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Emergency Preparedness 101

Micaela Uriegas, MPH

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1. How to Prepare for Emergencies

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What is a Threat/Hazard?

Natural

Technological

Human-Caused

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Top Threats/Hazards: Texas

Thunderstorms/ Lightning
Tornados
Hurricanes
Flooding
Wildfires
Droughts/Extreme Heat
Winter Storms
Hazardous Materials
Terrorism
Pandemics

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Emergency Response Agencies in Texas

City of Austin: Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Travis County Office of Emergency Management

Texas Division of Emergency Management

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Preparation: Sheltering in Place

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Go inside your home or the nearest building.
Choose an inside room with as few windows or doors as possible.
Bring in pets, if possible.

Close and lock all windows and doors to create a better seal.
Turn off the heater or air conditioner.*
If you are told there is danger of an explosion, close the window shades, blinds or curtains.

Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told it is safe to leave the shelter or to evacuate.
When you leave your shelter, follow instructions from local officials to avoid any harmful materials outside.

Shelter

Shut

Listen

How to Shelter in Place Safely

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Emergency Communications: WarnCentralTexas

Warn Central Texas is a program promoting voluntary registrations for the regional notification system (RNS) used by the Capital Area Council of Governments and its regional, government partners in Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson counties. The RNS program is powered by Everbridge, which allows local officials to contact people in their communities by cellphone, email, text or mobile app during times of disasters or public safety events.

You can register using your phone number or email address on the website.

"Shelter-in-place" means selecting an interior room or rooms within your home or facility, or ones with no or few windows, and taking refuge there. In many cases, local authorities will issue advice to shelter-in-place via TV or radio.

Communication is key, so having access to information from weather services when hurricanes will make landfall and the strength of the storm will help you anticipate the damage and preparation needs

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Emergency Communications: Accessible Hazard Alert System (AHAS)

Scan here to sign up for AHAS

For quick SMS Registration text AHAS to: (737) 241-3710.

The City of Austin and Travis County and the Office of Emergency Management, created a system that allows emergency management professionals to share information with those who need accessible alerts.

Austin and Travis County have partnered with Deaf Link to provide the Accessible Hazard Alert System (AHAS) which will send accessible alert messages to registered residents who are Deaf, Blind, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf/Blind before, during, and after an emergency or disaster in Austin and Travis County.

Austin and Travis County AHAS subscribers in an area affected by an emergency or disaster will be able to receive an accessible alert message in American Sign Language (ASL) and English voice and text. The alert message could include information about the emergency and what actions to take.

Austin and Travis County AHAS will send accessible alert messages to internet and video capable devices such as computers, mobile phones, and tablet computers. AHAS alerts are also Braille reader accessible.

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Emergency Communications: San Antonio Area

Scan here to sign up for AlertSA

For quick SMS Registration text AHAS to: (210) 880-2072.

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Preparation: Evacuation

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What is an Evacuation Plan?

An evacuation plan is a set of procedures developed by you and your family (could be roommates, dogs, cats, best friend, etc.) to know what to do in the midst of an emergency where evacuation is required.

How many of you created a fire escape plan when you were younger? Did your parents make a map or plan with you on where to go if something was happening in your home? Did you have fire departments or law enforcement come to your school and teach you how to escape a burning room?

I had that experience when I was around 7 or 8 years old, where the local fire department had a trailer that they filled with water vapor to simulate smoke, and taught us how to stay low and make our way out. But not everyone had that education growing up. Here is how you can make a simple evacuation plan with those in your household, especially for where to go if you have to leave a city.

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How to Prepare for Evacuations

Follow local directives and stay alert for changes

Secure your home and yourself before you go

Communication and Community

Listen to a battery-powered radio and follow local evacuation instructions.
Take your emergency supply kit.
Leave early enough to avoid being trapped by severe weather.
Take your pets with you but understand that only service animals may be allowed in public shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency
If time allows: Call or email the out-of-state contact in your family communications plan. Tell them where you are going.
Secure your home by closing and locking doors and windows.
Unplug electrical equipment such as radios, televisions and small appliances. Leave freezers and refrigerators plugged in unless there is a risk of flooding. If there is damage to your home and you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving.
Leave a note in your home telling others when you left and where you are going so local authorities can keep track
Wear sturdy shoes and clothing that provides some protection such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and a hat.
Check with neighbors who may need a ride.
Follow recommended evacuation routes. Do not take shortcuts, they may be blocked.
Be alert for road hazards such as washed-out roads or bridges and downed power lines. Do not drive of standing water where the depth isn’t discernable

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Preparation: Communications

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What is an Emergency Communications Plan?

A document that outlines how household members will contact each other, find each other, and communicate during an emergency, ensuring everyone knows what to do and where to go in case of a disaster

Typical layout of an emergency communications plan includes:

Name and Phone numbers for all emergency contacts
Designated meeting spaces should your household be separated when disaster strikes
At least one (1) out of town contact

A family communication plan, prepared in advance, can help you and your loved ones stay in touch in the event of a sudden disaster or other emergency.

Creating your Emergency Communication Plan starts with one simple question: “What if?” “What if something happens and I’m not with my family?” “Will I be able to reach them?” “How will I know they are safe?” “How can I let them know I’m OK?” During a disaster, you will need to send and receive information from your family. Communication networks, such as mobile phones and computers, could be unreliable during disasters, and electricity could be disrupted. Planning in advance will help ensure that all the members of your household—including children and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, as well as outside caregivers—know how to reach each other and where to meet up in an emergency. Planning starts with three easy steps:

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How to Create Your Own Communications Plan

Create a paper copy of the contact information for your household and other important people/offices, such as medical facilities, doctors, schools, or safe service providers

Be sure to include at least 1 out of town contact that everyone can reach to let them know that they are safe and act as a central point for your household to connect

Make sure everyone carries a copy in their backpack, purse, or wallet.

Paper copies will be very important in the event of an emergency

Practice! Practice! Practice!

Practice your emergency communications plan with everyone in your household to ensure understanding

Practice

Share

Collect

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Communications Plan Template

Scan here for a fillable PDF Emergency Communications Plan

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Considerations for People with Accessibility and Functional Needs (AFN)

Accessibility to shelters/inclusion in evacuation measures
Preparing and carrying an emergency health info card
Coordinating with care service providers
Needs-based tips

When creating your evacuations plan, create a strategy about how to move to safer locations/shelters that can provide for any accessibility and functional needs you may have. Governmental run shelters should have resources available for you to access, but here are some other tips for what you can do in your household to plan

Prepare and carry with you an emergency health information card

include information about medications, adaptive equipment, communication difficulties, and more

Personal care services

coordinate with any in home or agency healthcare providers that take care of your loved ones. Organizing with them about how to move people who utilize wheelchairs or powered wheelchairs and how to transport them safely to shelters/other locations

For people with visual impairments, bring an extra collapsible cane and and ensure other technology devices you utilize are charged and back up power sources are available to grab and go
For people with hearing impairments, keep extra batteries for hearing aids, and utilize communication boards to communicate with first responders and shelter staff
For people with communication impairments, bring with you when you evacuate any writing materials or pre printed key phrases specific to emergency response on your person or with loved ones so they can help you communicate

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Coping with Emergencies and Staying Grounded

Take care of yourself first
Get in touch with how you give meaning to life
Understand that everything will not immediately go back to normal as it was before the traumatic events.
Try to reestablish your routines
Maintain a healthy sleep pattern as best as you can
Turn to your community and people you trust/rely on for support

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Post-Emergency Recovery Efforts

Stay alert for local emergency communications
Avoid unstable buildings or structures
Ensure all members of your family/kin are accounted for
Try to treat any wounds or injuries at home first before contacting 911 or visiting a hospital
Check for Gas leaks or any damage to the electrical lines
Take inventory of items in your fridge and freezer and decide what could be kept and what should be thrown away

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Post-Disaster Recovery Efforts- A Playbook

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How to Build your Own “Go Bag”

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Why do you need a Grab-and-Go Bag?

A portable kit packed with essential supplies, designed to be readily available in case of an emergency.

Will save you from having to run around and gather items when a threat is imminent

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Typical Go-Bag Contents

First Aid Kit

Important Documents (ID, Passport, etc)

Flashlight

Extra Batteries

Water for at least 72 hours

Non-Perishable Food for at least 72 Hours

Emergency Contact List

Portable Phone Charger

Weather Radio

Small, personal toiletries

Cash

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Recommended Emergency Food-Supply List

There are some recommendations when it comes to ensuring that the food supplies you have will last/ will ensure that you have the proper nutrition. I understand that in this economy, it is hard to prepare/stock up on food, and also ensure that we have a roof over our heads, but it is very important that we have something to eat in an emergency situation.

Here is a quick list of food that will last a while and will ensure that you are getting your nutrients.

Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables

Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)

Staples " sugar, salt, pepper

High energy foods " peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix

Foods for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets (for example, diabetics or those with allergies)

Comfort/stress foods " cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags

Vitamins/electrolytes (if possible)

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