Author Michael Daly is a former Captain in the United States Marine Corp. He holds a post graduate certificate in Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery from Norwich University and was responsible for planning and executing Continuity of Business and Disaster Recovery plans for one strategic line of business for CitiCards headquartered in New York City in the early 2000’s.
Many experts including the Government and private industry take an “All Hazards” approach to disaster planning and preparation, and you can use a personalized version in your home. This discussion will be a mile wide and an inch deep, intended to scratch the surface and get you started for your personal preparedness. In emergency planning the Government teaches All Hazards as something you plan at each level and in turn your planning dove tails into the next higher echelon. So it makes sense at the personal level to use a form of All Hazards planning for yourself.In an All-Hazards approach, you maximize available resources to meet an array of unforeseen events as well as probable events. In practically any event you will be directed either to shelter in place or to evacuate, be prepared for both.
There are five broad areas under All-Hazards preparedness; Biological Events, Chemical Events, Radiological Events, Natural Events, Trauma Events. What preparations might be common to all areas, what events local to you are then probable within these five areas (hurricanes, violent crimes, terrorism, etc).
There are a few basic steps you start with for All-Hazards preparedness; lets briefly discuss Go Kits, Communication Plans, Insurance Coverage review, and lastly how to remain informed.
A Go Kit is already packed and stocked to go with you if you are told to evacuate. Always packed and ready you grab and go, no wasting time gathering essentials or looking for important documents or medicines. Already packed. Consider a larger kit to shelter in place when authorities direct you to. Consider multiple kits; you’re at work and unexpectedly told to shelter in place? Or your kids are at school and told to shelter in place? What resources does your employer or your kid’s school have prepared and for how long? You’re on the road far from home and an event occurs, are you prepared to survive in unfamiliar places with only what is on hand in your car? There are many sources to look up suggested items for a Go Kit, more then I can detail in this limited space. Google and search, the CDC, FEMA, and Red Cross are great places to start. Also have an adequate stash of cash, bills and coin in *small denominations*.
Make a Communications Plan. How will you and your family communicate with each other if separated? Pick at least two meeting places to assemble as a group when the event happens; one immediately outside the home (for example, in the event of a home fire), and at least one place outside your immediate neighborhood if returning home is not an option. If you’ve already selected a “bug out” destination, ensure you can reach it on a single tank of gasoline.
Review your insurance coverage, are you adequately insured? Situations change over time, make sure you have adequate coverage that replaces anything that might be lost through an event. If you think you need flood insurance check into that. Do not assume Homeowners insurance covers loss by flood, usually it does not.
Stay Informed, be aware how local authorities will notify you of an event or update you with critical information. Ensure your prepared to get the best possible information in a timely manner to make proactive decisions. If one source such as your Smart phone fails (which it will), have additional backup means to receive information. Have a radio that receives NOAA weather alerts, it will also be able to receive Emergency Alerts. Even an old fashioned transistor radio to receive AM/FM terrestrial commercial radio transmissions for news is desirable. What about one with an integrated wind-up charger?
Always plan to be your own hero. Depending on the nature of an event, a local situation could become chaotic and full of fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD). With an All-Hazards approach you can be ready to respond to any threat, adjust to the situation, and manage the FUD. Do not make the mistake of assuming authorities will be set up to take care of your every need, they will have much bigger problems initially then taking care of you.
In summation. All Hazards planning gives us flexibility and efficiency to use available resources. Individual preparations can be very extensive and require far more detail to delve into then can be briefly touched upon here.
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