CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FLORIDA FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FLORIDA FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN Prepare fr any crisis with a plan fr yur family, review and practice the plan at least nce a year. FEMA advises citizens t be prepared t sustain themselves fr at least 72 hurs. In the event f a majr disaster, assistance may nt arrive fr many days. Electricity may nt be turned n fr several days r weeks. Fuel may nt be available and grcery stres may nt have an adequate supply f fd. Utilities (water, gas, phne service, and internet) culd als take several days r weeks t cme back t full service. Be sure t have as much extra cash as pssible n hand (ATMs and Banks may nt be peratinal fr several days). Review insurance plicies befre a disaster happens. Cnsider the fllwing Age f yur hme? Will yur insurance cver replacement csts? Des yur plicy cver inside water damage? Is yur cntents insured fr replacement csts? Belw are basic tips fr any size family t fllw. These can be adapted t fit yur family s needs. Organize imprtant phne numbers and give it t every member f yur family, including children (see attached cards). Use text messaging t cmmunicate in case yur family is separated. Text will wrk when vice calls d nt g thrugh. Identify a cntact persn wh lives ut f state. This shuld be the alternate cntact yur whle family checks in with if yu separated and cannt cmmunicate with each ther. Lk at yur hme and identify exits in case f fire r structural cllapse. Is there a hardened rm in the huse (bathrm, safe rm, r basement) r is there an easily accessible safe shelter nearby. Identify a place fr the whle family t meet utside in case yu must leave yur huse quickly. Cnsider the lcatins and distances between, hme, wrk, and schl. Identify at least tw lcatins t meet with family members, in case yu cannt cmmunicate and becme separated. If smething happens, stay with the PLAN! Lcatin 1 shuld be used, as a pririty meeting place fr any emergency (frnt yard r street crner clse t yur hme) Lcatin 2 shuld be cnsidered if fr sme reasn lcatin 1 is nt suitable after a disaster. 1

Identify where the nearest fire r plice statin is lcated t yur hme. These can be ne f the safest buildings t use as a meeting place. Identify nearby churches as ptential meeting places. Lcal churches may be distributing disaster relief supplies after a crisis. Always keep a supply f fd at yur hme. When shpping buy an extra can f fd that wuld nt need t be heated r cked. (Energy bars, canned fruit, beans, meat, crackers etc). Purchase extra water and have at least a few gallns f extra water at yur hme at all times. When shpping fr grceries, purchase an extra item fr yur disaster kit at a time (r all at nce depending n yur financial situatin). Place all items in a sealable 5-galln bucket. Use several buckets if necessary and mix the items in each bucket. Ensure that each bucket will have basic supplies in it. (fd, water, hygiene prducts maybe even a ty). Write the date n the bucket and every six mnths rtate the perishable supplies. Fllw the Emergency Supplies List (see belw) and remember these are the basics with a few suggestins t make life easier if there is an emergency r disaster and yu have t sustain yur family fr several days. Prepare a kit fr yur pet Assign a bucket r small cntainer (depending n the size f the pet) just fr yur pet. Many shelters nw allw pets. Take a pet carrier fr yur pet and any medicatins they may require. And dn t frget water, water bwl and a bwl fr fd. 2

FAMILY EMERGENCY SUPPLIES LIST Each family r individual's kit shuld be custmized t meet specific needs, such as medicatins and infant frmula. Recmmended Supplies t Include in a Basic Kit One r tw 5-galln buckets (depending n finances, and family size) Water - ne galln f water per persn per day, fr drinking and sanitatin Fd, at least a three-day supply f nn-perishable fd Battery-pwered radi and a NOAA Weather Radi with tne alert, and extra batteries fr bth (r hand crank pwered) LED Flashlight and extra batteries (r hand crank pwered) First Aid kit Whistle t signal fr help Infant frmula and diapers, if yu have an infant Mist twelettes, garbage bags, hand sanitizer, hygiene prducts, feminine supplies, paper twels, plastic spns, paper cups, Ziplc type bags, (galln and quart size) Dust mask r cttn t-shirt, t help filter the air Plastic sheeting and duct tape t shelter-in-place Wrench r pliers t turn ff utilities Leatherman type tl, with can pener Cash, change Matches in a waterprf cntainer, candles, paper and pencil Imprtant Family Dcuments such as cpies f insurance plicies, identificatin, prescriptins and bank accunt recrds shuld be placed in a Ziplc type bag and sealed. Cnsider having prescriptins filled t have an extra mnth supply. Clthing and Bedding Place an extra shirt, scks, underwear, fr each persn in yur family, in each bucket. (Rll up these items and stuff them int empty places in the bucket). Belw are sme ther items fr yu may cnsider adding if finances allw. The List belw is in rder f pririty Pwer Pack (prtable jump starter with 12 Vlt utlet) Car cigarette lighter cell phne charger. Fire Extinguisher (shuld have in yur hme anyway) Garbage can (fill with water BEFORE an annunced event, IE: hurricane, extra water can be used fr persnal hygiene and t flush tilets, if water lines are damaged). Als, see Sheltering in Place sectin belw Husehld chlrine bleach (pint r quart size). Yu can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water t ne part bleach), r in an emergency yu can als use it t treat water. Use 16 drps f regular 3

husehld liquid bleach per galln f water. D nt use scented, clr safe r bleaches with added cleaners. (FEMA recmmendatin) Obey all mandatry evacuatin rders; keep in mind it is fr yur safety that evacuatins are rdered. Sheltering in Place In the event that yu are able r must shelter in place, belw are a few tips t prepare fr at hme. Cking Camp stve, prpane stve with a small prpane tank. Prpane barbeque grill, ensure all cking is dne utside t reduce the chance f fires and carbn mnxide pisning. Generatr Extra fuel fr generatr, and mixed fuel fr chainsaws. It is a gd idea t start any gasline pwered equipment at least nce every tw mnths, preferably nce a mnth. NEVER RUN A GENERATOR INSIDE THE HOUSE OR GARAGE! UNLESS YOUR HOME IS WIRED FOR A GENERATOR AND HAVE A SPECIAL TRANSFER SWITCH, DO NOT PLUG IN A GENERATOR TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET OR A BREAKER BOX. THIS WOULD BACK FEED ELECTRICTY INTO THE POWER MAIN AND ELECTRECUTE SOMEONE. Never stre fuel f any kind, inside a garage. Gasline gives ff fumes AND IS HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE! Build yur Emergency Bucket! It already has supplies in it, if yu run ut f supplies in yur hme. Utilities Electricity may be ut fr several days, r weeks. Even if yur electrical lines are buried. Water and gas lines may be affected; all it takes is ne large tree t destry a water main r gas line miles away. Turn ff ht water heater (electric r gas) Turn ff the gas line t the hme if there is n gas available. Turn ff water supply if water is n lnger available frm yur tap. Water Hurricanes usually have a few days f warning; cnsider filling yur bathtub, and garbage cans and any ther cntainers which may hld water a day befre the hurricane is frecasted t arrive in yur area. Having extra water n hand will enable yur family t bathe, wash dishes, and mst imprtantly FLUSH THE TOILET! With a little planning it is pssible t save gray water, such as dish water, water used fr washing hands, etc. and use it fr tilet flushing. Pur the gray water water int the tank f the tilet and flush when necessary. Staying cl Keeping yur hme cl is ne f the challenges f living withut pwer. Hmes built befre air cnditining had tall ceilings fr a reasn; heat rises, keeping the lwer prtin f a hme cler. Peple wuld clse their windws during the day and 4

pen them at night, letting the cler night time air enter in the huse. As sn as temperatures are the same inside and ut in the mrning, then the windws wuld be clsed fr the day. We can use this methd tday if pwer is ff and there is n availability f a generatr. D nt frget t clse curtains, blinds r shutters during the day t reduce slar gain in the hme. Anther way t stay cl is t sak feet in a pan f water; this can help keep yur bdies cre temperature dwn. Wiping yur face, neck and arms with a damp washclth will als keep yu cl. This is especially imprtant fr senir citizens and children. Refrigeratin If there is adequate warning, freeze water bttles (empty a little bit f water t allw fr water t expand when frzen), make extra ice. It is a gd idea t keep extra ice n hand anyway. If there is a pwer failure the extra ice will keep fd in a freezer and refrigeratr lnger. Open the drs t the freezer r refrigeratr nly when necessary, t keep warm air frm entering. Never eat refrigerated fd if it smells r has changed clr. Cmmunicatin Mnitr the news fr annuncements (weather and AM, FM radi) infrmatin will be bradcast regarding where t get help. Flyers are ften used t distribute disaster relief and recvery infrmatin. Emergency Services After any disaster, first respnders (plice, fire and ambulance) are ver whelmed with emergency calls. If yu must dial 911, remember it may be a while befre help arrives. Be very careful when ding anything that may ptentially injure anyne in yur family. Learn first aid and CPR BEFORE a disaster strikes. 5

FAMILY EMERGENCY SUPPLY LIST INSTRUCTIONS Suggestins fr rganizing and preparing the emergency supplies Buckets maybe purchased r gleaned frm different surces. Make sure they cme with airtight lids. They must be clean befre any items are placed in them, DO NOT USE paint buckets, r any buckets which may have cntained petrleum prducts. Remember yu will be placing fd int these buckets initially. Buckets with handles shuld be used s they may easily be carried by ne persn if need t be mved fr an evacuatin. Evacuate if directed by authrities, and be prepared t take the buckets f supplies with yu. Keep in mind these items can be used if yu are stuck in traffic fr an extended perid f time, r have t stp and stay at a htel. If yu plan t evacuate t a family members hme, they will appreciate yu having sme extra supplies with yu. One-galln water bttles are the ideal fr placing inside the bucket. Other items can then be placed arund the water bttles (canned fd, hygiene prducts etc.) use additinal buckets if finances allw; hwever, nt mre than tw per persn fr ease f carrying. Once buckets are empty, they may be used t carry water fr washing r as a temprary tilet, with a garbage bag placed inside. Garbage Bags have ther uses besides trash Use them t cver persnal items in yur hme, (TV, Cmputer pictures etc.) They may be used as rain gear fr adults by cutting a hle at the bttm making a pnch. NEVER ALLOW UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN TO USE TRASH BAGS FOR THIS PURPOSE! Garbage bags as grund cver, if yu need a dry place t sit. If yu have t leave yur hme, tape bags ver brken windws. Ziplc type bags Cllect any currently used prescriptin(s) and place them int quart bags. It des nt hurt t have extra medicine n hand, have prescriptins filled (if yu have time befre an event IE: hurricane). Place any imprtant dcuments int Ziplc type bags and place all f the abve-mentined items int ne f the buckets, purse r separate bag. Make sure these imprtant dcuments remain secure and yu d nt lse track f them. Hygiene Prducts Tth brushes, tthpaste, hand sap, alchl wipes, feminine prducts, cmb, tilet paper, and any ther persnal items yu have space fr. Keep in mind the kit is t supply a family fr ne week, s d nt ver pack. Batteries and flashlights If finances allw, purchase lng strage type batteries fr radi and flashlights and place them in Ziplc type bags separate frm the flashlight. Place flashlight and radis int Ziplc type bags. Stre batteries clse t the radis and flashlight. The new LED flashlights are preferable, as they will last much lnger than the ld type f flashlight. 6

Cell phnes Ensure yu have a car charger fr yur cell phne, keep in mind sme vehicles require the ignitin t be n fr accessries t be functinal. D nt charge cell phnes in a car if this is the case. Pwer Packs r persnal jump-start kits If finances allw purchase ne with a 12 Vlt utlet t charge cell phnes. As with any ther rechargeable battery, ensure yu recharge the Pwer Pack nce a mnth, whether it has been used r nt. Sme claim t prvide 120 AC pwer, but they cannt supply enugh electricity t pwer husehld electrical items fr any length f time. They will charge cell phnes r pwer laptp cmputers, fr shrt perid f time. Fuel in vehicle Try t keep yur vehicle full f fuel s yu d nt have t stand in line at a gas statin fr hurs befre a hurricane Emergencies happen every day. Prtect yur family by having extra supplies n hand befre a disaster strikes. The time t g shpping fr extra supplies is nw, nt when an emergency has happened. 7

Family Emergency Plan Make sure yur family has a plan in case f an emergency. Fill ut these cards and give ne t each member f yur family t make sure they knw wh t call and where t meet in case f an emergency. ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS & INFORMATION: Family Emergency Plan EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME: OUT-OF-TOWN CONTACT NAME: NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING PLACE: OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: < FOLD > HERE ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS & INFORMATION: Family Emergency Plan EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME: OUT-OF-TOWN CONTACT NAME: NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING PLACE: OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: DIAL 911 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL 911 FOR EMERGENCIES ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS & INFORMATION: Family Emergency Plan EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME: OUT-OF-TOWN CONTACT NAME: NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING PLACE: OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: < FOLD > HERE DDITIONAL IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS & INFORMATION: Family Emergency Plan EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME: OUT-OF-TOWN CONTACT NAME: NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING PLACE: OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: A DIAL 911 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL 911 FOR EMERGENCIES