Disaster preparedness for professional care providers

Disasters in the Pacific NorthWest

Thank You!

Carol Dunn Community Disaster

Education Emergency Services

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross

Helping thecommunity:

prepare•respond•recover

from disasters

Who should we plan for?

• Who depends on you?– The people you

serve– Your organization– Family– Friends– Animals

We are so lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest

Beautiful mountains

Gorgeous trees

Fires

Severe Storms

Earthquakes

Disasters are inevitable

The outcomes aren’t

How real is the risk from Earthquakes

Life at the top of a global lava lamp

Image provided courtesy of the VISIONS ’05 expedition (www.VISIONS05.ocean.washington.edu)

Disasters are inevitable….

Local Faults

Pressure Builds and Creates Faults—Areas in the ground that crumpled and bent

Once crumpled, the creases (faults) are where the ground is most likely to move again when pressure builds up enough.

Back to the ground

Ground susceptible to liquefaction

• Recipe:– Premade JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant

Pudding– 1 tub (8 ounces) COOL WHIP Whipped

Topping, thawed – 15 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies,

finely crushed, divided – 10 paper or plastic cups (6 to 7 ounces) or

dessert dishes – 10 worm-shaped chewy fruit snacks – Gently stir 1/2 cup of Cool Whip Whipped

Topping into each bowl of pudding. Finely crush 20 Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, then sprinkle 1 tablespoon into bottom of 8 (6-ounce) dessert cups. Top each with 1/4 cup vanilla pudding, 1 tablespoon cookie crumbs and 1/4 cup chocolate pudding. Sprinkle evenly with remaining cookie crumbs. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve.

– Insert 2 gummy worms into each dessert cup just before serving. Makes 8 Oreo Sand and Dirt Cups. http://dev.kraftfoods.com/jello/explore/

zone/earthly-delights/

Best: low, wood --Bolted to Foundation

The importance of bolting

A house that is pushed off its foundation must be demolished and rebuilt. Bolting only costs around $2,000-5,000. Look for grants or community programs to help.

OK: Steel and reinforced concrete:

Bad for Quakes: Soft Structures

Worst for earthquakes

Worst: Un-reinforced brick (recognized by levels of brick ends)

Not very good: reinforced bricks (recognized when all bricks show their sides)

Not very good: Retrofitted masonry (recognized by the added bolts)5 out of 6 were damaged during the 2001 Nisqually Quake

Unreinforced Masonry

Options

• Retrofit– Anchor masonry to wood– Add Framing

• Still will be risks

• Rebuild– Create a new safer building

• Lose character and feeling of history

• Relocate– Currently located in one of the most dangerous

parts of the city• Lose character and history

Earthquake

Because of JoltBe Sure to Bolt

Scenario

• Fill out your personal assessment

• Earthquake!Flip a coin to determine

– Where are you? (home, or work)– Were the highways knocked out?– Was the port knocked out?– Damaged buildings?:

• Home?• Work?

– Power?– Water?– Communication infrastructure ?

What will this mean?

• What will your first steps be?

• How will your clients fare?– Will they have access to care givers?– Health?– Activities requiring support?– Do they handle change well?

Ways to overcome challenges?

Communication

Out of Area Contact• Use this contact to relay

information with people in the affected area.

Texting – texting can be a great way to communicate in times of disaster.

Email/Internet sometimes works when phones don’t

211—Language Support

Help foster personal networks and back up care

When modernity fails,go back

In English Radio: AM 1000

Calling CardCalling Card

•Meeting Places•Pre-agreed plans with members of the community to check up and help each other

Realize, sometimes technology will totally fail

Get through debris

Life: Stay Healthy

Stay healthy

Stay Healthy

No need to: heat, refrigerateor add water

Biggest Risk in King County

= 3,970 fires

= $59,850,565.00

= 11 fatalities2007

2007= 897

= $160,516

3. Always Reduce Risks

• Hazard Hunt:– Look for fire risks

Watch video made by the city of Bellevue Fire Departmenton how to stop a grease fire: http://tinyurl.com/greasefire

2007= 479

= $5,299,468

Early 911 Response Critical!

9-1-1!

When it is dangerous to evacuate

• Work with the fire department-practice!

• Consider installing fire doors for all room

• Sprinkler system!• Education:

– Cloth at base of door– Work to attract attention

People over 65 face twice the risk from fire

• Possible Reasons– Unwillingness to make

accommodations to reflect changing life:

• Possible Sensory, cognitive reduction

• Harder to exit quickly, easily

– Smoke detectors need to be replaced every 10 years

• Ways to reduce risks:– Change location of

bedroom to first floor– Move or reduce amount

of furniture: clear path to exit.

– Adaptive smoke detector: flashing, bed vibrator (some fire departments have free detectors)

Big Risk: Big Storms: Rain

Source: Seattle PI

Big Storms: Wind

Big Storm: Snow

Cold Arctic Blasts

Hot Tropical Weather

Source: Environment Canada

http://tinyurl.com/seattlemap

Interactive hazardMaps allow you to avoid or mitigate hazards.

Check before you move!

Do a property Search for your address, then click on “Get Districts Report”

http://www5.metrokc.gov/iMAP/viewer.htm?mapset=hazards

Keep track of flood risk

•www.weather.gov/seattle•www.rpin.org•(cell phone notification)

•Radio, TV News

Cell Phone/Email Notifications

Be prepared for disruption

Safe ways to keep warm

Safe ways to see and have light

No need to: heat, refrigerateor add water

Stay healthy

Stay Healthy

AM 1000 TV: 7 Tel: 211

English

Life: Stay Healthy

Control Germs

Disaster Supplies

How to start?

Where to put them?

Have a Back Up Care Plan

Not just for humans

The challenges of care givers are often the greatest when disaster strikes.

Increase you Resources

Work now to reach out to the families of your clients to help them realize that there are ways they can improve their choices in times of disaster

A word on coping

– Be aware that unusual events cause unusual and intense emotions

– Talk about your feelings– Include comfort items in your

supplies

Thank you so much!

• Call me to help further– Work with your organization– Free presentations to groups– Answer questions, brainstorm solution

• Carol Dunn– 206-709-4528– carol.dunn@seattleredcross.org