EMERGENCY ACTION PLANNING > Blog > Planning > ARC Checklist Part II
ARC Checklist Part II
Now that you have accomplished the “CONVERSATION” and have completed the evacuation plan for your home, let’s move on to bigger things.
Pull out your copy of the American Red Cross Emergency Checklist.
Listen to the accompanying podcast here:
On page one, the top left-hand column under;
“Call Your Emergency Management Office or American Red Cross Chapter.”
We will cover the first three items.
Find out which disasters could occur in your area.
Ask how to prepare for each disaster.
Ask how you would be warned of an emergency.
The last four items will be review separately in future Podcasts and Blog post
Find out which disasters could occur in your area.
Go to Uncle Google or Aunt Yahoo and type in the name of your county, the two-letter abbreviation for your state, and the term Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
Be sure to enter the State name.
It is not uncommon for several States to have Counties with the same name. I know this because I have found out the hard way.
This will save you time from wading through multiple hits that may not be useful to you.
Save the web address and write the phone number on your checklist.
You might want it later.
Most people will call the number and ask the receptionist where you can find a copy of the current THIRA.
Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.
This is a document that all counties should have.
It should identify what threats and hazards can affect your community?
If they occurred, what impacts would those threats and hazards have on your community?
Based on those impacts, what capabilities should your community have?
The THIRA will give you a good idea of what the county officials think will happen and how they will respond to them.
Ask how to prepare for each disaster.
Ask this question and note the answer in your binder. We will come back to it later.
Right now, we are putting together an “All Hazards Plan.”
The type of emergency you may face is not relevant at this phase of the planning process.
Yes, I hear you… An earthquake is not the same as a flood, is not the same as a wildfire, is not the same as a hurricane, is not the same as a tornado.
And I have no idea what you are preparing for.
I do know that each of these disasters all have common needs linked with them.
The common items are.
Food
Water
Shelter
Medical
Sanitation
Transportation
Communication
Let’s get the basics covered, then we can work on the details of specific disasters.
Ask how you would be warned of an emergency.
Make note of the answer you get from the OEM.
There are several ways your County can alert you to a pending or immediate emergency or disaster.
EAS: Emergency Alert System. Very annoying loud attention-getting tone on your television.
WEA: Wireless Emergency Alerts are pushed out over the Cell system.
You have probably received Amber alerts and Silver alerts on your cell phone, this is from the WEA.
Television and radio are the primary methods of receiving immediate communication with the Emergency Alert System
Alternate Emergency Alert Systems
Emergencymail.org is an emergency alert system the public can subscribe to. I use this to get alerts from different parts of the country where family and friends live.
Everbridge is an emergency alert system you can subscribe to through some County Office of Emergency Management website. Ask the OEM receptionist you are talking to about this. You may need to go to the local County OEM website to register.
If you have AAA you can also subscribe through their Weather FX Alert system
Finally, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) radio will also be useful for disaster and emergency notifications. Most people who prepare have one.
In this article, we have covered what are the disasters that might occur.
What are we preparing for?
And how we will be alerted.
Follow-through:
Get a copy of the THIRA. Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. Read it.
Register for emergency notifications in as many places that you can.
Next, we will cover items four and five on the checklist.
Learn Your Community’s Evacuation Routes.
And
Special Assistance For Elderly Or Disabled Persons.
Till next time
“Be Safe”
P.S Questions are welcome. If you have a question, ask it. We’ll find the answer.