before disaster strikes: a call to action · disaster organization, and some have specialized...

®

Before Disaster Strikes: A call to action

!! Disasters – large and small – happen when you least expect.

!! When you take care of yourself and your family, and when you can assist your neighbors, you free your community’s first responders to help others whose needs are more urgent.

Why does this matter?


!! Assume that it might take as long as 72 hours before help comes, depending on: •! How serious and widespread the emergency is •! Where you are located

•! How dire your situation is

!! A few simple measures can make your family safer and more secure.

Be prepared!


simple steps to prepare


3 !!Get a kit. !!Make a plan. !!Be informed.

!! What should be in a kit?

1. Get a kit


1. Get a kit: Recommended items

!! Water: 3-day supply (1 gallon/person/day)

!! Food, non-perishable: 3-day supply

!! Can opener !! Radio (crank-powered, or

with extra batteries) !! Flashlight and extra batteries !! Matches and candles !! First-aid kit !! Prescription medicine

!! Whistle !! Dust mask !! Personal sanitation supplies !! Wrench or pliers !! Local map !! Cell/mobile phone with

chargers !! Unique family needs:

documents, pet food, personal supplies, diapers, etc.


!! Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the emergency, the first important decision is whether to stay where you are – “shelter-in-place” – or evacuate.

•! Understand and plan for both possibilities.

!! Use TV, radio, Internet, cell-phone messages or ham radio for information and official instruction as they becomes available.

•! Follow those instructions.

2. Make a plan: Stay or go?


!! Your family might not be together when a disaster happens. In advance, plan how you will contact each other.

!! If a family member has special needs, think ahead about how to address them.

!! Document your plan, and put reminders (cards) in wallets, purses and backpacks.

!! Share your plan with others who live elsewhere, so they know where you might be.

!! Help your children know why it’s smart to be prepared.

2. Make a plan: Family emergency plan


!! Inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one.

!! Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency, and identify people with special needs.

!! Think about your pets and how to include them in your plans.

2. Make a plan: Family emergency plan


!! Be aware of which disasters are most common in your area. !! Know which agencies are involved in responding to disasters. !! If available in your community, register to receive emergency

alerts (phone, e-mail, etc.). !! House fires are a common emergency. Mitigate the risks.

3. Be informed


The more you know, the better.

!! If you are a parent, or the guardian of an elderly or disabled adult, ask schools and daycare providers these crucial questions: •! Do they have emergency response plans and do they practice them? •! How will they communicate with families during a crisis?

•! Do they store adequate food, water and other basic supplies? •! Are they prepared to "shelter-in-place" if needed? •! Where do they plan to go if they must get away? How would they

transport everyone?

!! If your school or daycare doesn’t have a plan, help them get one. !! Have a contingency plan for children in case you cannot get to

their school. Communicate the plan to your children and neighbors.

3. Be informed: Schools


!! If you are an employer, you should have a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).

!! If you are an employee, check your office’s plans for emergency communication, evacuation and shelter-in-place.

!! If your office does not have a plan, help develop one. !! If not already the practice, encourage your employer or team to

discuss plans, assign roles and conduct drills. !! Identify people with special needs and how you will handle their

needs in the case of an emergency. !! Ensure that appropriate supplies are kept on hand and up-to-date.

3. Be informed: Workplace


!! Volunteers are people like you, in neighborhoods like yours, working together to provide relief to those in need without the expectation of receipt or compensation.

!! No matter what your talent or skill, there is always a place for you in volunteering.

Volunteer!


simple steps to volunteering


!! Learn what it means to volunteer in disaster.

!! Find an organization. !!Get involved.

3

!! Before volunteering, be sure that you, your family and your neighbors (in that order) are safe and secure.

!! Never spontaneously go to the disaster area – large numbers of unaffiliated volunteers can create a disaster within the disaster! •! Disasters are chaotic and often dangerous situations. •! Volunteers also consume needed supplies and shelter.

•! Disaster victims may be physically or emotionally hurt and vulnerable. •! Disaster sites can attract looters and/or those who might do harm.

•! Police, firefighters, army, etc. need space and structure to work.

1. Learn what it means: Don’t take risks


!! Prior to a disaster, affiliate with a disaster response organization and get trained. You will be ready when they need you.

!! Be patient. !! If you are not trained but want to help, organize fundraising or

clothing/food drives – but do not send clothing or food unless requested to do so.

1. Learn what it means: Don’t take risks


!! The organizations involved in disaster vary widely: •! Each organization has a role, depending on community and resources.

•! Roles may change based on the hazards. •! Volunteer positions will depend on what the organization is doing.

!! In choosing volunteer opportunities, think about: •! Your skills and interests •! Your constraints – such as time and availability to be trained and

volunteer

2. Find an organization


!! As you prepare your family, your neighborhood and your workplace for disasters, you will identify interesting volunteer opportunities.

!! Research relevant local or national organizations on the Internet. !! Ask your religious community – most denominations have a

disaster organization, and some have specialized functions. !! Contact local NGOs that support the community, such as shelters

or family support organizations. !! Ask your police or fire department where to volunteer.

2. Find an organization


!! Once trained, be ready to help by being prepared yourself. !! Even when not volunteering in a disaster area, you can still help: •! Hold a fundraiser: bake sale, yard sale, etc. •! Help with collections of supplies for neighborhood agencies or

agencies in the disaster zone.

!! Respond to agencies’ appeals for donations: •! Collect cash to send to the disaster area. •! During a disaster, remember that private donations to non-disaster

agencies often diminish.

!! Ask your partner agencies, or agencies where you regularly volunteer, how you can best help.

3. Get involved


!! Even small actions can reduce suffering and save lives.

!! Remember, disaster response is just the beginning. •! Rebuilding can take years. Be there for

the long run.

•! Learn from the experience and help others be more prepared next time.

!! Join me.

This does make a difference


Thank you


Launched in 2003, IBM’s community service initiative supported 16 million hours of volunteer work by nearly 250,000 volunteers in its first decade worldwide. It's an innovative approach to corporate philanthropy, but at its heart is IBM's traditional belief that we all can, and should, share what we know to make a difference in our communities.

© IBM Corporation 2011 IBM, the IBM logo, ibm.com, and On Demand Community are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Other product, company or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.

before disaster strikes: a call to action · disaster organization, and some have specialized...

Documents