WHERE WILL YOU BE WHEN IT HAPPENS- No Really

I spend a lot of my time in my job planning for what we would do during a major disaster (for us an Earthquake seems most likely). I used to comment during the planning we have to think about this as if we were casualties of the quake; but this put a damper on the meeting.  So now I just say we are all on vacation when it strikes. :)

Which brings me to our first question- Where will we be when ______ (fill in the disaster) strikes?   

So let us play a game I was introduced to earlier this year.

1. Take an envelope (or cup, pan, sack) and a sheet of paper and pencil.  Tear or cut the paper into 1-2 inch squares (it doesn’t have to be exact) and for a family of four make sure there are at least four squares, each with one of the following numbers 1, 2, 3, 4. On each. (for a larger group just randomly add the numbers 1-4).
2. Place all in the container and shake.
3. Have each person pick a number from the bag, then put the envelope away.  Now if you pulled the number:

a.       1- You are on vacation out of the area.

b.      2- You are in your car on the way home from work

c.       3- You are at work

d.      4- You are at home

    4. Next, imagine a major earthquake hits. 

    5.   After taking that in for a moment, go around the table and whoever drew number one should talk about what they would do in their location.  Then go to the next number drawn, and so on until you are done with #4.  Now allow anyone else to add ideas to the numbers they didn’t pick. No wrong answers!

What you have done is begun your disaster planning and involved the whole family (or office). 

*So let’s be interactive; pick a number and comment in this blog on what you would do; we can learn from each other. Your comments will part of the next page in this string!

Disaster Dave

Northwest Quake - where will you be

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/06/experts_say_an_earthquake_sure.html

This article speaks about our likelihood of a quake in the next fifty years.  Take a moment to read  on this lovely summer day, then take 15 minutes to write down the following big areas:

• Where will we be when it happens
• Where will we go (to escape or meet)
  
• Who will we help
• Who will help us

 Over the next few weeks (not today, too sunny) we'll work through these questions.

Who will help you 2

Neighbors to help

A story of neighbors helping neighbors from NPR. A great point made about why its important for us to help each other is "The problem isn't that experts are dumb. It's that communities are not the sum of their roads, schools and malls. They are the sum of their relationships." 

So who knows your community?  You?  Or someone from the opposite coast?  As someone who has responded to disasters in other peoples communities, it is the communities that plan together and respond together who recover the quickest.
What are you doing in your neighborhood? Community to prepare?

Disaster Dave

PETS In DISASTER part 2

For many Americans our pets are no longer just hunting or working dogs, they are companions and well... part of the family. But the fact is pets are not allowed in Red Cross shelters, and while some governments and cities have worked to ensure their is a pet shelter available, like everything else in the disaster world you can't depend on that.
So what can you do to make sure your four legged family member is ready? Many of the same things you do for yourself.

1.  A picture -Of you and your pet together
2. Does your pet have ID? - are they chipped and/or do they have a collar and license.
3. A go bag packed? - food, medicine, leash, litter (for cats) , brush, toys...
4. A plan for where to take your pet if you can't take them with you
5. A list of hotel chains that allow pets

 There are more great planning tips at the Red Cross http://tinyurl.com/3m5r4jy
 There will always be situations beyond our control, but we can make sure we exercise some control by preparing our little family members for a disaster.


disasterdave

PETS in DISASTER part 1

This is a heartbreaking story of pets left behind and the difficulty of reconnecting them with their families in Japan after the disaster there. And why you should read the next post!

Japan missing pets

Neighbors as Responders

Happy 4th of July,
 This is a feel good article that reinforces what I said in the beginning, there aren't enough First Responders (Police & Fire).
 http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20110619/NEWS01/106190314

The first person to help you (besides family) is going to be a neighbor!  So take a step and meet your neighbors.
How,we are all so busy.

In Seattle (and around the country) August 2nd is National Night Out.  Designed to get you out to meet your neighbors (and the police).
Invite a few neighbors over for drinks and a snack (they might return the favor).
Don't be so self involved in the elevators or at the grocery store (me too, our crackberrys will wait a few minutes) say hi, connect.
In Emergency Management we have a saying "all disasters begin and end locally". For you, locally is your front yard, your neighborhood.

disasterdave

Can you find all your important documents...

 ... while your house is shaking?

Me either! Take a moment to read this short article and come back and answer some questions, I'll wait....//tinyurl.com/3hqpyou

Imagine you are in that situation, in a hotel or friends home hundreds of miles away watching your neighborhood as the scene of a disaster:

Where is your insurance policy?

Your Insurance agents phone #? Their national office phone #?

Lease or Mortgage information?

Doctors numbers? Prescriptions?

1.    So take a tip from the article, buy some gallon zip locks and put important documents in the bag to protect them.

2.    Or use a thumb drive(password protected) to copy all your documents into and put in your go bag.

3.    Scan the documents and upload to a website. 

In our house, we attacked this problem two ways.

First, we have a file with our passports, checkbooks and some cash. Then in my web-mail account I have a file that has scanned copies of important documents (prove who I am and what I own and what I have insured) along with an extensive list of contacts and website passwords.

GO Kit as it sits in file cabinet

Contents- Passport, CC, Cash, Insurance Policy

, Birth Cert

,Military 214,etc.

Your turn- pick one start today!

Disaster Dave