Terrorism—Preparing for the Unexpected
Devastating acts, such as the terrorist attacks on
the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, have left many concerned about the
possibility of future incidents in the United States and their potential impact.
They have raised uncertainty about what might happen next, increasing stress
levels. Nevertheless, there are things you can do to prepare for the unexpected
and reduce the stress that you may feel now and later should another emergency
arise. Taking preparatory action can reassure you and your children that you can
exert a measure of control even in the face of such events.
What You Can Do to Prepare
Finding out what can happen is the first step. Once
you have determined the events possible and their potential in your community,
it is important that you discuss them with your family or household. Develop a
disaster plan together.
1. Create an emergency
communications plan.
Choose an out-of-town contact your family or
household will call or e-mail to check on each other should a disaster occur.
Your selected contact should live far enough away that they would be unlikely to
be directly affected by the same event, and they should know they are the chosen
contact. Make sure every household member has that contact's, and each other's,
e-mail addresses and telephone numbers (home, work, pager and cell). Leave these
contact numbers at your children's schools, if you have children, and at your
workplace. Your family should know that if telephones are not working, they need
to be patient and try again later or try e-mail. Many people flood the telephone
lines when emergencies happen but e-mail can sometimes get through when calls
don't.
2. Establish a meeting
place.
Having a predetermined meeting place away from your home
will save time and minimize confusion should your home be affected or the area
evacuated. You may even want to make arrangements to stay with a family member
or friend in case of an emergency. Be sure to include any pets in these plans,
since pets are not permitted in shelters and some hotels will not accept them.
3. Assemble a disaster
supplies kit.
If you need to evacuate your home or are asked to
"shelter in place," having some essential supplies on hand will make you and
your family more comfortable. Prepare a disaster supplies kit in an
easy-to-carry container such as a duffel bag or small plastic trash can. Include
"special needs" items for any member of your household (infant formula or items
for people with disabilities or older people), first aid supplies (including
prescription medications), a change of clothing for each household member, a
sleeping bag or bedroll for each, a battery powered radio or television and
extra batteries, food, bottled water and tools. It is also a good idea to
include some cash and copies of important family documents (birth certificates,
passports and licenses) in your kit.
Copies of essential documents-like powers of
attorney, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies, life insurance
beneficiary designations and a copy of your will-should also be kept in a safe
location outside your home. A safe deposit box or the home of a friend or family
member who lives out of town is a good choice.
For more complete instructions, ask your local Red
Cross chapter for the brochure titled Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit (stock
number A4463).
4. Check on the school
emergency plan of any school-age children you may have.
You need
to know if they will they keep children at school until a parent or designated
adult can pick them up or send them home on their own. Be sure that the school
has updated information about how to reach parents and responsible caregivers to
arrange for pickup. And, ask what type of authorization the school may require
to release a child to someone you designate, if you are not able to pick up your
child. During times of emergency the school telephones may be overwhelmed with
calls.
For more information on putting together a disaster
plan, request a copy of the brochure titled Your Family Disaster Plan (A4466)
from your local American Red Cross chapter. You may also want to request a copy
of Before Disaster Strikes . . . How to Make Sure You're Financially Prepared
(A5075) for specific information on what you can do now to protect your assets.
If Disaster Strikes
- Remain calm and be patient.
- Follow the advice of local emergency officials.
- Listen to your radio or television for news and
instructions.
- If the disaster occurs near you, check for
injuries. Give first aid and get help for seriously injured people.
- If the disaster occurs near your home while you
are there, check for damage using a flashlight. Do not light matches or candles
or turn on electrical switches. Check for fires, fire hazards and other
household hazards. Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you
smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows, and get
everyone outside quickly.
- Shut off any other damaged utilities.
- Confine or secure your pets.
- Call your family contact—do not use the telephone
again unless it is a life-threatening emergency.
- Check on your neighbors, especially those who are
elderly or disabled.
A Word on What Could
Happen
As we learned from the events of September 11, 2001, the
following things can happen after a terrorist attack:
- There can be significant numbers of casualties
and/or damage to buildings and the infrastructure. So employers need up-to-date
information about any medical needs you may have and on how to contact your
designated beneficiaries.
- Heavy law enforcement involvement at local, state
and federal levels follows a terrorist attack due to the event's criminal
nature.
- Health and mental health resources in the affected
communities can be strained to their limits, maybe even overwhelmed.
- Extensive media coverage, strong public fear and
international implications and consequences can continue for a prolonged period.
- Workplaces and schools may be closed, and there
may be restrictions on domestic and international travel.
- You and your family or household may have to
evacuate an area, avoiding roads blocked for your safety.
- Clean-up may take many months.
Evacuation
If
local authorities ask you to leave your home, they have a good reason to make
this request, and you should heed the advice immediately. Listen to your radio
or television and follow the instructions of local emergency officials and keep
these simple tips in mind-
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and sturdy
shoes so you can be protected as much as possible.
- Take your disaster supplies kit.
- Take your pets with you; do not leave them behind.
Because pets are not permitted in public shelters, follow your plan to go to a
relative's or friend's home, or find a "pet-friendly" hotel.
- Lock your home.
- Use travel routes specified by local
authorities—don't use shortcuts because certain areas may be impassable or
dangerous.
- Stay away from downed power lines.
Listen to local authorities.
Your local authorities will provide you with the most accurate
information specific to an event in your area. Staying tuned to local radio and
television, and following their instructions is your safest choice.
If you're sure you have time:
- Call your family contact to tell them where you
are going and when you expect to arrive.
- Shut off water and electricity before leaving, if
instructed to do so. Leave natural gas service ON unless local officials advise
you otherwise. You may need gas for heating and cooking, and only a professional
can restore gas service in your home once it's been turned off. In a disaster
situation it could take weeks for a professional to respond.
Shelter in
place
If you are advised by local officials to "shelter in place," what they mean
is for you to remain inside your home or office and protect yourself there.
Close and lock all windows and exterior doors. Turn off all fans, heating and
air conditioning systems. Close the fireplace damper. Get your disaster supplies
kit, and make sure the radio is working. Go to an interior room without windows
that's above ground level. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground
location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep
into basements even if the windows are closed. Using duct tape, seal all cracks
around the door and any vents into the room. Keep listening to your radio or
television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local
officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your
community.
Additional Positive Steps You Can Take
Raw, unedited footage of terrorism events and
people's reaction to those events can be very upsetting, especially to children.
We do not recommend that children watch television news reports about such
events, especially if the news reports show images over and over again about the
same incident. Young children do not realize that it is repeated video footage,
and think the event is happening again and again. Adults may also need to give
themselves a break from watching disturbing footage. However, listening to local
radio and television reports will provide you with the most accurate information
from responsible governmental authorities on what's happening and what actions
you will need to take. So you may want to make some arrangements to take turns
listening to the news with other adult members of your household.
Another useful preparation includes learning some
basic first aid. To enroll in a first aid and AED/CPR course, contact your local
American Red Cross chapter. In an emergency situation, you need to tend to your
own well-being first and then consider first aid for others immediately around
you, including possibly assisting injured people to evacuate a building if
necessary.
People who may have come into contact with a
biological or chemical agents may need to go through a decontamination procedure
and receive medical attention. Listen to the advice of local officials on the
radio or television to determine what steps you will need to take to protect
yourself and your family. As emergency services will likely be overwhelmed, only
call 9-1-1 about life-threatening emergencies.
First Aid Primer
If you encounter someone who is injured, apply the emergency
action steps: Check-Call-Care. Check the scene to make sure it is safe
for you to approach. Then check the victim for unconsciousness and
life-threatening conditions. Someone who has a life-threatening condition, such
as not breathing or severe bleeding, requires immediate care by trained
responders and may require treatment by medical professionals. Call out
for help. There are some steps that you can take, however, to care for
someone who is hurt, but whose injuries are not life threatening.
Control Bleeding
- Cover the wound with a dressing, and press firmly
against the wound (direct pressure).
- Elevate the injured area above the level of the
heart if you do not suspect that the victim has a broken bone.
- Cover the dressing with a roller bandage.
- If the bleeding does not stop:
- Apply additional dressings and bandages.
- Use a pressure point to squeeze the artery against
the bone.
- Provide care for shock.
Care for Shock
- Keep the victim from getting chilled or
overheated.
- Elevate the legs about 12 inches (if broken bones
are not suspected).
- Do not give food or drink to the victim.
Tend Burns
- Stop the burning by cooling the burn with large
amounts of water.
- Cover the burn with dry, clean dressings or cloth.
Care for Injuries to Muscles, Bones and
Joints
- Rest the injured part.
- Apply ice or a cold pack to control swelling and
reduce pain.
- Avoid any movement or activity that causes pain.
- If you must move the victim because the scene is
becoming unsafe, try to immobilize the injured part to keep it from moving.
Be Aware of Biological/Radiological Exposure
- Listen to local radio and television reports for
the most accurate information from responsible governmental and medical
authorities on what's happening and what actions you will need to take. The Web
sites referenced at the end of this brochure can give you more information on
how to protect yourself from exposure to biological or radiological hazards.
Reduce Any Care Risks
The risk of getting
a disease while giving first aid is extremely rare. However, to reduce the risk
even further:
- Avoid direct contact with blood and other body
fluids.
- Use protective equipment, such as disposable
gloves and breathing barriers.
- Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water
immediately after giving care.
It is important to be prepared for an emergency and
to know how to give emergency care.
More
Information
All of these recommendations make good sense,
regardless of the potential problem. For more information on how to get ready
for disaster and be safe when disaster strikes, or to register for a first aid
and AED/CPR course, please check out our chapter schedule page.
For information about your community's specific
plans for response to disasters and other emergencies, contact your local office
of emergency management.
For information on what a business can do to
protect its employees and customers as well as develop business continuity
plans, you may want to get a copy of the Emergency Management Guide for
Business and Industry and/or Preparing Your Business for the
Unthinkable from the Mid-Rio Grande Chapter.
For more information about the specific effects of
chemical or biological agents, the following Web sites may be helpful:
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