Organizing & Disaster Preparedness Services for Communities, Businesses & Individuals.

BASIC TIPS TO PREPARE FOR DISASTER:

Follow this simple plan to prepare yourself and others for any type of emergency. Be prepared to be on your own for up to ONE WEEK.

• Gather and make copies of your important documents. For example: social security cards, driver's license, passports, birth/marriage certificates, will, home/business inventory, and financial documents. For your business - regularly back up you computer documents, client and critical documents. Keep a second set of these records in a bank safe deposit box or with a trusted family member or friend outside the area.
• Designate an out of area contact person. Provide that person with a list of the people that you wish to contact after an emergency to let them know your situation. When the disaster happens, you just need to make one outgoing phone call to that person and he/she will contact everyone else. Do not count on land or cell phone lines to be working.
• Create an inventory of your home/business. Know what you have that's important to you. Take pictures or make a video that illustrates what you have, and make a list as well. Keep a duplicate copy of photos, video and list off-site in your safe deposit box or out of town area with your designated contact person. This information is crucial after a disaster when you are negotiating with insurance companies.
• Develop a personal/household/business plan of what to do after an emergency. This plan should cover what to do and how to do it after an emergency. Together, figure out the different possibilities to exit your home/business, alternative roads to get in and out of your neighborhood. Teach your children important phone numbers, first aid, how to deal with their own medical needs, pet care, etc.
• Prepare and maintain emergency kits. Plan to be on your own for a minimum of one week. Keep water, nonperishable foods, flashlights, battery-powered radio, first aid kits, medicines that are crucial for your health, extra cash, and shoes for walking. Always keep more for back up in your car home and office.
• Know your community resources and train and educate yourself. Participate in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) through your local fire department. This program is typically free. Also contact your local American Red Cross for first aid/CPR classes, disaster classes and volunteer training opportunities. There are many other organizations and ways to train and contribute to your communities preparedness efforts - get involved and stay involved!
  
  Remember to exercise your muscle of preparedness regularly. None of us know where we will be when an emergency happens and whether we will be the one giving or the one receiving assistance. It is important that we each be prepared to care for ourselves and to offer assistance to others, when the need arises.
  
  
  

KEY TIPS TO PREPARE YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR DISASTER:

The Team Approach:

• Partnership is the only way - this is NOT a one-person assignment.
• Assess the skills and strengths of your staff.
• Choose a team of committed, action-oriented, result producing individuals.
• Create a structure for fulfillment with regularly scheduled meetings, tasks and due dates.
• Hire outside professional consultants, if needed for direction and support.
• Management must be involved - you are ultimately responsible!

Workplace Team Assignments:

• Identify and assess vulnerabilities and capabilities.
• Create a current, up-to-date emergency plan.
• Develop a communications plan.
• Designate an alternative operations site.
• Check office space for hazards and mitigate.
• Have first aid and emergency supply kits full and current.
• Schedule regular practice drills.
• Conduct regularly scheduled staff trainings on evacuation, CPR/first aid/defibrillator, fire, earthquake, terrorism, intruder, etc.

Exercise the "Team Muscle of Preparedness" - It makes a difference!

LINKS:

American Red Cross
CDC - Center for Disease Control & Prevention
FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
National Citizen Corps Council
National Weather Service
USGS - United States Geological Survey