The recent devastation caused by the Los Angeles County fires and the Venezuela earthquakes serve as a reminder that disasters can happen anywhere, at any time, and can have tragic impacts on the lives of those affected. They also highlight the importance of preparing for a disaster to help mitigate some of those effects. Planning ahead can go a long way in protecting yourself and your loved ones when faced with unexpected events. Key components of emergency preparedness that you can apply to your plans include: prevention, response and recovery. These considerations include examples that are not meant to be exhaustive, and households should adapt them to their own needs and capabilities.
Prevention
Take steps to keep your household safe to lessen the impact when a disaster or emergency arises. Examples include:
- Clearing dried brush around your property.
- Keeping fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors in working order and in the appropriate locations.
- Keeping dangerous chemicals and medications out of reach of children.
- Anchoring large objects to walls and securing heavy objects.
- Having a method to receive emergency alerts and warnings.
Response
Outcomes in a disaster can be improved with some thoughtful steps to prepare you to react when an event happens.
Develop an emergency plan for your household:
Coordinate with household members ahead of time so everyone knows what to do when an emergency happens. Make sure to review and update the plan at least annually.
- Create a document with important household information, household member information (contacts, medical concerns, locations if not at home, etc.), emergency contacts, and other important contacts.
- Have an evacuation plan with multiple safe exit routes (including a way to get down from a multi-story structure).
- Identify a meeting place near your home, as well as one farther away.
- Identify potential shelter locations or friends/family you can stay with.
- Have a communication plan for circumstances in which you are separated, especially if phone or internet is disrupted.
- Have a plan for power outages, such as alternative power sources.
- Consider any special needs for household members that relate to medical, mobility, or development issues.
Disaster Supply Kit:
Prepare a cache of supplies to be able to sustain your household (including pets) for at least 3 to 4 days if you have to stay in place. Some items include:
- Water (1 gallon per person per day)
- Non-perishable, calorie-dense food
- Toiletries and hygienic items (wipes, hand sanitizer, diapers for infants and feminine items)
- Clothing, blankets/sleeping bags
- Essential electronics (radios, communication devices, flashlights) with batteries and a potential back-up power source
- Basic tools and shelter supplies
- A well-supplied first aid kit
If you need to evacuate your household, have a go-bag ready to take with you. This would be a leaner, lighter version of the home disaster supply kit with additional items needed for travel such as cash, prescription medications, and important documents.
Recovery
After a disaster happens, you may need resources to help you recover and rebuild after the event.
- Make sure to have important documents (insurance papers, birth/marriage certificates, passports, financial papers, ownership papers, etc.) in a safe, accessible location, and/or have them backed up electronically on the cloud. These will help make the recovery process smoother.
- Keep an updated inventory of your property to help evaluate any losses.
- If possible, have an emergency savings reserve to help you with immediate needs in the aftermath of an emergency.
- Make sure your homeowners’ insurance is up to date and consider earthquake insurance.
- If the event is declared a federal disaster, there is a process for getting assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Assistance website.
Get Involved
Participating in training and with local organizations can help strengthen your community and your preparedness.
- Learn about classes in your area that teach first aid and CPR (Red Cross - Take A Class)
- Take a Stop the Bleed class (Stop The Bleed Training)
- The American Red Cross trains people in preparedness and safety (Red Cross - Disaster Training)
- Volunteer with community-based organizations that respond to disasters (Ready OC - Volunteer)
- Some cities have Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) that respond to incidents locally (Ready OC - CERT & Partners)
Disasters and emergencies can disrupt lives in profound ways. With proper planning, organization and forethought, many negative consequences can be mitigated or avoided. Please check out some of the following links for more information.
Resources
The Ready Campaign - Resources
Centers for Disease Control - Natural Disasters & Severe Weather
Red Cross - How to Prepare for Emergencies
About Dr. Gagandeep S. Grewal
Gagandeep S. Grewal, MD, graduated from UCLA (and remains an avid fan), earned his MD from UC Davis School of Medicine, and completed his emergency medicine residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and has been practicing for over 25 years. He serves as the Associate Medical Director for the Orange County Emergency Medical Services (OCEMS) division of the OC Health Care Agency, where he helps plan, implement, and evaluate the county’s EMS system. In his role, Dr. Grewal also supports the OCEMS Health Disaster Preparedness section, collaborating with healthcare partners and other stakeholders to ensure that, in the event of a disaster, the medical needs of the people of Orange County are met.
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