FAMILY DISASTER PLAN

Homes can be repaired. Cars can be replaced. But nothing can make up for the pain, injury and even death of our loved ones. All families owe it to themselves to have an action plan with appropriate checklists to help them make it through the emergency.

Why you need a checklist

Disasters often strike without warning. Often there is not time to think out the actions we should take, the priority of what we do, and the importance of the supplies and equipment we may need in the hours ahead.

Gather information

Check with the Seminole County Division of Emergency Management or the Central Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Find out which disasters are most common to your neighborhood. In Seminole County we have learned that are most worrisome threats include, wildfires, river and lake shore flooding, and strong winds, which accompany thunderstorms. Hazardous material releases, especially from trucks on our major roads, are also a concern.

Remember:
 
Just because Central Florida has avoided major hurricanes (category 3 or higher) doesn’t mean we do not have to worry about threats from hurricanes. It does mean we have been very fortunate, and our turn could be right around the corner!
 

	Gather information on how to prepare for each type of disaster.
	Learn how you would be warned of the emergency, such as from radio and television stations, the cable community access channel and other methods.
	Find out the evacuation routes that you would use.
	Find out the location of your public shelters and the special needs shelter if you have a family member who qualifies.
	Find out if your workplace has a disaster plan and what it calls for.
	Learn about the emergency plans for your children’s schools.
	If you have a pet, determine if your veterinarian has plans to continue operations and shelter animals. Is there a boarding kennel available?

Create Your Emergency Plan
 

	Meet as a family and explain the threats from each hazard, such as fires and hurricanes.
	Discuss how the family and each individual member should respond to the threats.
	Discuss what to do for power outages and personal injuries.
	Assure that each family member, even the youngest, knows two escape routes from the home.
	Learn how to turn off all the utilities, such as power, water, and gas.
	Post emergency telephone numbers by each phone.
	Teach the children how to use the phone, how to make long distance calls and how to dial 9-1-1
	Have two designated emergency contacts, one local and one distant, perhaps even out of state. Have family members memorize the phone numbers if they are old enough to do so.
	Have two meeting places, one near the home in case of fire and one outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return after the disaster.

Your Home Hazard Checklist

Start by checking your home for hazards and to determine just how safe it would be for your family in the event of a disaster. Remember that anything that can move can be shaken off of a shelf and cause injuries. All flammables and chemicals cause a fire or health hazard.
 

	Fasten shelves securely to the walls.
	Put heavier items closer to the floor instead of top shelves.
	Hang pictures and mirrors away from your beds, not immediately over them.
	Repair cracks in ceilings and the foundation.
	Repair defective electrical wiring and gas connections.
	Store weed killers, pesticides and other flammable products away from sources of heat.
	Place oily rags or waste in covered metal cans.
	Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connections and gas vents on a regular schedule.

Shelter in Place

One of the instructions you may be given in an emergency where hazardous materials may have been released into the atmosphere is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors. (This is not the same thing as going to a shelter in case of a storm.) Shelter-in-place means selecting a small, interior room, with no or few windows, and taking refuge there. It does not mean sealing off your entire home or office building. If you are told to shelter-in-place, follow these instructions:

At Home:
 

	Close and lock all windows and exterior doors.
	If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.
	Turn off all heating and air conditioning systems.
	Close the fireplace damper.
	Get your family disaster kit and make sure the radio is working.
	Go to an interior room without windows that's above ground level. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air.
	Bring your pets with you, and be sure to bring additional food and water supplies for them.
	It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room you select. Call your emergency contact and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.
	Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

In Your Vehicle:
If you are driving a vehicle and hear advice to “shelter-in-place” on the radio, take these steps:
 

	If you are very close to home, your office, or a public building, go there immediately and go inside. Follow the shelter-in-place recommendations for the place you pick described above.
	If you are unable to get to a home or building quickly and safely, then pull over to the side of the road. Stop your vehicle in the safest place possible. If it is sunny outside, it is preferable to stop under a bridge or in a shady spot, to avoid being overheated.
	Turn off the engine. Close windows and vents.
	Listen to the radio regularly for updated advice and instructions.
	Stay where you are until you are told it is safe to get back on the road. Be aware that some roads may be closed or traffic detoured. Follow the directions of law enforcement officials.

Local officials on the scene are the best source of information for your particular situation. Following their instructions during and after emergencies regarding sheltering, food, water, and clean up methods is your safest choice.

Remember that instructions to shelter-in-place are usually provided for durations of a few hours, not days or weeks. There is little danger that the room in which you are taking shelter will run out of oxygen and you will suffocate.

Evacuating Your Home

Always evacuate your home when ordered to do so by the proper authorities. In Seminole County, the Division of Emergency Management is the local agency which coordinates evacuation and sheltering issues for the county when a state of emergency has been declared.

The Sheriff, municipal commissions, police chiefs and fire departments have authority to call for a more limited evacuation in lesser circumstances. In all cases of declared evacuations, listen to the local news media.

When evacuating:
 

	Listen to a battery operated radio for the location of open public shelters and evacuation routes.
	Follow the instructions of local officials.
	Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
	Take your disaster supply kit.
	Take along your "Tool Kit."
	Lock your home.
	Use travel routes which have been specified by local officials.

Time permitting, remember to:
 

	Shut off all utilities: water, gas and electric.
	Let others know where you are going and how you can be reached.
	Make arrangements for your pets or livestock.

When You Return

If the area in which you reside has been declared closed by Seminole County Division of Emergency Management, it will most likely be because it is unsafe. Perhaps electrical wires are down, gas lines leaking or dangerous debris are present. Don’t attempt to re-enter your home until the neighborhood is opened by the Seminole County Emergency Management, Fire Rescue, or the Sheriff’s Office.

When re-entering your home, remember it may not be as you left it:
 

On entering your home, inspect each room slowly observing for threatening items, such as tossed or hanging objects.