6. Preparing for a Disaster
Although most of the focus of activities such as N.E.S.T. is on activities during a disaster, the majority of the effort involved in a Captain's tasks involved preparedness. This Handbook is structured to serve as a guide for preparedness, and as a template for a specific Handbook to be used during a disaster. The most important task of a new Captain is to prepare his or her neighborhood as well as possible for any kind of disaster, and to prepare this Handbook for use during an actual emergency by "filling in the blanks" to add details specific to the neighborhood.
The neighborhood N.E.S.T. Captain and assistants are the motivating force in any neighborhood which has adopted the program. The tasks are many and varied. The Captain will become an expert in neighborhood preparedness and survival and will be the leader whenever the special skills and resources are needed.
Individual Captains will implement a preparedness program suited to their specific area's needs, and the Captains' Committee will coordinate these efforts within the group of N.E.S.T. Captains as a whole. Some example activities that might be in a preparedness program include:
6.1.1. Hold a meeting with your neighbors. The purpose of the first meeting will be to help each neighbor learn how he/she can help the neighborhood and be independent of outside help for three days. You should organize the neighbors into teams and find out who is already trained.
6.1.2. Have each household fill out a Household Registration Form. A sample form is included in Section 12. Make copies of this form as needed. For each filled-out form, make a copy and provide it to the Resource Management Committee. Place the original form in Section 12, so that as complete a record as possible of the neighborhood is available.
6.1.3. For any residents, or frequent visitors, who have special medical needs (oxygen, dialysis, wheelchair, etc.) record this information on the Neighbors With Special Medical Needs Form supplied in Section 12. This form should always be maintained as a quick reference to possible life-threatening situations during an emergency.
6.1.4. Identify those persons who have special skills and resources needed for a disaster response. Medical, special care, communications and other skills may already be available. Some neighbors may be qualified instructors and could be used to train others in the neighborhood.
6.1.5. Report information on available skills to the Resource Management Committee. Use the Skills and Services form included in Section 12. Make copies of this form as needed.
6.1.6. Identify those persons who have special equipment and other resources which may be useful in a disaster response. Have each person who is willing to offer such equipment fill out an Equipment and Special Resources form, provided in Section 12. Make copies of this form as needed. For each filled-out form, make a copy and provide it to the Resource Management Committee. Place the original form in Section 12, so that as complete a record as possible of the neighborhood is available.
6.1.7. Recruit members from new neighbors and encourage departing friends to continue the program wherever they may go.
6.1.8. Be responsible for the registration and other forms that the neighbors will fill out at the neighborhood meetings. The forms should be maintained in at least one place and updated at least once a year. Relate this information to the Resource Management Committee. It is important that this information be up-to-date so that it is most useful during a disaster.
6.1.9. Hold follow-up meetings at least once a year. This will allow you to invite new neighbors to participate on the disaster committees, update registration and inventory forms, and review and practice the roles each person will play in a disaster.
6.1.10. Keep contact with the Steering Committee to obtain assistance in training and acquisition of emergency kits and other materials.
6.1.11. Coordinate neighborhood participation in any Region-wide training exercises.
6.1.12. Attend regular meetings.
6.1.13. Participate in N.E.S.T. functions .
6.1.14. Provide a focal point in the community during a disaster, and work to provide disaster services according to the plans prepared beforehand.
6.2.1. Provide the overall coordination of the neighborhood plan, both before and immediately following a disaster. As you organize the neighborhood, develop a disaster plan for the particular neighborhood, and place it in the designated area in Section 12.
6.2.2. Distribute a copy of the N.E.S.T. Disaster Preparedness workbook to every home in the neighborhood. Encourage individual and family participation.
6.2.3. Distribute and then collect completed registration forms and resource inventory forms and skills inventory forms from each home. Review the forms for completeness and use them to determine the readiness of the neighborhood. Pass this information to the Resource Management Committee.
6.2.4. Invite each neighbor to participate in the N.E.S.T. program by volunteering to participate in one of the Disaster committees. Promote N.E.S.T. program and develop skills within the neighborhood.
6.2.5. Complete a training course on Damage Assessment offered through the Red Cross.
6.2.6. Encourage your neighbors to file copies of important documents (tax records, insurance policies, journals, etc.) in a safe place, and to take photographs or videos of all valuables for documentation.
6.2.7. Complete the American Red Cross course on First Aid and CPR.
6.2.8. Identify all neighbors who have First Aid, CPR or other medical training or skills.
6.2.9. Become familiar with the concepts of psychological First Aid.
6.2.10. Complete a training program on Safety and Security.
6.2.11. Compile a list, in map form, of the locations of all gas, water and electrical shut-offs for each building in the neighborhood. Identify all sources of water for fire fighting.
6.2.12. Identify an evacuation route that leads out of your general area which is most likely to remain open and passable following a disaster. Avoid bridges if possible. Advise all neighbors of that route. Develop a plan for evacuation of any people with special medical needs in your neighborhood. Try to go to the nearest designated public shelter.
6.2.13. Attend a Search and Rescue class.
6.2.14. Identify all neighbors who may have trouble getting out of their homes following a disaster. They will be a priority after the disaster.
6.2.15. Make sure that every home has a communication card and that they understand how to used it. The window card says, "O.K." on one side and "HELP" on the other. Failure to show the card also indicates that HELP is needed.
6.2.16. Identify the locations of any tools in your neighborhood which could be used for Search and Rescue operations. Report this information to the Resource Management Committee.
6.2.17. Frequently review the Search and Rescue procedures.
6.2.18. Record the designated emergency shelter closest to neighborhood and the quickest way to get there.
6.2.19. Coordinate transport services for individuals and families. Identify those in the neighborhood with four-wheel drive vehicles. These may be the only type that can make it through the debris. Identify those neighbors who have special needs (wheel chairs, invalid, etc.). Identify those with vans and RV's. These may be used to transport the injured. Report this information to the Resources Management Committee.
6.2.20. REPRESENT N.E.S.T. TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
6.3. Training the Neighborhood
Training the neighborhood requires the efforts of the Steering Committee and each Captain. Assistance is available from many sources. The process must be continuous. Once everyone has received initial training, refresher drills, exercises and classes must be held to keep skills at their best possible level.
Return to NEST - Disaster Preparation
page
Website design by Three Kitty Komputing, La Honda,
CA 