Radio Show 6-18-2011 Links and Information

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Preparation for those who cannot self-evacuate was the topic for the Get Real Get Prepared radio show on 6-18-11.

Our guest Linda Anderson explained why it is necessary to plan for you or your loved ones who might need assistance or a caregiver in an emergency evacuation situation.

To hear the entire show, click on the player on the right side of this blog. Or, go directly to this link to listen or to download as an MP3.

Linda gave us a LOT of great information and resources, including links. Here they are again:

www.ready.gov

Highlights from Linda Anderson:

UTSE BAG OUTLINE

I began this particular study because the director of our Senior Center gave me a UTSE bag and asked me to give a presentation on it. We haven’t done it yet. But in the near future we will plan to open it to the entire community and our local first responders… police, fire… rescue workers.

To start with, I want to ask you a few questions. You might want to be ready to jot some information down, especially if what I say rings a bell with you. This is really important.

• Why would you need to evacuate?
o Natural disasters
o Riots
o House fires

• In this listening audience, is there anyone who is house bound?
o Have you thought about how you (or those you love) can actually evacuate if necessary?
o Are there any physical or mental impairments which might make it difficult or impossible to evacuate?
• Here is a partial list of the kinds of people who may not be able to self evacuate. Do you know of anyone who may fit this category?
o http://www.facebook.com/l/7e5a9uzuzDylmf93X0AB_46lVxg/www.uwyo.edu/wind/_files/docs/utse_resources/IDENTIFYING_PEOPLE_UTSE.pdf
o Schools
K-12 schools (public and private)
o At-Large in Neighborhoods
Mothers and Children with Special Health Care Needs
Elderly
People With Disabilities & others w/functional & access needs
o Community Facilities
Mental Health Centers (public and private)
Wyoming State Hospital
Wyoming Life Resource Center
Veterans Hospitals and Centers
Independent Living Centers
Group Homes
Residential Treatment Programs
Hospitals and Clinics
Nursing Homes/Residential Facilities for senior citizens
Residential Facilities for people with disabilities
Senior/Daytime Activity Centers
Hospice Centers
Day care centers
Other-state resources to house people with disabilities and
o Other vulnerable populations
Day Habilitation Centers (vocational rehabilitation)
Resorts and Hotels
o Court Related
Prisons
Jails
Honor Farm
Wyoming Boys School
Wyoming Girls School
Residential Treatment Center
• In the event of an emergency in which you must evacuate what will you do?
• Can you depend on others to take care of this problem?
o During hurricane Katrina 30 bedridden patients in a nursing home in Chalmette, Louisiana died because they were abandoned by their caregivers
o http://www.facebook.com/l/7e5a9h59k3P4b5x-Yx3BaEhtT1Q/www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3516805.html the elderly sweltering on buses without air conditioning, festering in ill-equipped shelters in schools and churches, or taking refuge in coastal zones vulnerable to another storm — were intended arrangements laid out in approved evacuation plans.
o Only 44 out of 130 nursing homes in hurricane-prone Brazoria, Galveston and Harris counties supplied them in 2004,
o the director of emergency preparedness for East Baton Rouge Parish, who said she has told 23 out of the 28 homes in her parish that their plans are inadequate.

You Must Be Ready to Go – I’m going to specifically address issues of the elderly and people who cannot self evacuate
• make a plan
o decide where you can go should you need to evacuate
o decide what you will need to take with you
o keep a bag packed with essentials
• issues to consider:
o Roads and sidewalks might be blocked or damaged, cars may not start or run or be able to go down roads.
o You might not be able to get to school or your doctor’s office or call anyone on the phone.
o You must plan to live out of your kit for a number of days.
o Basic service like electricity, gas, water and telephones—including cell phones—may be cut off for days, weeks or even longer
• Discuss your plan with your helpers
o Meet with someone who is your helper or family member and discuss why you need to be prepared for emergencies and disasters.
Discuss the types of disasters we could have in your state.
Also discuss the types of disasters in other places you might visit or other places where you have family or friend
• Gulf states – hurricanes
• California and western states – fires
o You also need to discuss where to meet if you have to leave where you live—and there is no way to use telephones.
in a fire, you might want to meet on a certain corner, at a nearby store or parking lot.
If you decide to meet at a business place, everyone should have the phone number and address of that business place
o What are your limitations? Think about what you are able to do. How can you make sure you can do the things you plan to do?
If you have a physical impairment(s) and your home is damaged
• how will you move around inside
• can you safely get out?
• If the power is out or goes out, how long will your wheelchair batteries last…
• how long will your ventilator function…
o dialysis machine…?
If you can not transport yourself and you have to go to a shelter or some other location, how will you get there?
• If you use a cane, do you have an extra one stored with your personal emergency readiness kit?
• What about an extra dog leash and/or harness…bowl…dog food…?
What about your service animal?
• Can you take your animal to your local shelter?
• Rules for animals in shelters vary from state to state and even from county to county.
• What is your plan if your service animal is injured or is unable to serve you?
• Has your local emergency manager made plans to get service animal replacements if necessary?
If you are hearing impaired, what are your plans for getting information?
• Do you have TTY numbers for local disaster officials?
• If there is no power, there will be no telephones, limited computer service and no power for television service.
• How will you communicate with rescuers?
• Will there be interpreters in local shelters?
• Critical Issues – make an emergency preparedness kit
o Where will you stay?
in your home, what would you need if you had no power or electricity, no heat, no refrigeration, no TV, no radio, no telephone and no water?
Will you stay
• with a family member or friend who does not live in the disaster area?
• at a hotel or other location outside the disaster area?
• at a public shelter?
o If emergency management has given an evacuation order
are you directly in the path of danger and whether local roads are open or might soon close.
If you think you want to stay in your home, please see our handout about staying where you are in the case of emergencies. The very most important point in all your plans is to have at least one back-up plan for everything.
Remember if you decide to remain in your home, it may be many days before anyone comes to check on you.
o You should not remain at home if an evacuation order is given. The order is given to save lives. If you ignore the order, you place your life at risk.
o If you have personal supports and services for care, you need a backup plan in case your first plan doesn’t work to make sure those support and service needs are met in emergency situations.
Do you require special foods or diet?
Do you have food allergies?
Does food you eat require special preparation?
Does certain food need refrigeration?
Do you require adaptive utensils, plates, bowls, cups, etc.?
Does someone assist you to eat or drink?
o Do you need accessible transportation or do you need someone to help move you around?
What positioning or other equipment do you use, e.g. adaptive seating, stander, bed, toilet, bath chair, hoist, Hoyer lift, etc.?
What equipment items are battery operated?
What adaptive tools do you use to help you pick things up or use equipment
• Keep your kit ready and in one place
o Wyoming has what are referred to as “special needs registries.”
These are voluntary registries, maintained by fire and/or emergency managers
identify where you live and what kind of assistance you might need in the event of emergency evacuation
This registry not only assists emergency managers during emergencies, but also helps them plan for sheltering and providing other needs.
o If you don’t live in Wyoming, find out if your state has a special needs registry.
o Most people have friends and family who are called a personal support network.
You should have three or four people identified as your emergency personal support network
• They should each know your personal emergency readiness plan
• specifically what they will need to do for you during an emergency.
Here are some of the things you’ll need to talk about with them:
• Check on you and ensure you are ok. Agree on a visible signal that communicates you are safe and have left your home, e.g., hang a sheet or towel outside your window.
• Help get supplies to you if you remain in your home.
• Transport you to another location.
• Keep a copy of your personal emergency readiness plan.
• Review your personal emergency readiness plan and coordinate needs with local emergency management officials.
• Help contact other family members, friends and service providers during a disaster.
• Check your kit every six months.
• Keep your kit handy and make sure other people know where it is.
• What Should Your Personal readiness Kit contain?
o Water
1 gallon per person per day
o Food
Store food which requires no refrigeration, preparation or cooking—and little or no water for preparation, for example canned meats, fruits, vegetables and juices
Baby food
Pet food
o Medications
Durable or disposable medical equipment
Non-prescription drugs such as aspirin or non aspirin pain reliever
Medications specific for individuals in your family such as insulin for diabetic
o Sanitation
Personal hygiene items like deodorant, shampoo, special soaps
Toilet paper, towelettes
Feminine supplies such as tampons, Kotex pads
Disinfectant, vinegar, bleach, Lysol
o Tools & supplies
Flash light, battery operated radio and extra batteries
Mess kits or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
Cash or Traveler’s Checks, change
Fire extinguisher
Tent
Tool box including wrench for turning off gas and water
Plastic sheeting
Utility knife
o Clothing & bedding
Sturdy shoes or work boots
Rain gear
Blankets or sleeping bags
Hat and gloves
Thermal underwear
o Family documents
ID cards, passports, social security cards
Will, insurance policies, contracts, stocks
Bank account information
Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container
If you have a personal computer, scan and save these items on a thumb drive or disc
Send copies to a family member in case originals are destroyed
o First aid kit
First aid kit
Sterile bandages
Tape
Antiseptic wipes
Gloves
Scissors
Face mask

The very most important things to remember are:
• Make a plan
• Discuss your plan with your helpers
• Make an emergency readiness kit
• Keep your kit ready and in one place
• Check your kit every six months
• Keep your kit handy and make sure other people know where it is
• Make a back-up plan for every plan you have

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