We recently had to update our emergency plan at work, and found that we did not need to go over every possible emergency, but could simply go over possible results. It was enough to have a plan for the network being down or staff being unavailable, regardless of whether it was due to earthquake or pandemic flu.
This type of thinking may simplify your own emergency planning as well, but there are still more needs to consider as an individual. We did not need to worry about food or water, or getting home when the roads were disrupted.
It does not hurt to think about what sort of issues are likely to occur. This area is at a strong risk of earthquake, despite not having them very often. We do see ice and wind storms yearly, and have recently had examples of flooding. Most of us are not likely to be directly affected by forest fires, but a house fire can happen to anyone. Other things can happen, but this is a good starting point.
To make an emergency plan, you essentially need to think about possible problems that can occur, and what your needs would be. The plans that you make may require additional preparation.
For example, one likely result of a windstorm is a temporary loss of electricity. Look at how you get your heat. If it is electric, or the controls are electric, you may not have heat coming in, so you should have extra blankets. A fireplace may provide an alternative heating method, but only if you have wood.
If the power outage lasts, you will want to leave the refrigerator and freezer closed to keep items cool, and you will not have access to the microwave, toaster, or an electric stove. Do you have food that does not require cooking, or an alternative means of cooking? Please remember that most camping cooking equipment is not safe for indoor use, and this includes the garage, even with the door open. Since there is probably unpleasant weather, and you probably don’t have a wood stove, it may be wise to have some foods on hand that are non-perishable and require no cooking.
A power outage will probably not affect your water supply, but it could if there is an electric pump, or if cold temperatures result in the pipes freezing. Pipes can be insulated in advance, but there are completely different circumstances where it would be beneficial to have water storage, so have that anyway.
You will want to be able to see, so you should have flashlights with working batteries, or glow sticks. Candles and kerosene lanterns are generally not recommended due to the risk of fire.
You may have noticed that many of the items you need are likely to be found in a 72-hour kit. Having a kit is a great starting point. Having a plan takes things further. In addition to supplies, you have also considered different scenarios and thought about possible actions.
We have walked through steps you might take to prepare for a windstorm if you were at home, but imagine it happened when you were at work and left a tree across the road you take home. It will be cleared away eventually, but do you have an alternate route you can take? If there are situations where getting home is not possible, do you have an alternative place to stay? Thinking about these options ahead of time will make things much easier. If you keep an emergency kit in your car, you can even include a change of clothes.
What if you were home but had to leave? Depending on the amount of notice you had, and what was likely to happen, there might be items you would want to pack. Instead of trying to think about it then, when time is short, consider it now. Which items would you grab if you had five minutes? If you have important papers, can they be located quickly? With more time, you could take more items, or perhaps some items would need to be left but could be moved or cushioned to improve their chances of being recovered later. Look around your home and figure out those options.
While you are looking around, also check for exits in case of fire, and sheltered spots in case of earthquake. Perhaps some areas could be made safer by bolting large furnishings to the wall or fastening wall hangings more securely.
Now look at the utilities. For water, electricity, and gas, do you know how to shut them off, and under what circumstances to do so? This is probably a good point to also make sure that smoke detectors are functional, and to consider a carbon monoxide detector.
For peace of mind you will want to be able to communicate with roommates and family members. Under some circumstances you may be able to make long-distance calls but not reach people locally, so it is wise to have a common out-of-state contact who can take reports. Wallet size cards are available where phone numbers can be listed, along with medical, insurance, and utility information.
This may seem overwhelming, but the point of all emergency preparedness is that a little productive worrying now can prevent much worse anxiety later. Also, you are not alone. There is a lot of information from federal and local government sources, as well as the Red Cross.
http://www.redcross-pdx.org/prepareforlife/makeaplan/disasterplanning.shtml
http://www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan/
http://www.hillsborocert.org/flyerList.htm
One of the Hillsboro CERT flyers is a calendar with a few steps you can take to prepare each month. Taking a few steps here and there, allowing inspiration to guide you, should keep your preparations possible, and even probable.
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