National Service Training Program 1 • Stay away from damaged areas.

Module 9: Disaster Management & Disaster Preparedness • If you’re at school or work, follow the emergency plan or the
instructions of the person in charge.
• Expect aftershocks.
Disaster Preparedness
• Preparing for a disaster can reduce the fear, anxiety and
Fire Safety Tips
losses that disasters cause. A disaster can be a natural
Fire Prevention
disaster, like hurricane, tornado, flood or earthquake. It might
• Of course, the best way to practice fire safety is to make
also be man-made, like a bioterrorist attack or chemical spill.
sure a fire doesn’t break out in the first place. That means
You should know the risks and danger signs of different
you should always be aware of potential hazards in your
types of disasters. You should also have a disaster plan. Be
home, start by keeping these tips in mind.
ready to evacuate your home, and know how to treat basic
Check all electrical appliances, cords, and outlets
medical problems. Make sure you have the insurance you
need, including special types, like flood insurance. • Look around your house for potential problems. And unless
you’re a trained electrician, be careful about do-it-yourself
• No matter what kind of disaster you experience, it causes
electrical projects. Studies have shown that many home fires
emotional distress. After a disaster, recovery can take any
are caused by improper installation of electrical devices.
time. Stay connected to your family and friends during this
Be especially vigilant about portable heaters
period.
• The number of residential fires always goes up during colder
• Process of ensuring that an organization
month, peaking between December and February. Portable
(1) has complied with the preventive measures,
space heaters substantially contribute to this increase.
(2) is in a state of readiness to contain the effects of a
Before plugging in your space heater, make sure you know
forecasted disastrous event to minimize loss of life, injury,
how to use it safely.
and damage to property,
Be careful in the kitchen
(3) can provide rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and other
services in the aftermath of the disaster, and • Did you know that cooking is the leading cause of home fires
(4) has the capacity and resources to continue to sustain its in the United States? The kitchen is rife with ways for a fire
essential functions without being overwhelmed by the to start: food left unsupervised on a stove or in an oven or
demand placed on them. microwave; grease spills; a dish towel too close to the
burner; a toaster or toaster oven flare-up; a coffee pot
• Preparedness for the first and immediate response is called
accidentally left-on.
Emergency Preparedness.
• Always supervise kids while cooking and practice safe
What to do before an earthquake cooking habits – like turning all pot handles in so they can’t
be accidentally knocked over and not wearing loose-fitting
• Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a
clothing that could catch fire around the stove.
battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and extra batteries at
Check the fireplace
home.
• Fireplaces should be kept clean and covered with a screen
• Learn first aid.
to keep sparks from jumping out. Only wood should be
• Learn how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity.
burned in the fireplace – paper and other materials can
• Make up a plan of where to meet your family after an escape while burning and ignite nearby items. Never leave
earthquake. a fire burning unattended and make sure a fire is completely
• Don’t leave heavy objects on shelves (they’ll fall during earth extinguisher before leaving the house or going to bed. Have
quake). the chimney professionally cleaned once a year.
• Anchor heavy furniture, cupboards, and appliances to the Beware of Cigarettes
walls or floor. • According to the National Fire Prevention Association
• Learn the earthquake plan at your school or workplace. (NFPA), Cigarettes are the no. 1 cause of fire deaths in the
United States and Canada, killing about 1,000 per year.
What to do during an earthquake Most are started when the ashes or butts fall into couches
• Stay calm! If you’re indoor, stay inside. If you’re outside, stay and chairs. If you smoke, be especially careful around
outside. upholstered furniture, never smoke in bed, and be sure
• In you’re indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the cigarettes are completely out before you toss them in the
building, stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture trash.
(a desk or table). Stay away from the windows and outside Keep fire extinguishers handy
doors. • Be prepared for any accidents by having fire extinguishers
• If you’re outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or strategically placed around your house – at least one on
anything that might fall. Stay away from buildings (stuff might each floor and in kitchen (this one should be an all-purpose
fall off the building or the building could fall on you). extinguisher, meaning it can be used on grease and
• Don’t use matches, candles, or any flame. Broken gas lines electrical fires), the basement, the garage, or workshop
and fire don’t mix. area. Keep them out of reach of children.
• If you’re in a car, stop the car and stay inside the car until the Practice Fire Drills at Home
earthquake stops. • Kids have fire drills at school and adults have them at work.
• Don’t use elevators (they’ll probably get stuck anyway). Why shouldn’t you have them at home, too? Fires are
frightening and can cause panic. By rehearsing different
What to do after an earthquake scenarios, your family will be less likely to waste precious
Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide first aid for anyone who time trying to figure out what to do. Discuss and rehearse
needs it. the escape routes you’ve planned for each room of your
• Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. If any are home. Designate a meeting place outside your house or
damaged, shut off the valves. Check for the smell of gas. If apartment building that is a safe distance away (a mailbox,
you smell it, open all the windows and doors, leave a fence, or even a distinctive-looking tree will do) where
immediately, and report it to the authorities (use someone everyone can be accounted for after they escape.
else’s phone). • Preparing for a Typhoon
• Turn on the radio. Don’t use the phone unless it’s an Plan a head
emergency. • Determine whether you can remain in your home during the
• Stay out of damaged buildings. typhoon. You may be able to ride out a weak typhoon with a
• Be careful around broken glass and debris. Wear boots or small storm surge but will need to evacuate for stronger
sturdy shoes to keep from cutting your feet. storms. Listen for warnings from your local officials or
• Be careful of chimneys (they may fall on you). weather personnel in situations where evacuation is ordered.
• Stay away from beaches. Tsunamis and seiches sometimes Note the evacuation routes and plan to leave early.
hit after the ground has stopped shaking.
 • Make lists of television and radio stations where you can get can help advise you as to the best route safety and likely
storm information, phone numbers to call in case of shelter locations.
emergencies and locations of storm shelters. Get directions • Practice your evacuation route. Familiarity may save your
for the emergency shelters. life. Be able to follow your escape route at night and during
• Designate a location for you and your family members to inclement weather. Practicing your plan makes the
meet if you get separated and the number of an out-of-state appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring less
relative to call to say everyone is safe. That out-of-state thinking during an actual emergency situation.
person starts the phone tree to others on your list after • Use a NOAA Weather Radio with tone-alert feature to
learning you are okay. keep you informed of local watches and warnings. The tone
• Find a place to take your pets where they will be safe if you alert feature will warn you of potential danger even if you are
have to evacuate. Most storm shelters won’t allow pets. not currently listening to local radio or television stations.
• Remember to shut off electricity, water and gas to your • Talk to your insurance agent. Homeowners’ policies do not
home before evacuating. cover flooding from a Tsunami. Ask about the National Flood
Assemble a Typhoon Kit Insurance Program.
• Pack food that doesn’t have to be refrigerated or cooked • Discuss Tsunami with your family. Everyone should know
along with disposable plates, bowls, forks, knives and what to do in case all family members are not together.
spoons. Each person and pet in the home should have Discussing Tsunamis ahead of time will help reduce fear and
enough to eat for three days. anxiety, and let everyone know how to respond. Review
• Store water. Each person needs three gallons of clean water flood safety and preparedness measures with your family.
to drink and to use for washing. Pets also need water. • Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit. Please see the section
• Include a first aid kit in your typhoon kit. “Disaster Supplies Kit” for general Supplies Kit information.
• Remember to pack board games, card decks and a battery- Tsunami-specific supplies should include the following:
operated radio. • Evacuation
• Throw in a box of garbage bags and paper towels. • Supplies Kit in an easy-to-carry container (backpack)
• Pack your Bags near your door.
• Pack a small bag or backpack for each person in the home. • Disaster Supplies Kit Basics.
It should include clothes and toiletries for three days.
• Bundle a blanket and pillow for each person and place them
in garbage bags (to keep them dry) to take along if
evacuating.
• Include a small bag of photos and documents you can’t
afford to have destroyed, such as wills and wedding albums.
• Place everyone’s bag and bed bundle near the door so they
can be quickly loaded into the car if you decide to evacuate.
Fill the car with gas.

After Typhoon
• Avoid going out for a picnic or excursion immediately after a
typhoon. It is usually calm after a typhoon. Wait until the
typhoon has totally left the place.
• Listen to radio announcements to know about the typhoon
and the weather.
• Check the roofs or construction of your house. Is your roof
was damaged? Check and fix it.
• Is there any injured or is their any neighbors injured during
the typhoon? Bring them to the nearest disaster coordinating
council hospital or medical centers?

Plan for Tsunami

• Develop a Family Disaster Plan. Please see the “Family
Disaster Plan” section for general family panning
information.
• Learn about Tsunami risk in your community. Contact
your local emergency management office or American Red
Cross Chapter. Find out if your home, school, workplace or
other frequently visited locations are in tsunami hazard
areas. Know the height of your street above sea level and
the distance of your street from the coast or other high-risk
waters. Evacuation orders may be based on these numbers.
• If you are visiting an area at risk for Tsunami, check with
the hotel, motel, or camp ground operators for tsunami
evacuation information and how you would be warned. It is
important to now designated escape routes before a warning
is issued. If you are at risk from tsunamis, do the following:
• Plan an evacuation route from your home, school,
workplace, or any other place you’ll be where Tsunamis
present a risk. If possible, pick an area 100 feet above sea
level or go up to two miles inland, away from the coastline. If
you can’t get this high or far, go as high as you can. Every
foot inland or upwards makes a difference. You should be
able to reach your safe location on foot within 15 minutes.
After a disaster, roads may become impassable or blocked.
Be prepared to evacuate by foot if necessary. Foot paths
normally lead uphill and inland, while many roads parallel
coastlines. Follow posted Tsunami evacuations routes; these
will lead to safety. Local emergency management officials