Disaster Preparedness Lancaster West Rotary Disaster Preparedness and Relief Committee
Presentation Overview Lancaster West Rotary Disaster Committee Why Prepare for a Disaster? How to Prepare for a Disaster Lancaster West Rotary Blood Drive Supplies Vendor
LWR Disaster Committee Goals Establish and maintain a fund to allow for a quick response to specific disasters (local, national and international). Provide on-going support to the Antelope Valley CERT Program. Encourage Rotarians and others to obtain CERT Training. Encourage Antelope Valley Rotarians from all clubs to regularly donate blood. Development of a plan for Lancaster West Rotary response to a local disaster. Assist in the coordination of disaster preparedness efforts among public and non-public entities.
Progress Made Separate funds for disaster preparedness and disaster relief ($10,000 balance for disaster relief) Blood drives in coordination with Lancaster Sunrise Rotary Club. First drive conducted by Lancaster Sunrise during October 2010. Disaster skills survey first step in development of a plan for Lancaster West Rotary response to a local disaster.
Antelope Valley CERT Off-Road Team Antelope Valley CERT Disaster Preparedness Projects Funded $4,000 for Antelope Valley CERT Program $2,880 for training the Antelope Valley CERT Off-Road Team in Man Tracking and Orienteering
$1,750 Project $1,000 from Lancaster West Rotary $750 District Matching Grant 450 Smoke Detectors 376 9-volt Batteries Impact 826 Families Distribution of batteries and Smoke Detectors Through the Los Angeles County Fire Department Primarily Targeting Trailer Parks in the AV Disaster Preparedness Project Smoke Detectors and Smoke Detector Batteries for the Citizens of the Antelope Valley Funded through the LWR Community Service Committee
Why Prepare for a Disaster? What is a Disaster? Recent, Local Examples Future Scenario
What is a Disaster? A Disaster is any event that overwhelms existing resources to deal with it. Elements of a disaster: Relatively unexpected. First responders overwhelmed. Lives, health, and the environment are endangered. Types of Disasters: Natural: Hurricane Katrina, Northridge earthquake, some fires. Manmade: 9-11, Oklahoma City bombing, some fires. Technological: Computer viruses; also called Denial of Service attacks.
Topanga Fire, September 2005 Northridge Earthquake, January 1994 Most Likely Disasters to Affect the AV Fires Earthquakes
Northridge Earthquake January 17, 1994 at 4:31 AM Magnitude 6.7 (originally reported as being 6.9) Lasted 8 seconds people felt shaking for 20-30 seconds 400 aftershocks strong enough to feel 57 people killed 9,000 people injured Over $20 billion dollars in damages Buildings collapsed, transportation halted, utilities unavailable, mudslides, fires, Valley Fever
1994 Northridge Earthquake Infrastructure was destroyed
1994 Northridge Earthquake Buildings collapsed, landslides, utilities disrupted, fires, medical facilities overwhelmed
Northridge Earthquake a few days later 9,000 homes with no electricity 20,000 homes with no gas 50,000 homes with little or no water
Study Conducted in 2008 Fact: on the average, there is an earthquake of 7.8 magnitude or greater south of the San Gabriel mountains on the San Andreas Fault every 150 years. The last earthquake of this magnitude took place 300 years ago. Computer Simulation of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake Based on the contributions of over 300 scientists Likely, conservative estimates of damage Scenario was based on the earthquake occurring at 10AM on a work day.
Simulation Results - Immediate Violent shaking felt for up to 2 minutes 1,800 dead 53,000 injured $213 billion dollars in damages 1,500 buildings collapse 300,000 damaged buildings Public infrastructure severely compromised Water, gas and power are unavailable 1,600 fires Millions of people trying to use their phones
Simulation Results a few days later No water, electricity or gas for weeks in many areas Travel, even locally, extremely difficult 255,000 people homeless Inability to assess damage quickly or accurately. First responders prevented from reaching victims or getting to fires. Police prevented from reaching areas of civil unrest. Interruption to the flow of needed supplies. Damaged hospitals or other critical facilities unable to function normally. Increased risk of damage from falling debris. Disrupted communication: victims unable to call for help; difficulty in coordinating relief efforts
LWR Disaster Preparedness Survey 29 Rotarians Completed the Survey (37% Response Rate)
Disaster Survey Summary 11 Members have received CERT training 19 Members with First Aid/CPR training (9 with current training) 7 Rotarians involved with Neighborhood Watch 1 Amateur Radio Operator 3 Rotarians own generators Various Rotarians with skills that would be helpful in disaster relief Who Will Come to Your Assistance in the Event of a Disaster?
How to Prepare for a Disaster
FACTS You have to be prepared before an emergency. Supplies will most likely not be available immediately following a disaster. You will most likely be on your own for three or more days immediately following a disaster. Your level of personal preparedness will determine your Your level of personal preparedness will determine your quality of life.
Be Prepared Enroll in CERT Training Learn or refresh your First Aid and CPR skills Escape Plan. EDITH Exit Drills in the Home. Meeting Place. Out-of-state contact. Disaster Supply Kit 3-days minimum (10 days is better!)
During an Earthquake Drop, Cover, and Hold. Triangle of Life drop next to an object, not under it Keep shoes and a flashlight under the bed. If indoors, stay indoors. If outdoors, stay outdoors. Away from buildings, trees, streetlights, power lines, and overpasses. If in a vehicle, drive to a clear spot and stop. Triangle of Life
After an Earthquake Follow your escape plan Extinguish small fires. Clean up spills. Inspect home for damage. Turn off utilities only if necessary. Expect aftershocks. Tune to Emergency Alert System (EAS).
Escape Plan
Utility Shut Off Turn off gas only if you smell, hear, or see it
Utility Shut Off Electricity To turn off: Turn off individual breakers first. Turn off main switch. To turn back on: Turn on main switch first. Turn on individual breakers. Water Locate the water shut-off valve to your home.
Disaster Supply Kits Rule of 3 s 3 Kits (Home, Car, Work) 3 Days worth of supplies per person in each 3 Categories of items Food Water Utility At a minimum: Food, Water, Flashlight, Radio, Batteries
Food and Water Canned foods; MREs (meals ready-to-eat); foods for infants, elderly, and other special needs; comfort foods. Water. 1 gallon per person per day. Chemicals for purifying water. 55 Gallons of purified water Under-the-bed kit Shoes, socks, clothes, flashlight, mask, goggles, gloves, flashlight 5-gallon bottles of reverse-osmosis water Emergency Grab and Go kits for the home
Utility Items Tools Cash Gloves Blankets Medications Duct tape Books Deck of cards Toilet Paper Knee pads Sturdy shoes Helmet Fire extinguisher First aid kit Bleach Glasses Goggles/Mask
First Aid Kit Stock your kit remembering that calling 911 will most likely not be an option. Triangle bandages Cold compresses and trauma pads Splints Blood clotting powder
Additional Resources Handouts: 12-month plan for Disaster Preparedness including a Disaster Kit checklist Lancaster West Rotary web site Disaster Preparedness page Antelope Valley CERT web site Homeland Security web site City of Lancaster web site
Lancaster West Rotary Blood Drive Rick Cook, Blood Drive Coordinator for LWR