Client / Family Emergency Preparedness Plan
Disaster Planning
In the Midwest, a natural disaster might include severe weather such as tornadoes, heavy rains, flash floods, lightning strikes or blizzards. Now is the time to plan for these emergencies. If your care is interrupted, go to the closest hospital and contact the American Red Cross or the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Priority Classification of Client
At admission all clients will be assessed and assigned a “priority classification” determined by individual medical condition. This classification will be used to coordinate care in the event of a local disaster or emergency.
Emergency Priority Classification
*LEVEL 1 – High Priority. Clients in this priority level need uninterrupted services. The client must have care. In case of a disaster or emergency, every possible effort must be made to see this client. The client’s condition is highly unstable and deterioration or in-patient admission is highly probable if the client is not seen.
Examples include clients requiring life sustaining equipment or medication, those needing highly skilled wound care, and unstable clients with no caregiver or informal support to provide care.
*LEVEL 2 – Moderate Priority Services for clients at this priority level may be postponed with telephone contact. An informal caregiver can provide basic care until the emergency situation improves. The client’s condition is somewhat unstable and requires care that should be provided that day but could be postponed without harm to the client.
*LEVEL 3 – Low Priority The client may be stable and has access to informal resources to help them. The client can safely miss a scheduled visit with basic care provided safely by family or other informal support or by the client personally.
*LEVEL 4 – Lowest Priority Visits may be postponed 72 hours or more with little or no adverse effects. Willing and able caregiver available or client is independent in most ADLs.
Weather Conditions
Every effort will be made to make sure you receive the care you require. The safety of our staff, however, as they try to provide your care, must be considered.
When conditions are too bad for travel, you will be contacted by telephone, if possible, to let you know that our staff is unable to provide care that day.
In the unlikely event of a disaster (earthquake, tornado, fire, or flood) every possible effort will be made to assure that your medical needs are met.
Storms: It is important to understand the difference between a watch and a warning for severe weather.
A severe weather watch means that severe weather may develop.
A severe weather warning means a storm has developed and is on its way; take cover or seek safe shelter immediately.
Listen to weather updates and stay informed. Be ready to evacuate if necessary. Keep away from windows and doors. Have an emergency kit ready. The safest place to ride out any storm is inside a secure building or well-built home.
Flash Flooding: Move immediately and quickly to higher ground. The force of six inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off of your feet! If floodwaters rise around your car, get out and move to higher ground immediately. Cars can be easily swept away in just two feet of moving water.
Tornadoes: If you receive a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately. If you are in your car, stop. Get out and lie flat, face-down in a low area. Cover your head and wait for the tornado to pass. At home, go to the basement, storm shelter or rooms near the center of the house. In a high-rise or other public building, move to the interior, preferably a stairwell or hallway.
Blizzards: Weather forecasts often provide ample warning to prepare for an impending blizzard. In this event, candles, flashlights, a battery operated radio, cellular telephones, and if possible, a generator, are highly beneficial because electricity and telephone services may be disrupted for several days or weeks.
Plan ahead for winter storms at home:
Stay inside. When using alternative heat from a fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc., use fire safeguards and properly ventilate to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide gas is colorless and odorless.
If you have no heat, close off unneeded rooms. Stuff towels or rags in the cracks under doors. Cover windows at night.
Eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep the body replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration.
Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration and subsequent chill.
Plan ahead for winter traveling:
- Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
- Let someone know your timetable and primary and alternate routes.
- Carry a winter emergency car kit inside your car.
If caught in a vehicle during a winter storm:
- If you have a cell phone, notify authorities of your situation
- Stay in your car or truck; disorientation occurs quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.
- Run the motor about ten minutes each hour for heat. Open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.
- Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm.
- Make yourself visible to rescuers. Turn on the dome light at night when running the engine. Tie a colored cloth (preferably red) to your antenna or door. Raise the hood to indicate trouble if snow stops falling.
Make a Winter Emergency Car Kit:
- Blankets/sleeping bags
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First-aid kit and Water container
- Utility knife and Tool kit
- High-calorie, non-perishable food
- Extra clothing to keep dry
- Shovel and Sack of sand (or cat litter)
- Windshield scraper and brush
- Tow rope and Booster cables
- Compass and road maps
Public Health Emergencies
The work of public health and its planning efforts prepares us for all these types of emergencies.
A biological threat can be the deliberate or accidental release of germs or other biological agents that can make you sick. Many agents must be inhaled, enter through a cut in the skin or be eaten to make you sick. Some biological agents, such as anthrax, are not contagious. Others, like the smallpox virus, can result in diseases you can catch from other people.
In the event of a biological threat, public health officials will work to provide information on what you should do. It may take some time to determine exactly what the illness is, how it should be treated and who is in danger. You should watch TV, listen to a radio or check the internet for official news following an event to determine:
The danger level and if health hazards may exist.
Where to get medications or vaccines, if necessary.
Where to go for medical help or shelter.
A chemical threat can be the deliberate or accidental release of a toxic gas, liquid or solid that can poison people and the environment. Chemical agents can be released deliberately by bombs; sprayed from aircraft, boats or vehicles; or used as a liquid. Hazardous chemical spills also can be accidental, such as the spilling of household products like bleach or a leak of hazardous waste. Chemical hazards can have either an immediate effect or a delayed effect which may take hours or days.
A radiological threat can include an emergency at a nuclear power plant, the use of a small nuclear weapon or the setting off of a “dirty bomb.” A dirty bomb contains an explosive that would scatter radioactive material over a targeted area. Residents living within a 10-mile radius of a nuclear power plant should be aware of the evacuation routes established for their area. In the event of a radiological threat, think about shielding, distance and time.
Shielding: A thick shield, such as a concrete wall between yourself and the radioactive materials, will decrease your exposure to the radiation.
Distance: The farther away you are from the blast and the fallout, the lower your exposure.
Time: Minimizing time spent exposed also will reduce your risk.
Shelter in Place
Local authorities may instruct you to “shelter-in-place” if chemical or radiological contaminants are released into the environment. “Shelter-in-place” means to take immediate shelter where you are—at home, work, school or in between—usually for just a few hours.
Take children and pets indoors immediately. While gathering your family, you can provide a minimal amount of protection to your breathing by covering your mouth and nose with a damp cloth.
Close all windows in your home. Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.
Close the fireplace damper.
Go to an above-ground room (not the basement) with the fewest windows and doors.
Take your Family Disaster Supplies Kit with you. (Appendix C)
Wet towels and cover the crack under the doors.
Tape around doors, windows, exhaust fans or vents. Use the plastic garbage bags to cover windows, outlets, and heat registers.
If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains. To avoid injury, stay away from the windows.
Stay in the room and listen to your radio until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate.
If you are directed to evacuate, or you need to leave the area, do so immediately and:
Take your emergency supplies and prescription medications.
Travel on routes specified by local authorities.
Evacuation Plans:
Know where the shelter is located that can meet your special needs
Plan for alternate locations
Plan for transportation to a shelter or other location.
“Have a “grab bag” prepared (Appendix B)
Arrange for assistance if you are unable to evacuate by yourself
Evacuation Routes
Draw a floor plan of your home. Use a blank sheet of paper for each floor. Mark two escape routes from each room. Make sure children understand the drawings. Post a copy of the drawings at eye level in each child’s room. Establish a place to meet in the event of an emergency, such as a fire.
Money
Consider saving money in an emergency savings account that could be used in any crisis. It is advisable to keep a small amount of cash or traveler’s checks at home in a safe place where you can quickly access them in case of evacuation.
How to prepare for an emergency:
Know where and how to get information in the event of an emergency. Have at least one battery-operated radio in case there is a power failure.
Be sure your family’s vaccinations are up to date.
Don’t immediately leave home if there is an emergency. Sometimes it is safer to stay where you are. Listen to the radio or television for instructions.
Be aware of neighbors, friends or relatives who may need help during an emergency. Know whom to notify if you are unable to assist them.
Prepare a family disaster supply kit. (Appendix C)
Make a list
- Medications
- Medical information
- Allergies and sensitivities
- Copies of health insurance cards
Hearing Issues
Have a pre-printed copy of key phrase messages handy, such as
“I use American Sign Language (ASL),” “I do not write or read English well, “If you make announcements, I will need to have them written simply or signed”
Consider getting a weather radio, with a visual/text display that warns of weather emergencies
Vision Issues
Mark your disaster supplies with fluorescent tape, large print, or Braille
Have high-powered flashlights with wide beams and extra batteries
Place security lights in each room to light paths of travel.
Assistive Device Users
Label equipment with simple instruction cards on how to operate it (for example, how to “free wheel” or “disengage the gears” of your power wheelchair) Attach the cards to your equipment.
If you use a cane, keep extras in strategic, consistent and secured locations to help you maneuver around obstacles and hazards.
Keep a spare cane in your emergency kit.
Know what your options are if you are not able to evacuate with your assistive device.
If you use a laptop computer or other device for communication, consider getting a power converter that plugs into the cigarette lighter
Family Communication:
Have a plan for your family in the event of an evacuation. Agree where to meet and what family members or friends to notify. Know who will pick up children at school or daycare. Think about how you will communicate in different situations. Complete a contact card for each family member. Have family members keep these cards handy in a wallet, purse, backpack, etc. You may want to send one to school with each child to keep on file. Pick a friend or relative who lives out-of-state for household members to notify they are safe.
Keep children and pets indoors after an emergency. Dangers such as live wires, flooded viaducts and pollution can remain long after the immediate emergency ends.
Familiarize yourself with school or daycare emergency procedures. In the event of an emergency, know where children will be taken.
Be alert for environmental or fire hazards around your property. Your health department has brochures and other printed information that may be helpful in identifying these hazards.
Every adult in your house should know how to turn off electricity, water and gas in an emergency.
Utility Shut-off and Safety
In the event of a disaster, you may be instructed to shut off the utility service at your home.
Natural Gas
Natural gas leaks and explosions are responsible for a significant number of fires following disasters. It is vital that all household members know how to shut off natural gas.
If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out quickly. Turn off the gas, using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home
Because there are different gas shut-off procedures for different gas meter configurations, it is important to contact your local gas company for guidance on preparation and response regarding gas appliances and gas service to your home. When you learn the proper shut-off procedure for your meter, share the information with everyone in your household.
CAUTION – If you turn off the gas for any reason, a qualified professional must turn it back on. NEVER attempt to turn the gas back on yourself.
Water
Water quickly becomes a precious resource following many disasters. It is vital that all household members learn how to shut off valves.
Cracked lines may pollute the water supply to your house. It is wise to shut off your water until you hear from authorities that it is safe for drinking.
The effects of gravity may drain the water in your hot water heater and toilet tanks unless you trap it in your house by shutting off the main house valve.
Preparing to Shut Off Water
Locate the shut-off valve for the water line that enters your house.
Make sure this valve can be completely shut off. Your valve may be rusted open, or it may only partially close. Replace it if necessary.
Label this valve with a tag for easy identification, and make sure all household members know where it is located.
Electrical
Electrical sparks have the potential of igniting natural gas if it is leaking. It is wise to teach all responsible household members where and how to shut off the electricity.
Preparing to Shut Off Electricity
Locate your electricity circuit box.
Teach all responsible household members how to shut off the electricity to the entire house.
Insurance and Vital Records
Obtain property, health, and life insurance if you do not have them. Review existing policies for the amount and extent of coverage to ensure that what you have in place is what is required for you and your family for all possible hazards.
Have a fire extinguisher and know how and when to use it. Check the expiration date to be sure it is working. If you have questions, ask your local fire department.
Take a CPR and first-aid class so you know what to do in an emergency.
Your local health department or Red Cross office can give you more information and planning tools to help you prepare for emergencies.
Have on hand
A seven-day supply of essential medications
Cell phone
Standard telephone (that does not need to be plugged into an electric outlet)
Flashlights and extra batteries.
Emergency food
Assorted sizes of re-closeable plastic bags for storing, food, waste, etc.
Small battery-operated radio and extra batteries
Assemble a first aid kit (Appendix A)
Kit Locations
Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work, and vehicles (see Appendix A, B & C).
Home
Your disaster supplies kit should contain essential food, water, and supplies for at least three days. Keep this kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept. Additionally, you may want to consider having supplies for sheltering for up to two weeks.
Work
This kit should be in one container, and ready to “grab and go” in case you are evacuated from your workplace. Make sure you have food and water in the kit. Also, be sure to
have comfortable walking shoes at your workplace in case an evacuation requires walking long distances.
Car
In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car. This kit should contain food, water, first aid supplies, flares, jumper cables, and seasonal supplies.
Practicing and Maintaining Your Plan
Once you have developed your plan, you need to practice and maintain it. For example, ask questions to make sure your family remembers meeting places, phone numbers, and safety rules. Conduct drills such as drop, cover, and hold on for earthquakes. Test fire alarms. Replace and update disaster supplies.
Emergency Preparedness References
For additional Information on emergency preparedness go to the following web site. http://www.fema.gov/pdf/areyouready/basic_preparedness.pdf
The National Organization on Disabilities Emergency Preparedness Initiative: http://www.nod.org/emergency/index.cfm
Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities: http://www.ilrcsf.org/Publications/prepared/pdf/Emergency_Preparedness.pdf
Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility for Your Safety–A Guide For People with Disabilities and Other Activity Limitations By June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant:
http://www.cdihp.org/evacuationpdf.htm
FEMA—Federal Emergency Management Agency: Individuals With Special Needs http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/specialplans.shtm
Disability Preparedness Center http://www.disabilitypreparedness.gov/
Disability Preparedness DHS http://www.disabilitypreparedness.gov/
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Emergency Preparedness http://emergency.cdc.gov/
The Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/services/0,1103,0_313_,00.htm
Food and Drug Administration: State Health Departments http://www.fda.gov/oca/sthealth.htm
Ready.gov http://www.ready.gov/
Minnesota Department of Health: http://www.health.state.mn.us
Wisconsin Department of Health: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov