subject: Steps To Designing A Good Disaster Preparedness Plan [print this page] There is no gainsaying the importance of a disaster plan when a disaster occurs. The plan will detail the course of action to be taken in emergency situations. The disaster plan is important as it will assist you assign everybody their duties should a disaster occur. The panic that is so often characterized with disasters, and which leads to more loss, can be avoided if only everybody will do their homework well.
Planning early enough is key to successful disaster plan and will help you be safe during the time of a disaster. Basic services that you will need at this hour should be at your finger tip as does the utilities and kits which should be put in place. Be proactive enough and act before the disaster strikes. By consulting your family or those that you stay with, come up with a plan that will see you through disasters however bad they are.
There are some things that you will need to do like identifying the safe spots in every room. These could be beneath the study and desks in every room. You should learn the necessary techniques that you will use to protect yourself irrespective of the room you are in. This applies especially to situations like earthquakes.
Simple, yet beneficial utilities like light sports or canvas shoes and flash light should be placed in an easily accessible spot to ensure that no time is wasted in getting them, when their need arises. It pays also to have a fire firefighting implement like a fire extinguisher within easy reach in the home. Proper response techniques and equipment use should also be sought from resource personnel like the fire department.
There is need to take into account the various special needs of people you live with or your neighbors when creating this plan. Things like wheel chairs, walking aids or special diets should be ready to cater for certain people. Knowledge of first aid skill is important here and special first aid skill such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation very important. Look for other neighbors who could be having expertise in CPR.
Energy sources in the home should be treated with care in times of a disaster. It pays to have an accessible simple means of turning off these sources once need arises. Electricity gas and water should at most be 'one click away'. In the event of a gas leak (easily detected through the smell), then switching off becomes not only advisable but mandatory; non human detectors like the smoke detectors should be installed and functional. This is best ensured by routine checks to the devices. Liaising with neighbors or colleagues who also have skills that can help during times of a disaster is not a bad idea.
