Transcript Presentation Title goes here.

I’m talking to you…
February 28, 2011
Presented by Susan Ross Wells
Why do we need a communication
plan?
• Disasters and emergencies can strike at anytime, often without warning.
• Communication is usually the first casualty in any emergency.
• In a constant changing fast paced environment that is filled with fires,
tornados, floods, and other disasters and emergencies, many things are
not under our control but a communication plan is.
• You will be more prepared to safely reunite with your family and loved
ones during an emergency if you plan ahead, and communicate with
others in advance.
2
Why we need a communication plan cont.
• Activity
Establish an Emergency Communication Plan
• A family communication plan is crucial in an emergency, and
it only takes a short time to create one!
– Even if you live alone, you should share your plan with
another family member or friend.
• Sit down and talk about disasters that can occur in your area
and what you will do if family members are separated.
– Your family and loved ones may not be together when
disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance.
– Talk with your neighbors as well about how you can work
together in the event of an emergency.
Establish an Emergency Communication Plan cont.
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Discuss how you will respond to different types of disasters /
emergencies:
– Fire
– Tornado
– Flood
– Sudden evacuation from home
• Example- Grain elevator fire
Make a list of important contact information and phone numbers
that you will need in an emergency:
– Police / Fire
– Family and friends
– Out-of-town contact
– Doctor Office
– Pharmacy
– Parent’s work and cell phone numbers
– Children’s schools
Establish an Emergency Communication Plan cont.
• Inquire about emergency plans at places
where your family spends time; work,
school, daycare, etc.
– If no plans currently exist, consider
volunteering to help create one.
• Disaster situations are stressful and can
create confusion.
– Keep the plans as simple as
possible!!
Choose a Meeting Spot
• Each family should have two different meeting
spots:
– A place right outside your home in case of a
sudden emergency like a fire.
– A place outside your neighborhood in case
you can not return home, or are asked to
evacuate your neighborhood due to an
emergency such as a gas leak.
Emergency Action Plans
• Discuss escape routes out of your home in case of a
sudden emergency:
– You should have two ways out of each room in
your home for your escape plan.
• Example- Fire
• Talk about plans for sheltering in place:
– Example – Winter Storm or Tornado
• Be sure to PRACTICE your emergency action plans!
Choose an Out-of-Town Contact
• Choose an out-of-town contact person that your family /
household will contact to check on each other should a disaster
occur.
– It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to
call across town. The out-of-town contact will then
communicate among separated family members.
– Your contact person should live far enough away that they
would be unlikely to be directly affected by the same
disaster.
– Make sure this person knows that they are the contact
person for your family.
Choose an Out-of-Town Contact cont.
• Make sure every household / family
member has the contact information for
the out-of-town contact person.
• Many people flood the telephone lines
when emergencies happen.
– Your family should know that if telephones
are not working or are overloaded, they need
to be patient and try again later.
How will you reunite with your loved ones?
• Separation of family members is likely to occur
during the day when adults are at work and children
are at school.
• If this occurs, each family member should call the
out-of-town contact person for information on other
family members.
• Make sure that all household members know how to
tell the contact where they are, how they can be
reached, and what happened.
Re-unite with loved ones cont.
• Discuss ahead of time where each family
member will go if asked to evacuate / you are
not able to return home. This will give you an
idea of where family members may be if you
are not together at the time of the disaster or
emergency.
– Will you go to a family or friends home? If
so, who?
– Will you go to a shelter?
• Make a plan for your pets. Pets (other than
service animals) are generally not permitted
in shelters. Have a plan for where they will
go while you are away.
– Make sure they have identification in case
they get lost or separated from your
family.
ICE Contacts
• ICE stands for “In Case of Emergency”.
• Can be found under contacts in most cell phones.
• Even though cell phones have the vulnerabilities
already discussed, it is still a good idea to consider
ICE contacts into your phone.
• Emergency personnel may look for an ICE contact
in an individual’s cell phone if the person has
become injured or ill and is unable to provide them
with medical information or who they should
contact to advise your emergency situation.
Let Your Family Know You Are Safe
• After a disaster, letting your family know that you are safe
and well can bring loved ones great piece of mind.
• Tell loved ones about the American Red Cross safe and
well website through www.redcross.org.
– People within a disaster-affected area can register themselves as
“safe and well” by selecting and posting standard messages for
friends and family that indicate they are safe and well at a shelter,
home or hotel, and will make contact when they are able.
– Concerned family and friends who know the person’s phone
number or address can search for messages posted by those who
self register.
Let Your Family Know You Are Safe Cont.
• Website complies with all privacy and child
protection laws.
• Because of these privacy concerns, no location
information is publicly displayed on this website.
• The results of a successful search only display a
loved one’s first name, last name, an as of date,
and the Safe and Well messages they posted
• Important for public to familiarize itself with the
site ahead of time, so that when a disaster
strikes families will know how to use the site to
inform those they love that they are safe and
well.
Wrap Up
• Questions??
• Next presentation:
– Monday, March 28, 2011 @
7:00 PM
– Topic: The 72 Hour Survival Plan
– Location: Main Branch Library
• Andersons Raffle Drawing