Preparing Your Family for Hurricanes

Lou Romig MD, FAAP, FACEPMiami Children’s Hospital

FL-5 DMAT© 2006 Lou Romig

A.K.A…

My New Best Friend is a My New Best Friend is a Generator!Generator!

My 2004 Hurricane Season

My 2005 Hurricane Season

Take disasters personally.

Put our families first.

In a “culture of preparedness”,

emergency planning becomes a matter-of-

fact part of life.

Things to do Things to get Living the Generator Life My favorite gadgets

Things To Do: Throughout the Year

Reassess homeowner’s or renter’s insurance annually

Assess need for and complete major preparedness projects such as hurricane shutters, a generator, roof repairs, etc.

Put away emergency cash

Things To Do: Throughout the Year

Spare two week supply of usual prescription medications

Update vaccinations for all pets in case of need for kenneling or evacuation

Watch for bargains on hurricane supplies and equipment (Tax Free days?)

Learn about disaster plans at family members’ schools and workplaces

Things to Do: Hurricane Season

Things To Do:June 1st

Review family disaster plan with family members. Update as needed.

Evaluate evacuation routes, closest shelters, triggers for evacuation

Register with shelters if pre-registration program is available. Include considerations for pet-friendly shelters.

Things To Do:June 1st

Designate and notify a long-distance emergency phone contact

Review school and workplace disaster plans

Gather copies and/or originals of important documents. Keep documents together in a portable format (paper or electronic).

Important Documents

Mortgage, leases, taxes Insurance policies Pending bills and account

numbers (credit cards, banks, utilities, etc)

Identification documents (birth certificates, passports, etc)

Emergency contact information Important medical records,

including doctors’ phone numbers

Important Documents

Copies of medication lists and prescriptions, including glasses, contact lenses, etc.

Recent photos of all family members Photo/video inventory of home and

most important belongings Phone numbers, websites of

commonly used repair/maintenance services

Serial numbers of important equipment, including medical devices

Blank checks, envelopes, stamps

Things To Do:June 1st

Keep emergency cash reserve with important papers

Complete needed home and vehicle repairs

Have trees trimmed and clean up the yard

Inventory, rotate and stock non-medical hurricane supplies

Things To Do:June 1st

Inventory, stock, and repair emergency and back-up medical supplies and durable equipment. Assure the availability of prescription medications.

Perform generator maintenance as specified in owner’s manual

Back-up computer hard drives Identify storm information resources

My Favorite Websites

www.hurricanecity.com

www.nhc.noaa.gov

www.wunderground.com

TTD When a Storm Threatens

Things to Do: Before A Storm

Review plan with all family members. Inform extended family (especially your long-distance contact) and others of your family’s immediate plans.

If evacuating, do so as early as possible. Consider making hotel reservations outside the threat area if you can’t stay with outside family/friends.

If evacuating, turn off water and gas mains

Things to Do: Before A Storm

Move emergency equipment and basic supplies to home “safe space”.

Things to Do: Before A Storm

Gas up all vehicles. Safely store limited quantities of fuel for generator.

Fill LP gas tanks for grills or generators as needed

Top off emergency supplies if necessary

Charge all rechargeable batteries (cell, cameras, etc)

Deal with pets as per your disaster plan

Things to Do: Before A Storm

Assure that important documents and cash reserve are stored safely. Take documents and cash with you if you evacuate.

Refill prescriptions if possible Secure protective measures such as

storm shutters. Secure garbage and loose objects in yard, on balconies, etc.

Shutter installation and removal can be very dangerous. Be careful!

Things to Do: Before A Storm

Test all battery-powered equipment Turn refrigerators and freezers to

coldest settings Sanitize bathtubs/sinks with bleach.

Seal drains and fill basins with water if there’s any question about the water supply after a major storm.

Freeze drinking water in clean partially-filled soda bottles or other food-grade containers

Soda bottles are preferred

Things to Do: Before A Storm

Catch up on laundry Unplug major electrical appliances,

including computers If riding out a storm, make sure all

family members are adequately clothed (with shoes!) in case of the need to leave the home emergently during the storm. All family members should have some form of ID.

TTD During a Storm

© John Pritchett, Honolulu Weekly 10/26/05

Things to Do: During a Storm Keep up with information Know where everyone is in the

house Establish a signal for retreat to

your safe room Turn off electrical equipment if

power goes out Don’t run a portable generator Constantly reassess your safety Be very careful during the eye of

the storm

After a Storm

Before Wilma

After Wilma

Be careful!!!

Things to Do: After the Storm

Assess immediate surroundings for safety hazards. Leave the area if possible if there are serious safety issues.

Be alert for newly evolving hazards such as flooding

Access the media for situation reports

Document damage as soon as it’s safely possible to do so

Things to Do: After the Storm

Make critical emergency repairs as soon as it’s safely possible

Supervise children at all times and don’t allow them to get into hazardous situations during the assessment and recovery phases.

Be very cautious if using a generator.

It’s never appropriate for a child to be on the roof of a house unless they’re being rescued from it.

Things to Do: After the Storm

Use open flames only for cooking, never for lighting. Keep a fire extinguisher at hand.

Keep all chemicals and fuels out of reach of children. Use clearly marked containers.

Communicate with family and friends when possible but don’t make unnecessary calls that may burden an overwhelmed communication system

Things to Do: After the Storm

Watch family members (including children) for signs of stress. Make allowances for stressed-out behavior.

Maintain family routines whenever possible

Replace used disaster supplies as soon as it’s practical

Safely and properly dispose of waste chemicals such as generator oil, gas, kerosene, etc.

Things to Do: After the Storm

Evaluate and revise your disaster plan as needed. Share what

you’ve learned!

Don’t forget to include your children in the evaluation process.

Next: Things to Get

Disclaimer: Products shown are included as representative samples, not endorsements

Safety and Information

Battery-powered radio

NOAA weather radio, preferably with Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) feature

Battery powered TV Wireless internet

device Hardwired, non-

powered phone Work gloves Eye protection

Sturdy shoes Rain gear Emergency

signaling devices Fire extinguisher Flashlights First aid kit Smoke alarms Carbon monoxide

monitors Spare batteries for

all electronics

Shelter/Protection

Plastic sheeting Large plastic

garbage bags Duct tape Tie wraps Rope

Bungee cords Basic tools Broom Staple gun for

tacking plastic sheeting

Blankets/mattresses

Water

One gallon/person/day for a minimum of three days (includes ½ gallon of potable water/person)

Potable water for pets Eyedropper Nonscented chlorine bleach OR

Iodine water treatment tablets

Purifying water

Rolling boil for at least 15 minutes. 2 drops of non-scented chlorine

bleach per quart of water (8 drops per gallon).

Iodine tablets or solution per package instructions.

Food

Canned and packaged food that doesn’t require cooking

Include some “comfort” and snack foods

Consider self-contained meals with heaters included

Powdered flavoring packets for water (Kool Aid®, Crystal Lite®, etc)

Baby food/formula if necessary (premixed formula if you have the room)

Special nutritional formulas/supplements as needed

Pet food Manual can opener Non-electric (usually

propane) burner/stove Propane for burner/stove Charcoal, matches if

using charcoal grill Spare gas, matches if

using gas grill Grilling tools Coolers, cold/ice packs

Self-heating Food

Chef5minutemeals.com

Heatermeals.com

Sunmeadow.com

Labriutemeals.com

Propane Burner/Stove

Look for wide-based stable burners, preferably not requiring matches.

Hygiene

Moist towelettes Toilet paper Alcohol-based

sanitizer Napkins, paper

towels, shop towels

Paper plates/cups and plastic eating implements

Waterless teeth cleaners (such as Oral-B Brush-ups®)

Feminine hygiene products

Diapers and diaper wipes

Cornstarch-based body powder

Comfort!

Gotta go? Line the empty toilet

bowl with a double layer of plastic garbage bags

Pour in clumping cat litter.

Do your business.

Discard when necessary.

Medical

Basic first aid kit with lots of supplies for minor injuries

Prescription medications

Copies of prescriptions (include glasses and other prescribed aids) and prescription bottles

Human and pet vaccination and medical records

Spare glasses & contact lenses

Sunscreen Insect repellant Anti-itch

medications Nail clippers Hydrocortisone

cream Diaper

cream/ointment (for adults too!)

Medical

Antifungal cream/powder Disposable cold packs Creams, gels, disposable patches for

muscle aches Topical oral anesthetic & dental

emergencies kit Battery-powered nebulizer if needed

(with spare batteries) Other supplies as needed for specific

medical conditions (i.e. oxygen, battery-powered suction, monitors, etc)

Secure all medications against curious children!

Lighting

Flashlights for everyone

Battery-powered lanterns

Lots of spare batteries

Never use open flames around children!

Other

Emergency cash Checkbook Pending bills Stamps Writing paper/pens/pencils Personal phone/address book Family communication plan

Family Communication Plan

www.fema.gov/areyouready/emergency_planning.shtm

Other

Digital or disposable camera(s) Vital family documentation (see

the “Things to Do” list) Household inventory Chargers and spare batteries for

cell phones, cameras, portable entertainment devices, etc.

Spare car, home and property keys

Generator keys

My New Best Friend…

Power is never more important than safety!

Living With a Portable Generator

Get to know your machine before you need it

Outside, ventilated! Never during the storm Point the exhaust away Danger – hot parts! Store fuel away from the

generator, in approved containers No smoking or open flames

Living With a Portable Generator

Wear protective clothing and shoes when fueling. Consider eye protection.

Never fuel a hot generator

Living With a Portable Generator

Never run the generator without an adult on-site

Have a way to call for help if possible

Use the right cords Watch out for cords – trip hazard! Only a professional should wire a

portable generator into home circuitry

Living With a Portable Generator

Keep up maintenance before, during and after use or disuse

Know your power limitations Keep a log of run-time and fuel

usage Protect your machine in the off-

season

Equipment & Supplies for Generator Living

Equipment and Supplies

Fuel stabilizer Spare fuel in approved storage

containers Spare oil as specified by

manufacturer Funnel for fueling Fuel siphon Protective eyewear, clothing and

shoes for fueling

Equipment and Supplies

Locally-approved containers for discarding waste oil/fuel

Basic tools with appropriate wrenches for drain plugs, etc.

Fire extinguisher(s) Cat litter to absorb fuel spills Small notebook/pad and pen for

generator run-time and fuel log Carbon monoxide monitors for

each sleeping area and at site of cord entry into structure

Equipment and Supplies

Print simplified start/stop operation instructions. Consider labeling the start and shut-down sequences on the generator itself.

Flashlight or lantern for checking/fueling the generator in the dark

Various lengths of manufacturer-specified cord

Surge-protected heavy gauge power strip(s)

Multi-outlet adaptors

Equipment and Supplies

Small, lightweight electric stick lamps with low-watt bulbs

Refrigerator and freezer thermometers

Universal AC adaptors A toaster oven Consider marking cords with

reflective tape or glow-sticks to reduce trip hazards in the dark.

Protective cover for generator

Portable Air Conditioner?

$300-$600

A nice-to-have item. Frail people

may really benefit from heat

relief.

Dr. Lou’s Favorite Gadgets

#5 Food Safety Thermometer

First Alert Fridge Guard

#4 Fluorescent Lanterns

#3 Multifunction Radios

#2 Battery-powered TV

#1 Battery-powered Fans

Wrap-up

Protecting your family is a 24-7-365 job.

A family hurricane plan is a good base for an all-hazards family disaster plan.

If you can take a few days to plan and prepare for the holidays or a vacation, you can also take a few days a year to

plan and prepare for a disaster.

Excrement occurs…

Then it hits the

Be sure your family’s ready!

Presentation and checklists available at

www.jumpstarttriage.com“Other lectures” page

Thank you!louromig@bellsouth.net