1. Preparing Your Family for Hurricanes Lou Romig MD, FAAP, FACEP Miami Childrens Hospital FL-5 DMAT © 2006 Lou Romig

2. A.K.A… My New Best Friend is a Generator!

3. My 2004 Hurricane Season

4. My 2005 Hurricane Season

5. Take disasters personally. Put our families first.

6. In a culture of preparedness, emergency planning becomes a matter-of- fact part of life.

7. Things to do Things to get Living the Generator Life My favorite gadgets

8. Things To Do: Throughout the Year Reassess homeowners or renters insurance annually Assess need for and complete major preparedness projects such as hurricane shutters, a generator, roof repairs, etc. Put away emergency cash

9. Things To Do: Throughout the Year Spare two week supply of usual prescription medications Update vaccinations for all pets in case of need for kenneling or evacuation Watch for bargains on hurricane supplies and equipment (Tax Free days?) Learn about disaster plans at family members schools and workplaces

10. Things to Do: Hurricane Season

11. Things To Do: June 1st Review family disaster plan with family members. Update as needed. Evaluate evacuation routes, closest shelters, triggers for evacuation Register with shelters if pre- registration program is available. Include considerations for pet- friendly shelters.

12. Things To Do: June 1st Designate and notify a long- distance emergency phone contact Review school and workplace disaster plans Gather copies and/or originals of important documents. Keep documents together in a portable format (paper or electronic).

13. Important Documents Mortgage, leases, taxes Insurance policies Pending bills and account numbers (credit cards, banks, utilities, etc) Identification documents (birth certificates, passports, etc) Emergency contact information Important medical records, including doctors phone numbers

14. Important Documents Copies of medication lists and prescriptions, including glasses, contact lenses, etc. Recent photos of all family members Photo/video inventory of home and most important belongings Phone numbers, websites of commonly used repair/maintenance services Serial numbers of important equipment, including medical devices Blank checks, envelopes, stamps

15. Things To Do: June 1st Keep emergency cash reserve with important papers Complete needed home and vehicle repairs Have trees trimmed and clean up the yard Inventory, rotate and stock non- medical hurricane supplies

16. Things To Do: June 1st Inventory, stock, and repair emergency and back-up medical supplies and durable equipment. Assure the availability of prescription medications. Perform generator maintenance as specified in owners manual Back-up computer hard drives Identify storm information resources

17. My Favorite Websites www.hurricanecity.com www.nhc.noaa.gov www.wunderground.com

18. TTD When a Storm Threatens

19. Things to Do: Before A Storm Review plan with all family members. Inform extended family (especially your long-distance contact) and others of your familys immediate plans. If evacuating, do so as early as possible. Consider making hotel reservations outside the threat area if you cant stay with outside family/friends. If evacuating, turn off water and gas mains

20. Things to Do: Before A Storm Move emergency equipment and basic supplies to home safe space.

21. Things to Do: Before A Storm Gas up all vehicles. Safely store limited quantities of fuel for generator. Fill LP gas tanks for grills or generators as needed Top off emergency supplies if necessary Charge all rechargeable batteries (cell, cameras, etc) Deal with pets as per your disaster plan

22. Things to Do: Before A Storm Assure that important documents and cash reserve are stored safely. Take documents and cash with you if you evacuate. Refill prescriptions if possible Secure protective measures such as storm shutters. Secure garbage and loose objects in yard, on balconies, etc. Shutter installation and removal can be very dangerous. Be careful!

23. Things to Do: Before A Storm Test all battery-powered equipment Turn refrigerators and freezers to coldest settings Sanitize bathtubs/sinks with bleach. Seal drains and fill basins with water if theres any question about the water supply after a major storm. Freeze drinking water in clean partially-filled soda bottles or other food-grade containers

24. Soda bottles are preferred

25. Things to Do: Before A Storm Catch up on laundry Unplug major electrical appliances, including computers If riding out a storm, make sure all family members are adequately clothed (with shoes!) in case of the need to leave the home emergently during the storm. All family members should have some form of ID.

26. TTD During a Storm © John Pritchett, Honolulu Weekly 10/26/05

27. Things to Do: During a Storm Keep up with information Know where everyone is in the house Establish a signal for retreat to your safe room Turn off electrical equipment if power goes out Dont run a portable generator Constantly reassess your safety Be very careful during the eye of the storm

28. After a Storm Before Wilma After Wilma

29. Be careful!!!

30. Things to Do: After the Storm Assess immediate surroundings for safety hazards. Leave the area if possible if there are serious safety issues. Be alert for newly evolving hazards such as flooding Access the media for situation reports Document damage as soon as its safely possible to do so

31. Things to Do: After the Storm Make critical emergency repairs as soon as its safely possible Supervise children at all times and dont allow them to get into hazardous situations during the assessment and recovery phases. Be very cautious if using a generator. Its never appropriate for a child to be on the roof of a house unless theyre being rescued from it.

32. Things to Do: After the Storm Use open flames only for cooking, never for lighting. Keep a fire extinguisher at hand. Keep all chemicals and fuels out of reach of children. Use clearly marked containers. Communicate with family and friends when possible but dont make unnecessary calls that may burden an overwhelmed communication system

33. Things to Do: After the Storm Watch family members (including children) for signs of stress. Make allowances for stressed-out behavior. Maintain family routines whenever possible Replace used disaster supplies as soon as its practical Safely and properly dispose of waste chemicals such as generator oil, gas, kerosene, etc.

34. Things to Do: After the Storm Evaluate and revise your disaster plan as needed. Share what youve learned! Dont forget to include your children in the evaluation process.

35. Next: Things to Get Disclaimer: Products shown are included as representative samples, not endorsements

36. Safety and Information Battery-powered radio NOAA weather radio, preferably with Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) feature Battery powered TV Wireless internet device Hardwired, non- powered phone Work gloves Eye protection Sturdy shoes Rain gear Emergency signaling devices Fire extinguisher Flashlights First aid kit Smoke alarms Carbon monoxide monitors Spare batteries for all electronics

37. Shelter/Protection Plastic sheeting Large plastic garbage bags Duct tape Tie wraps Rope Bungee cords Basic tools Broom Staple gun for tacking plastic sheeting Blankets/mattresses

38. Water One gallon/person/day for a minimum of three days (includes ½ gallon of potable water/person) Potable water for pets Eyedropper Nonscented chlorine bleach OR Iodine water treatment tablets

39. Purifying water Rolling boil for at least 15 minutes. 2 drops of non-scented chlorine bleach per quart of water (8 drops per gallon). Iodine tablets or solution per package instructions.

40. Food Canned and packaged food that doesnt require cooking Include some comfort and snack foods Consider self- contained meals with heaters included Powdered flavoring packets for water (Kool Aid ®, Crystal Lite ®, etc) Baby food/formula if necessary (premixed formula if you have the room) Special nutritional formulas/supplements as needed Pet food Manual can opener Non-electric (usually propane) burner/stove Propane for burner/stove Charcoal, matches if using charcoal grill Spare gas, matches if using gas grill Grilling tools Coolers, cold/ice packs

41. Self-heating Food Chef5minutemeals.com Heatermeals.com Sunmeadow.com Labriutemeals.com

42. Propane Burner/Stove Look for wide-based stable burners, preferably not requiring matches.

43. Hygiene Moist towelettes Toilet paper Alcohol-based sanitizer Napkins, paper towels, shop towels Paper plates/cups and plastic eating implements Waterless teeth cleaners (such as Oral-B Brush- ups®) Feminine hygiene products Diapers and diaper wipes Cornstarch-based body powder

44. Comfort!

45. Gotta go? Line the empty toilet bowl with a double layer of plastic garbage bags Pour in clumping cat litter. Do your business. Discard when necessary.

46. Medical Basic first aid kit with lots of supplies for minor injuries Prescription medications Copies of prescriptions (include glasses and other prescribed aids) and prescription bottles Human and pet vaccination and medical records Spare glasses & contact lenses Sunscreen Insect repellant Anti-itch medications Nail clippers Hydrocortisone cream Diaper cream/ointment (for adults too!)

47. Medical Antifungal cream/powder Disposable cold packs Creams, gels, disposable patches for muscle aches Topical oral anesthetic & dental emergencies kit Battery-powered nebulizer if needed (with spare batteries) Other supplies as needed for specific medical conditions (i.e. oxygen, battery-powered suction, monitors, etc) Secure all medications against curious children!

48. Lighting Flashlights for everyone Battery- powered lanterns Lots of spare batteries Never use open flames around children!

49. Other Emergency cash Checkbook Pending bills Stamps Writing paper/pens/pencils Personal phone/address book Family communication plan

50. Family Communication Plan www.fema.gov/areyouready/emergency_planning.shtm

51. Other Digital or disposable camera(s) Vital family documentation (see the Things to Do list) Household inventory Chargers and spare batteries for cell phones, cameras, portable entertainment devices, etc. Spare car, home and property keys Generator keys

52. My New Best Friend…

53. Power is never more important than safety!

54. Living With a Portable Generator Get to know your machine before you need it Outside, ventilated! Never during the storm Point the exhaust away Danger – hot parts! Store fuel away from the generator, in approved containers No smoking or open flames

55. Living With a Portable Generator Wear protective clothing and shoes when fueling. Consider eye protection. Never fuel a hot generator

56. Living With a Portable Generator Never run the generator without an adult on-site Have a way to call for help if possible Use the right cords Watch out for cords – trip hazard! Only a professional should wire a portable generator into home circuitry

57. Living With a Portable Generator Keep up maintenance before, during and after use or disuse Know your power limitations Keep a log of run-time and fuel usage Protect your machine in the off- season

58. Equipment & Supplies for Generator Living

59. Equipment and Supplies Fuel stabilizer Spare fuel in approved storage containers Spare oil as specified by manufacturer Funnel for fueling Fuel siphon Protective eyewear, clothing and shoes for fueling

60. Equipment and Supplies Locally-approved containers for discarding waste oil/fuel Basic tools with appropriate wrenches for drain plugs, etc. Fire extinguisher(s) Cat litter to absorb fuel spills Small notebook/pad and pen for generator run-time and fuel log Carbon monoxide monitors for each sleeping area and at site of cord entry into structure

61. Equipment and Supplies Print simplified start/stop operation instructions. Consider labeling the start and shut-down sequences on the generator itself. Flashlight or lantern for checking/fueling the generator in the dark Various lengths of manufacturer- specified cord Surge-protected heavy gauge power strip(s) Multi-outlet adaptors

62. Equipment and Supplies Small, lightweight electric stick lamps with low-watt bulbs Refrigerator and freezer thermometers Universal AC adaptors A toaster oven Consider marking cords with reflective tape or glow-sticks to reduce trip hazards in the dark. Protective cover for generator

63. Portable Air Conditioner? $300-$600 A nice-to-have item. Frail people may really benefit from heat relief.

64. Dr. Lous Favorite Gadgets

65. #5Food Safety Thermometer First Alert Fridge Guard

66. #4Fluorescent Lanterns

67. #3Multifunction Radios

68. #2Battery-powered TV

69. #1Battery-powered Fans

70. Wrap-up Protecting your family is a 24-7-365 job. A family hurricane plan is a good base for an all-hazards family disaster plan. If you can take a few days to plan and prepare for the holidays or a vacation, you can also take a few days a year to plan and prepare for a disaster.

71. Excrement occurs… Then it hits the

72. Be sure your familys ready!

73. Presentation and checklists available at www.jumpstarttriage.com Other lectures page Thank you! louromig@bellsouth.net