtub, sinks, empty plastic jugs, any extra glasses, any yard toys that will hold water (kids pool), empty plastic trash cans or anything that will hold water. Be careful about mosquitoes, especially outside. 4
10 Questions to ask yourself 3. Do or will I be able to stay warm and dry? In warm weather staying warm may not be a problem, but if you get wet, the wind is blowing or temperatures drop at night, it could be. Being wet can pull your body heat away and you can become hypothermic even in warm weather. You can always take cloths off if you have them but you can t put them on if you don t? Have sleeping bags for every member of your family or at least extra blankets available. Have a waterproof tarp to make a temporary shelter, patch a roof or use as a ground cloth. In colder weather, have appropriate clothes. Have a few air-activated had warmers stored and if you need to use them, put them in your armpits or close to your stomach to help keep your core warm. 5
10 Questions to ask yourself 3 Do or will I be able to stay warm and dry? Have water-proof matches and a lighters available. Make sure your gas fireplace is safe to run if the power is out. You can use a liquid propane barbecue for cooking and heat but only outdoors! A gas barbecue will kill you indoors! If available, use only electric heat indoors. In cold weather, close up you house and live in as few rooms a possible. Consider hanging on to old coats and clothes and put them in a bag you can grab if you have to leave in a hurry. 6
10 Questions to ask yourself 4. Do or will I be able to go without electricity? Have plenty of light. Light is one of the most comforting things you can provide. Each family member should have their own flashlight. Use LED type flashlights and make sure the batteries are not out of date. Plan for food disposal. Spoiled or rotten food can make your location unbearable because of the odor and insects. If you have a portable generator, do not use it around doors or windows and run it only when needed. 7
10 Questions to ask yourself 5. Do or will I have enough medical supplies? Have and know how to use a first-aid kit. Have enough prescription meds for a week. Have OTC (over the counter) meds for nausea, anti- diarrhea, laxative, pain, fever, upset stomach, topical antiseptic and oral pain killer. Have M-95 rated particle masks for everyone. Have Shelter-in-place supplies: rolls of plastic, large trash bags, towels and lots of duct tape that can be used to help seal room from contaminated outside air. 8
10 Questions to ask yourself 6 Do or will I have enough hygiene supplies? Fill your bathtub with water to fill the toilet reservoir after flushing if water is turned off. Conserve toilet water, If it s yellow, let it mellow; If it s brown, flush it down . Have plenty of toilet paper (an important comfort item) Have a five-gallon bucket with a lid containing five- gallon trash bags and toilet paper to be used as an emergency toilet if needed. Have extra feminine hygiene supplies, baby needs or other medical supplies. Don t forget your pets! If they have special needs, have what it takes. 9
10 Questions to ask yourself 7 Do or will I have comfort items? Being as comfortable as possible in a crisis is extremely important especially for children. It will reduce the affects of the current crisis and lessen the long-term effects of the overall trauma. For children, have games, toys, and a favorite stuffed animal or blanket available. For adults, extra reading or prescription glasses, books, magazines or hobby material. Have important family documentation in a safe place this is important for all and will help older persons feel better about the situation. 10
10 Questions to ask yourself 7 Do or will I have comfort items? Consider having duplicate family documents for each member (medical needs, positive ID, other special considerations) in case someone needs to go to an aid station or hospital and is separated from the rest of the family. Having things that will remind people of their everyday normal lives will help reassure them that their world will eventually return to normal. Have a battery powered, solar or hand-crank powered portable AM/FM radio. Learning what is going on in your local area and around the country will help keep hope alive and help you plan your stay. 11
10 Questions to ask yourself 7 Do or will I have comfort items? It s a good idea to have a couple of the readily available FRS/GMRS radios on hand. Use them to stay in contact with family members that leaves for supplies or to check on things and you will also be able to monitor these radios for those who may be in your area trying to communicate with others. 12
10 Questions to ask yourself 8 Do or will I have a plan to put it all together? Develop and practice a home fire evacuation plan. Make sure everyone knows where to go if they need to leave the home. Have an off-site location that family members can go to if they are away from home and can t get back. Arrange for someone outside the area to be the information contact point for family members and friends. That person could have copies of important family documents, pictures of family members and other personal family information. Every family members should know how to contact this person. 13
10 Questions to ask yourself 8 Do or will I have a plan to put it all together? When traveling, know where the fire exit doors are at whatever location you happen to be. In your hotel, count the number of doors between your room and the fire exit. Physically walk the route with your eyes closed, feeling the wall and counting the doors to the exit. Keep your personal ID, money and anything else you would need if you have to evacuate together and take it with you anytime you leave the room. Have an earthquake plan. Remember, avoid getting under objects, get next to them. 14
10 Questions to ask yourself 8 Do or will I have a plan to put it all together? Discuss what if situations with your family and talk about what to do. When you see something happen on the news, talk about it with every member of your family. Even the youngest members need to be involved. NEVER GO WHERE YOUR MIND HASN T GONE BEFORE! 15
10 Questions to ask yourself 9 Do or will I have the training to make it all work? Get CERT training if it is available. Be trained in First-Aid and CPR. Don t have technical equipment unless you have training on how to use it properly. Visit your local Red Cross and take advantage of the training they offer. Contact your local city or county fire departments to see what kind of training might be available to you. NEVER STOP TRAINING AND PREPARING! 16
10 Questions to ask yourself 10 Do or will I be ready to take action? IF I DON T TAKE ACTION, WHO WILL? 17
Step Outside the Box Most peoples worst case scenario: The Active Shooter 18
Where Did It Come From? Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold April 20, 1999 Columbine High School, outside of Littleton Co. Murdered 12 high school students and a teacher Wounded 23 others before killing themselves. 19
The Police Response Then Locate Isolate Contain Negotiate Eliminate 20
The Police Response Now Locate Eliminate 21
What you need to do First and Foremost: DEVELOP A SURVIVAL MINDSET! Be aware of your surroundings, pay attention! Continually ask yourself What if? Believe you WILL survive! Believe you will not die if you are shot! Believe that the more aggressive action you take, the better your chances! Believe the less actions you take, the less chance you have to survive! NEVER GO WHERE YOUR MIND HASN T GONE BEFORE 22
When Faced with an active Shooter TRUST YOU INSTINCTS AND MAKE A DECISION TO DO SOMETHING! Take action to protect yourself and others to survive the situation. You will generally have three options available to you: 1. GET AWAY 2. HIDE 3. TAKE DIRECT ACTION 23
GET AWAY If you can and you think it is safe, get away from the threat and get to a safe place. It may be another room or out of the building but get away. Standing and doing nothing can get you killed. You may have to rely partly on your gut instincts but if you can, thrust them, it may be all you have. Leave your belongings behind but take your cell phone if you have one. Dying over personal belongings is just not work it. 24
HIDE If you have time, find a safe place to hide. Seek protection behind heavy furniture if possible. If you can find a room that locks, get there and lock the door. Do not open the door until you are sure it is safe. If you contact 911, tell them where you are. If you can do so safely, lock any outside doors if the threat is outside and block the entrances if possible. If threat is inside, turn off lights and close window shades. While inside, seek cover behind heavy furniture. Silence your cell phone. When possible and safe, call 911. If there are others in the room, develop a plan of action. Do whatever it takes to survive the situation. THINK-PLAN-ACT! 25
TAKE ACTION IF OUTSIDE WHEN A SHOOTING OCCURS Drop to the ground immediately when gunfire is heard face down and as flat as possible. If close to a safe place, keep low and run as fast as you can. If safety is to far, crawl on all fours or your belly to safety. If the shooter is shooting at you, YOU MUST MOVE! Get up and run as fast as you can. If you drop something, leave it. Do not run in a straight line to or away from the shooter. Run for cover instead of concealment if available. When you reached a safe place, stop, breath, listen, plan then act. If you are with others, plan together. 26
TAKE ACTION IF THE SHOOTER IS CLOSE TO YOU If one-on-one with a shooter, you will have a decision to make that will most likely make the difference between living and dying. You must weigh the consequences of your actions and choose the course of action that will give you the best chance of survival. You can play dead, try to run or fight but whatever you do must be done with total commitment. DO NOT START TO TAKE ACTION THEN STOP, THIS COULD GET YOU KILLED! Use whatever you have at your disposal to defend yourself. USE WHATEVER FORCE NECESSARY TO SURVIVE! DO NOT STOP YOUR ATTACK UNTIL YOU CAN GET AWAY OR THE SHOOTER IS NO LONGER A THREAT! 27
HELP OUT Warn others of the threat. Help other to escape the threat. Keep others away from the threat area. Help the injured if it is safe to do so. If not, help move them to a safe place. STAY CALM! This will help others to stay calm. 28
CALLING FOR HELP If safe to do so, call 911. Don t assume someone else has done it. Be persistent; the phones may be jammed so keep trying. Calmly identify yourself and your exact location. The dispatchers are trained to asked specific questions; try and answer them as completely as you can. If safe to do so, stop and take time to get a good description of the shooter. The more detailed information you can give will greatly help responders identify and eliminate the threat. 29
WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES When law enforcement reaches you, do not run at them or make sudden movements! The mission of the police is to identify and stop the threat. They may mistake you as the threat if you make sudden moves. Do not scream, yell, point or wave your arms. Do not hold anything in your hands that could be mistaken for a weapon. Be quiet and compliant, DO EXACTLY WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT SAYS. Show the officers your EMPTY hands and follow their instructions. Give what information you have to the responding officers. When it is safe to do so, you will be given instructions as to what to do next. 30
THREAT PREPARATION AND DEFENSE AT THE WORKPLACE Require visible, photo IDs on all employees. Limit building/office access and have all visitors sign in. Consider CPTED principals in building and office design. Have a panic button for reception area. Have a code phrase to covertly communicate danger. Consider installing surveillance cameras in public areas. Make sure everything is well lit. Consider dark-tint window film on exterior windows. Consider smart card access control system. Identity and mark safe rooms . Practice a workplace lock down . Invite local law enforcement into your facility to get familiar with your building lay out. If a threat enters your workplace, immediately take action. DEVELOP AND PRACTICE A PLAN! 31
THREAT PREPARATION AND DEFENSE AT HOME Make sure all doors and windows close and lock properly. Exterior doors should be solid without windows and with peep holes. There should be no glass around doors that can be broken to unlock doors and consider using tinted security film on all exterior windows. All exterior doors should be well lit with dusk-to-dawn lights. No landscaping near the house that would provide a hiding place. All trees should be trimmed at least four feet up from the ground. Consider having exterior lighting away from your house to light up the grounds. If you have a fence, keep it in good shape and gates locked. Use caution when entering and exiting your garage. Pay attention to your surroundings. If things look out of place, leave! Once you enter your home, lock the door behind you. Do not enter a dark house and if you have an alarm, use it. Have a safe room on all floors of your house and teach your family how to use them. 32
THREAT PREPARATION AND DEFENSE AT HOME Have a fire evacuation plan and practice it. Have fire extinguishers in the garage, kitchen and your safe rooms. Keep kitchen knifes in a drawer, out of site. Keep a baseball bat, golf club or other such sports equipment accessible to be used as a defensive weapon if necessary. Teach you family to have a survival mind-set. Teach your family to call 911 immediately if they feel in danger. Make arrangements with your neighbors to have children go there if they are home alone and need help. If you have a firearm in your home, make sure you inform the 911 operator of the weapon and tell them what you are doing with it. Do not have a firearm if you are not trained and prepared to use it! Talk to your family about your plan. Go over what-if scenarios with all members of your family and make sure they all have an idea of what to do. 33
REMEMBER HAVE A PLAN! 34
Thank you very much! Contact Information: Bob King, Director Safety & Security Department Wenatchee School District #246 1201 Millerdale St. Wenatchee, WA 98801 Office: 509-663-1249 Cell: 509-679-9839 E-mail: king.b@mail.wsd.wednet.edu 35
