Standing Ready during a disaster:

When disaster strikes a community, normal daily life comes to a halt. What would you do if basic services were cut off? Local officials and first responders are active at the disaster site, but not everyone can be reached immediately. Many will have to attempt a return to normalcy without many services we take for granted. Electricity, telephone service and even running water are some services that may be disrupted for a long period of time. How would you and your family cope?

Shelter in Place and Evacuation

Some emergencies may have public health officials instructing citizens to stay inside and "shelter in place" instead of evacuation. When local officials determine the need for citizens to evacuate, as much advance notice as possible will be given, but evacuation is to avoid life-threatening situations and may require an immediate response. Have items you would most likely need during an evacuation prearranged, keep calm and follow instructions.

Resources for Sheltering in Place and Evacuation

Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling a supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency. At Ready.gov, there are important differences among potential terrorist threats that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take for protecting yourself at home or in an evacuation. http://www.ready.gov/stay_or_go.html#stay
The American Red Cross provides information on Chemical Emergencies and how your family can Shelter in Place. http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_581_,00.html
How to Shelter in Place before, during and after a chemical emergency. Provided by the National Institute for Chemical Studies http://www.nicsinfo.org/ShelterInPlace.htm
Create an evacuation plan for your office building. http://www.fema.gov/library/biz2.shtm
Brazos County Emergency Management offers information on how and when to evacuate.http://www.bcdem.org/files/PreparednessInfo-Evacuation.pdf
How you can create Your Evacuation Plan offered by the American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_6_,00.html
The American Red Cross provides information on how to plan for your family to have adequate Food and Water in an emergency. http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_8_,00.html How to store the food you will need http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_4_,00.html and proper water storage http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_5_,00.html

During a disaster, whether natural or man-made, it is vitally important to follow whatever procedures or rules that are in place. Staying as calm as possible is essential in maintaining a sense of security and awareness so that you are prepared with what to do.

Standing Ready at Home:

If basic services like water, gas, electricity or telephones are shut off, you should do several things to ensure your family’s safety. First thing is to cut off your gas. This will help to ensure that not dangerous fire hazards are being ignored in the confusion. If you don’t know where the gas line is located or how to turn the valve off, then find out. Call your gas company or talk to your landlord.

Second, tune into the radio and/or the television. If television cable is out, turn into local stations on your portable television, or turn on a local radio station.

Standing Ready at Work:

When at work when a community-sized disaster strike, it is very human to want to leave immediately to find and protect family members. However, depending upon the disaster, it may not be prudent to rush off into a perilous situation. Before leaving the safe confines of an office space, find out everything you can about the disaster. Does it impede the safe trip home or to pick up kids at school? Are schools being instructed to keep children indoors? Is taking a car trip to retrieve family members possible? How are the roadways? Is it safe to even be outdoors?

Before throwing cautions to the wind, find out as much as possible. There is little sense in placing yourself or your family members in harm’s way.

Standing Ready at School:

Youngsters and young adults at school when a disaster strikes need to heed the advice of their teachers during a disaster. Remember, most schools have backup plans in case of myriad scenarios and will likely enact a plan of action following a disaster. By following teachers’ instructions, you ensure that the delineated plan of action has a greater degree of success. Also, by adhering to a teacher’s instructions, you ensure that your parents will be able to retrieve you in a safe and orderly fashion so that you can be reunited with your family.

Remember, your family is going to use the school’s protocol and follow its procedures in picking you up. Family plans need to take this into account when establishing a meeting place following a disaster.