Emergency Response& Preparedness

Note: Please brief only the slides you need(i.e., not everyone is at risk for hurricanes or tornados)

Pre-Meeting Notes

• Review the notes section of the slides prior to presenting

• Begin the meeting with:• Does anyone one have examples of “Stop the Job”?• Does anyone have any safety concerns?

• Review GPS data:• Scorecard – who is leading and what are the opportunities?• Significant violations, such as speeding over 10 MPH.

• Review significant company incidents• Use them to engage in a conversation.

Purpose • To provide guidance upon official notification of an

impending disaster such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods or other natural disasters or emergencies.

• Disaster warnings may be received from various sources:

• National Weather Service• Internet• Commercial radio• TV station• Law enforcement• Message traffic

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Earthquake• Earthquakes are among the most frightening and

devastating natural event. • They strike without warning, allowing little or no

time for preparation or evacuation.• Nationwide, at least 39 states are considered at

risk from moderate to great earthquakes.

During an Earthquake

If Indoors:• Take cover under a piece of heavy

furniture or against an inside wall and hold on. Stay inside.

• The most dangerous thing to do during the shaking of an earthquake is to try to leave the building because objects can fall on you.

If Outdoors:• Move into the open, away from

buildings, street lights, and utility wires.

• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops.

If in a Moving Vehicle:• Stop quickly and stay in the

vehicle. • Move to a clear area away from

buildings, trees, overpasses, or utility wires.

• Once the shaking has stopped, proceed with caution.

After an Earthquake

• Be prepared for aftershocks.• Help injured or trapped persons.

Give first aid where appropriate. • Do not move seriously injured

persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.

• Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for the latest emergency information.

• Remember to help your fellow employee who may require special assistance.

• Stay out of damaged buildings. • Return home only when authorities

say it is safe.

• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

• Clean up spilled chemicals, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately.

• Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals.

• Call for help!

HurricaneHurricanes are a type of tropical cyclone, the generic term for a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. A typical cyclone is accompanied by thunderstorms, and in the Northern Hemisphere, a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the earth’s surface.

HurricaneHurricanes are classified into five categories based on their wind speed, central pressure, and damage potential.

SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE

Scale Number(Category)

Sustained Winds(MPH) Damage Storm Surge

1 74-95 Minimal: Unanchored mobile homes, vegetation and signs. 4-5 feet

2 96-110 Moderate: All mobile homes, roofs, small crafts, flooding. 6-8 feet

3 111-130 Extensive: Small buildings, low-lying roads cut off. 9-12 feet

4 131-155 Extreme: Roofs destroyed, trees down, roads cut off, mobile homes destroyed. Beach homes flooded.

13-18 feet

5 More than 155 Catastrophic: Most buildings destroyed. Vegetation destroyed. Major roads cut off. Homes flooded.

Greater than 18 feet

During a Hurricane• If at Home:

• Stay inside, away from windows, skylights, and glass doors. • Keep a supply of flashlights and extra batteries.• Avoid open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as a

source of light • If power is lost, turn off major appliances to reduce power "surge"

when electricity is restored.

• If Officials Indicate Evacuation is Necessary:• Leave as soon as possible.• Avoid flooded roads and watch for washed-out bridges. • Secure your home by unplugging appliances and turning off

electricity and the main water valve.

After a Hurricane• Stay tuned to local radio for information.• Check in with the Branch Manager if possible or call the Corporate 800-

Hot Line. • Help injured or trapped persons. Give first aid where appropriate. • Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate

danger of further injury.• Call for help! • Avoid loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the

power company, police, or fire department. • Enter the branch only if advised by management and use caution.• Beware of snakes, insects, and animals driven to higher ground by flood

water. • Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry the branch.  • Take pictures of the damage, both to the building and its contents for

insurance claims.

TornadoTornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds.

During a Tornado

If at work:

• Go at once to the lowest level of the building. If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet.

• Get away from the windows. Go to the center of the room. Stay away from corners because they tend to attract debris.

•  Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it.

During a Tornado

If Outdoors:• If possible, get inside a building. If

shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building.

• Be aware of the potential for flooding. Use arms to protect head and neck.

If In a Car:• Never try to out drive a tornado in a

car or truck. Tornadoes can change direction quickly and can lift up a car or truck and toss it through the air. Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building.

• If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle.

• Be aware of the potential for flooding.

After a Tornado• Help injured or trapped persons.• Give first aid when appropriate. • Don't try to move the seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger

of further injury. • Call for help!• Turn on radio or television to get the latest emergency information. • Leave the buildings if you smell gas or chemical fumes. • Stay out of damaged buildings. • Return to the branch only when authorities say it is safe. • Use the telephone only for emergency calls.  • Clean up spilled chemicals, gasoline or other flammable liquids

immediately.• Remember to help your fellow employees who may require special

assistance.• Take pictures of the damage – both to the building and its contents – for

insurance purposes.

Flood• Floods are one of the most common hazards in the U.S.

• Flood effects can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states.

During a Flood

If Indoors: • Turn on battery-operated radio or

television to get the latest emergency information.

• Get your pre-assembled emergency supplies.

• If told to leave, do so immediately.

If Outdoors: • Climb to high ground and stay

there. • Avoid walking through any

floodwaters.

If in a Vehicle: • If you come to a flooded area,

turn around and go another way. • If your vehicle stalls, abandon it

immediately and climb to higher ground.

• Many deaths have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles

During an Evacuation• If advised to evacuate, do

so immediately.

• Listen to a battery-operatedradio for evacuationinstructions.

• Follow recommendedevacuation routes – shortcuts may be blocked.

• Leave early enough to avoid being marooned by flooded roads.

After a Flood • Flood dangers do not end when the water begins to recede. • Listen to a radio or television and don't return to the affected

area until authorities indicate it is safe to do so. • Stay out of buildings if flood waters remain around the

building. • When entering buildings, use extreme caution. • Wear your safety shoes/boots and use battery-powered

lanterns or flashlights when needed.• Examine walls, floors, doors, and windows to make sure that

the building is not in danger of collapsing. • Watch out for animals, especially poisonous snakes, that may

have come in with the flood waters. • Use a stick to poke through debris.• Watch for loose drywall and ceilings that could fall.

After a Flood

• Take pictures of the damage – both to the building and its contents for insurance claims.

• Look for fire hazards such as broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, submerged furnaces or electrical appliances, flammable or explosive materials coming from upstream.

• Throw away food – including canned goods – that has come in contact with flood waters.

• Pump out flooded basements gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid structural damage.  

• Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible.

• Damaged sewage systems are health hazards.

Wildfire• The threat of wild land fires for people living near wild

land areas or using recreational facilities in wilderness areas is real.

• Dry conditions at various times of the year and in various parts of the United States greatly increase the potential for wild land fires.

Before a Wildfire• Use fire-resistant or noncombustible materials on the roof and

exterior structure of the dwelling, or treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, siding, decking or trim with fire-retardant chemicals evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

• Clear items that will burn from around the house, including wood.

During a Wildfire

• If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. • Take your disaster supply kit, lock your home and choose a

route away from the fire hazard.• Watch for changes in the speed and direction of the fire and

smoke. • Tell someone when you leave and where you are going.• Wear protective clothing when outside – sturdy shoes, cotton

or woolen clothes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and a handkerchief to protect your face.

• Shut off any natural gas, propane or fuel oil supplies at the source.

After a Wildfire• Go to a designated public shelter if you have been told to

evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home. • If you remain at home, check the roof immediately after the

fire danger has passed. • Put out any roof fires, sparks or embers. • Check the attic for hidden burning sparks.• For several hours after the fire, maintain a “fire watch.”

Re-check for smoke and sparks throughout the house.• Avoid damaged or fallen power lines, poles and downed

wires.• Follow public health guidance on safe cleanup of fire ash

and safe use of masks.

Branch Specific Procedures • Review Branch Business Continuity and Disaster Preparedness

Plan:• Ensure that plan is updated• Brief all employees on procedures• Conduct mock drill of plan if time permits• Copy of Business Continuity Plan can be found at link below:

S:\Xchange\Emergency Response

• Call In:• Local Reporting Procedures: Employees must report their status to their

direct to their supervisor.• Checking-in via locally established procedures is always the preferred

method.• When checking in using locally established procedures is not feasible or

possible, you now report your post incident status via the following supplemental option.

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Branch Specific Procedures

• Call in:• Toll-Free Call – In Number: (800) 232-1266• Located on the employee ID badge • These systems are monitored only during a declared emergency incident

• Evacuation Plan:• Establish and review plans regularly with all employees• Ensure you document• Display Evacuation Plans throughout the building i.e. offices; shops;

restrooms & break areas.• Plan should include as a minimum:

1) Exit to designated muster area

2) Designated employee as muster representative for tracking employees/accountability. Muster representative must wait on HR to call for head count.

3) Management will notify Emergency Response Team

4) Fire Drill Exercise

Make sure you are prepared at home…

Supply Kit Recommendations• Water

• >1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days• Food

• At least enough for 3 to 7 days• Non-perishable packaged or canned

foods for infants or the elderly• Non-electric can opener• Cooking tools and fuel• Paper plates and plastic utensils• Blankets, pillows, etc.• Clothing – seasonal, rain gear, sturdy

shoes• First Aid Kit• Medicines and prescription drugs• Special Items for babies and the elderly• Toiletries, hygiene items, moisture

wipes• Flashlight and batteries• Radio - Battery operated and NOAA

weather radio• Cash (with small bills)

• Banks and ATMs not open or available for extended periods.

• Fire extinguisher• Toys, books, and games• Important documents - in waterproof

container or watertight resalable plastic bag:

• Insurance• Medical records• Bank account numbers• Social Security card

• Tools - available during storm• Vehicle fuel tanks filled• Pet care items:

• Proper identification• Immunization records• Medications • Ample supply of food and water • Carrier or cage• Muzzle and leash

If you stay, plan to be 'on your own' for more than 96 hours!