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Know What to Do After a Disaster

July 4, 2007

Ready?
Right after the emergency, you may be confused or disoriented. Stay calm and remember the following procedures.

Help the Injured

Help anyone who is injured. Get your emergency survival kit (the first aid kit should be with it).

Listen to the Radio

Listen to your local radio station on your battery-operated radio for instructions.

Don’t Use the Telephone

Don’t use the telephone unless absolutely necessary. Emergency crews will need all available lines.

Check Your Home

Check for damage to your home. Remember the following points:

  • Use a flashlight- don’t light matches or turn on the electrical switches if you suspect damage or smell gas.
  • Check for fires, fire hazards or other household hazards.
  • Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell gas, turn off the main gas valve, open windows and get everyone outside quickly.
  • Shut off any other damaged utilities.
  • Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline and other flammable liquids immediately. Wear protective clothing. For major spills or leaks call in professional help.
  • Confine or secure your pets.
  • Check on your neighbours, especially the elderly or people with disabilities.


    • IF YOU TURN OFF THE GAS, IT SHOULD ONLY BE TURNED BACK ON BY A PROFESSIONAL FROM THE GAS COMPANY.

    Watch for Hazards

    Post-Earthquake Hazards

  • Damaged Buildings: Stay out of damaged buildings, even if they look okay.
  • Aftershocks: Stay put.
  • Water Gets Cut Off: Use emergency water from water heater, toilet tank, melted ice cubes.
  • Power Can Go Off: If you live in an apartment, don’t use the elevator. You’ll get stuck in it.
  • Tsunamis (Huge Ocean Waves): If you live near the ocean, stay away from the waterfront.

    • Post-Flood Hazards

  • Contaminated Drinking Water: Use bottled water or bring water to a rolling boil for ten minutes, or add one drop of non-perfumed chlorine bleach per litre of water, or three drops per litre of cloudy water, stir and allow to stand for 30 minutes before consuming. (Water should still have a slight chlorine smell.)
  • Contaminated Dishes and Utensils: Wash and sterilize dishes and utensils. Use boiling water or use a sterilizing solution of one part chlorine bleach to four parts water; then rinse dishes and utensils thoroughly.
  • Basement Full of Water: Drain the water in stages, about a third of the volume of water per day. (Draining the water to quickly can structurally damage your home.)

    • Other Hazards

  • Food poisoning: Check food supplies in refrigerator, freezers and cupboards for signs of spoilage. When frozen food begins to defrost, it should be cooked. Otherwise it should be disposed of in accordance with the instructions from local health authorities.
  • Loose or Dangling Electrical Wires: Stay away. Advise the authorities if you can.
  • Broken Sewer and Water Mains: Advise the authorities if you can.
  • Contaminated Flood Water in the Basement: Disinfect every three days if the flood is severe and the house is occupied for an extended period. For the average home, mix two litres of liquid bleach into the flood water.
  • Watch For Mould: Mould is a health hazard. If mould is present, wear a face mask and disposable gloves. Anything that stays wet long enough will grow mould. Dry everything quickly to avoid future problems.

    • Be Ready to Evacuate

    If the emergency is serious enough, you may be asked to leave your home and go to a nearby evacuation centre (like a school gym or a community hall).

    If You Have to Evacuate

  • Leave immediately.
  • Take your emergency survival kit with you.
  • Listen to the radio and follow instructions from local emergency officials.
  • If you are instructed to do so, shut of water, gas and electricity.
  • Make arrangements for pets.
  • Wear clothes and shoes appropriate to conditions.
  • Lock the house.
  • Follow the routes specified by the officials. Don’t take shortcuts. A shortcut could take you to a blocked or dangerous area.
  • If you have time, leave a note telling others when you left and where you went. If you have a mailbox, you could leave a note there.
  • If you are evacuated, sign up with the registration centre so you can be contacted or reunited with your family and loved ones.
  • If you have to evacuate you home for a prolonged period during a winter power failure, drain the water from the plumbing system. Starting from the top of the house, open all taps and flush toilets several times, and open the drain valve in the basement. Drain your hot water tank by attaching a hose to the tank drain valve and running it to the basement floor drain. (If you drain a gas-fired water tank, the pilot light should be turned off- the local gas supplier should be called to re-light it!) Unhook washing-machine hoses and drain.

    • Expect Emotional Reactions

    You won’t “act like yourself” for a while.
    Most people caught in a disaster usually feel confused. They may tremble, feel numb, vomit or faint. Immediately after the disaster, they often feel bewildered, shocked, and relieved to be alive. These feelings and reactions are perfectly normal.

    Later, many survivors sleep poorly, have no appetite, are angry with those around them, or panic at the slightest hint of a storm. Children might start thumb-sucking or bed-wetting. These feelings and reactions are perfectly normal too.

    How to Get Back On Track

    Here are some suggestions to help get yourself and your family back on track after the disaster:

  • Talk about your feelings. Talk about what has happened.
  • Encourage your children to express their feelings. They may want to do this by drawing or playing instead of talking. Understand that their feelings are real. Recognize that when you suffer a loss, you may grieve. (Yes, you can grieve the loss of a wedding photo or your grandfather’s favourite ring.) You may feel apathetic or angry. You may not sleep or eat well. These are normal grief reactions. Do give yourself and your family permission to grieve and time to heal.

    • How to Help Your Children

    Children exposed to a disaster can experience a variety of intense emotional reactions, such as anxiety, fear, nervousness, stomach aches, loss of appetite and other reactions. These are normal and temporary reactions to danger. Parents can help relieve such reactions by taking their children’s fears seriously, by reassuring them, giving them additional attention and hugging them.

    A CHILD WHO FEELS AFRAID IS REALLY AFRAID
    After a disaster, children are most afraid that:

  • the event will happen again;
  • someone will get hurt or injured;
  • they will be separated from the family; or
  • they will be left alone.

    • So comfort and reassure them. Tell them what you know about the situation. Be honest but gentle.
    Encourage them to talk about the disaster. Encourage them to ask questions about the disaster.
    Give them a real task to do, something that gets the family back on its feet.
    Keep them with you, even if it seems easier to look for housing or help on your own. At a time like this, it’s important for the whole family to stay together.

    Checklists

    Think of any special needs that someone in your family might have. Include any other items that your family would need. Here are some suggestions:

    Babies/Toddlers

  • Diapers, bottled milk, toys, crayons and paper.

    • Other Family Members

  • Prescription medication, and extra eyeglasses. (Keep at least one week’s supply of medication in your emergency kit, and include copies of prescriptions for your medicine and glasses.)

    • Pets

  • dog/cat food

    • Water

  • At least four litres per person per day- two for drinking and two for food preparation, hygiene and dishwashing. Be prepared to make your water last three days.

    • Food

  • Canned food: soups, stews, baked beans, pasta, meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits.
  • Crackers and biscuits.
  • Honey, peanut butter, syrup, jam, salt and pepper, sugar, instant coffee, tea.

    • REPLACE CANNED FOOD AND DRY GOODS ONCE A YEAR.

    Equipment

  • Knives, forks, spoons.
  • Disposable cups and plates.
  • Manual can opener, bottle opener.
  • Fuel stove and fuel (follow manufacturer’s instructions and don’t use a barbecue indoors).
  • Waterproof matches and plastic garbage bags.

    • Checklist: Emergency Survival Kit

  • Flashlight and batteries (in case the lights go out)
  • Radio and batteries or crank radio (so you can listen to news bulletins)
  • Spare batteries (for radio and flashlight)
  • First Aid Kit
  • Candles and matches/lighter
  • Extra car keys and cash (including coins/cards for telephone)
  • Important papers (identification for everyone, personal documents)
  • Food & bottled water
  • Clothing & footwear (one change of clothes per person)
  • Blankets or sleeping bag (one blanket or sleeping bag per person)
  • Toilet paper and other personal supplies
  • Medication
  • Backpack/duffel bag (or something else for carrying the emergency survival kit in case you have to evacuate)
  • Whistle (in case you need to attract someone’s attention)
  • Playing cards, games

    • Checklist: Car Kit

  • Shovel
  • Sand, salt, or kitty litter
  • Traction mats
  • Tow chain
  • Compass
  • Cloth or roll of paper towels
  • Warning light or road flares
  • Extra clothing and footwear
  • Emergency food pack
  • Axe or hatchet
  • Booster cables
  • Ice scraper and brush
  • Road maps
  • Matches and a “survival” candle in a deep can (to warm hands, heat a drink or use as an emergency light)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Methyl hydrate (for fuel line and windshield de-icing)
  • Flashlight
  • First-aid kit with seatbelt cutter
  • Blanket (special “survivor” blankets are best)

    • This information is a synthesis of various sources. For more disaster preparedness information visit the Public Safety Canada Website.

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    Written by adam · Filed Under Emergency, Community, theOwen 

    Comments

    One Response to “Know What to Do After a Disaster”

    1. tommyboy Says:
      July 4th, 2007 at 1:41 pm

      Noooooo! like are you guys planning some nuclear inspired terrorist attack but your subconscience is bugging you so you put out these handy articles of what to do in disasters….or you’ve invested heavily in some fear oriented companies….i can not write more….they are watching…can you see them…they are watching..why can you not see them….they are there……..

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