Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes and ice storms can quickly sweep into a community and cause major disruption.  Manmade disasters, such as chemical explosions, transportation accidents, such as train derailments can easily occur and can require rapid evacuation of the area. Unfortunately, disasters may be individualized, such as a fire in your home.

While we hope we don’t have a disaster, it is important to always be prepared and to talk to your family about emergency plans for communication, evacuation and transportation.

It would be a great idea to use the extra time this Labor Day weekend to talk to your family about your emergency plans and to create a disaster preparedness evacuation kit. If you already have a disaster kit, this would be a great time to update it and replace expired items.

Items to include:

Non-perishable Food: Set aside enough to feed you, your family and your pets for a minimum of three days.  Include a non-electric can opener, paper plates, cups, flatware, garbage bags and ties.

Drinking Water: Keep a three-day supply for each member of your household.  Estimate about a gallon of water a day for each person/pet.

Important Papers: make copies of your identification, passport, credit cards, insurance policies and medical records and/or any important medical information.

Personal Items: Pack medications/prescriptions, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush, soap, contact lens supplies, deodorant, baby wipes,  toilet paper and paper towels. 

At Least one Complete Change of Clothing and Shoes: Include at least one long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and closed-toed shoes/boots.  Consider rain gear.

Other Essentials: Pack a first aid kit, cash, maps, blankets, flashlights, battery-powered radio and/or television, candles, matches and batteries.

Also, be sure to check out other resources like the American Red Cross and ready.gov for more tips on being prepared for a disaster.  If you or a family member are disabled, please visit our earlier blog post.

Make sure you know what to do if thunderstorms are predicted for your area with plans customized to where you are and what you are doing.  For example, if there is a high probability of severe thunderstorms, playing golf or going for a sail may not be a good idea.  If you are participating in these or any outdoor activities, make sure you have a contingency plan and be prepared to seek safe shelter if a storm does develop.  Hiding under a tree or umbrella until the storm passes is NOT considered a safe or smart contingency plan.

There are many resources available online to help you prepare for storms, including the Red Cross, NOAAs National Weather Service , and Ready.gov.

And, if you are looking for something to do this weekend, join us at StormFest, on Saturday, June 18 from 9 am to 5 pm at the Museum of Natural Sciences. Visitors can become Meteorologist for a Day, watch presentations on Storm Chasing, learn more about preparedness and tour emergency response vehicles and mobile hospital. 

Barb Bisset is the executive director of the WakeMed Emergency Services Insitute.

Of course, as always, we need to stay prepared for tornadoes.  Learn more about what to do before, during, and after a tornado by following these links:

• How to Prepare for a Tornado – Learn about preparing a disaster supply kit, creating a plan, and knowing the signs of an approaching tornado (dark, greenish sky; large hail; low-lying and rotating cloud; and a loud roar, like a freight train).
• What to Do During a Tornado – Depending on whether you are in a building, outdoors, or in a vehicle when a tornado strikes, find out what to do.
• What to Do After a Tornado – Get tips on what to do in a potentially unsafe area following a tornado and learn about federal assistance.

Barb Bisset is the executive director of the WakeMed Emergency Services Institute.

WATCH

If your area is under a tornado WATCH, this means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop and you need to WATCH out for them.  And, when a tornado WATCH is issued for your area, like it is for ours today, it is a good time to prepare your safe place in your home; Gather items like water, weather radio with extra batteries, snacks, blankets, and flashlights.   Keep a radio or TV on tuned to a local station, so you will have access to the most up-to-date storm information.

If you live in a mobile home and a tornado WATCH is issued for your area, seek shelter in a more permanent structure immediately.

Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable during bad storms, and any time there is a tornado watch and you are in a mobile home, you and your family need to seek shelter in a more stable building like a neighbor’s stick-built home, hospital, library, bank, fire department, rest stop, or government building.  (Note that strip malls, big box stores, and fast food restaurants are not typically safe places to ride out a storm because of the type of construction). 

Additionally, it is important to limit travel during a tornado watch.  One of the most dangerous places you can be during a tornado is in your car.

WARNING

WARNING means that a funnel cloud has been spotted in your area.  Go to your safe place immediately.  Do not hesitate.  If possible, bring your smart phone or laptop with you, so you can track the storm’s progress and direction.  Stay in your safe place until the storm passes. 

Even if the storm looks like it will barely miss your area, it is a good idea to go to your safe place anyway.  Meteorologists are quite good at predicting storm paths today thanks to advances in technology, but this is not a perfect science and there is still a margin of error.  Additionally, even if you are not in the funnel cloud’s direct path, flying debris and falling trees can be very dangerous or even deadly. 

Cars are inherently dangerous places to be during a tornado. Restrict travel during a tornado WATCH and get to a safe place like a bank, hospital or fire department if a tornado WARNING is issued for your area.

If you are in your car, and you hear that there is a tornado near you, or you spot a funnel cloud, do not try to out run the tornado, seek shelter in a stable, brick building like a hospital, library, bank, fire department, rest stop, or government building.  Avoid seeking shelter in strip malls, big box stores, and fast food restaurants are not typically safe places to ride out a storm because of the type of construction.  Quickly get to an interior space away from windows and glass. Do not seek shelter under an overpass or bridge because they can collapse upon you.  If you have no other choice, get out of your vehicle and into a low lying ditch.

The most important thing we can learn about tornado preparedness is for everyone to have an advance plan and to take both tornado WATCHES and WARNINGS seriously.   Tornados, although they do not affect our area often, are very dangerous and it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Barb Bisset is the director of the WakeMed Emergency Services Institute.

Many believe disasters will not impact their community or affect them and, if a disaster does happen, that they will be taken care by a relief agency.   The reality is, disasters can and do strike communities in America every day. 

Hampton Oaks neighborhood in Raleigh following 1988 tornado.

While we are lucky to live in a region where natural disasters are infrequent, those who have lived in Wake County for the past 20 years, will remember the ice storm of 2005, Hurricane Fran in 1996, and the tornado of 1988. These storms severely impaired transportation, our ability to communicate, and electrical and water service.  It is important that we prepare ourselves and our families in advance so we can stay safe and healthy in the event of a disaster.

In the past, emergency preparedness organizations recommended everyone keep enough supplies on-hand to for 36 hours.  After massive disasters like Katrina, it is now recommended that we all keep 96 hours of supplies on hand.  In a previous blog, I listed some suggestions for your disaster preparedness kits.

Glenwood Ave looking toward Crabtree after Hurricane Fran in 1996.

But, supplies are not the only way we can and should prepare.   And home is not the only location we need to think about.  We also need to be prepared for disasters at work, school, and any other location where you or your family spend a significant amount of time.  It is also a good idea to carry a small kit in your car with nonperishable food, water, flashlight, and a blanket or two.  Additionally, we need to think ahead and make a plan to reconnect after the disaster.

Please take some time to review these exceptional online resources, talk with your family and be prepared for the unexpected.

Ready Wake

Ready NC

American Red Cross

Barb Bisset is the executive director of the WakeMed Emergency Services Institute.

Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes and ice storms can quickly sweep into a community and cause major disruption.  Manmade disasters, such as chemical explosions, transportation accidents, such as train derailments can easily occur and can require rapid evacuation of the area. Unfortunately, disasters may be individualized, such as a fire in your home.

While we hope we don’t have a disaster, it is important to always be prepared and to talk to your family about emergency plans for communication, evacuation and transportation.

It would be a great idea to use the extra time this Labor Day weekend to talk to your family about your emergency plans and to create a disaster preparedness evacuation kit. If you already have a disaster kit, this would be a great time to update it and replace expired items.

Items to include:

Non-perishable Food: Set aside enough to feed you, your family and your pets for a minimum of three days.  Include a non-electric can opener, paper plates, cups, flatware, garbage bags and ties.

Drinking Water: Keep a three-day supply for each member of your household.  Estimate about a gallon of water a day for each person/pet.

Important Papers: make copies of your identification, passport, credit cards, insurance policies and medical records and/or any important medical information.

Personal Items: Pack medications/prescriptions, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush, soap, contact lens supplies, deodorant, baby wipes,  toilet paper and paper towels. 

At Least one Complete Change of Clothing and Shoes: Include at least one long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and closed-toed shoes/boots.  Consider rain gear.

Other Essentials: Pack a first aid kit, cash, maps, blankets, flashlights, battery-powered radio and/or television, candles, matches and batteries.

Also, be sure to check out other resources like the American Red Cross and ready.gov for more tips on being prepared for a disaster.

• A first aid kit
• Medications
• Battery operated radio, clock and flashlight with extra batteries
• Canned food and other nonperishable foods that do not require cooking (don’t forget pets)
• Bottled water (at least one gallon of water per person and pet per day)
• Charged cellular telephone
• Fuel for alternative heat sources like kerosene or logs for the fire (be sure to never use grills or other carbon dioxide-producing heat sources indoors) 

And, if the roads are hazardous, only venture out if absolutely necessary.  See our previous blog post for tips on entertaining the kids indoors on snow days, and visit WakeMed.org for more emergency preparedness manuals.

WakeMed employees volunteering in Waveland, Mississippi, in the wake of Katrina

WakeMed employees, physicians, supporters and readers of this blog have demonstrated an immense spirit of generosity in their continual requests to expand WakeMed’s role in the response to the catastrophic earthquake that recently impacted Haiti.  We remain in close contact with the American Red Cross and the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS), and continue to hear that the best way we can contribute at this time is through monetary contributions to reliable organizations. Lists of suggested organizations can be found in these articles News & Observer Article, CNN Article as well as a multi-page insert in today’s News & Observer. 

WakeMed has many supplies and equipment and a highly-trained team ready for disaster response.  The federal government is well aware of WakeMed’s assets, disaster training and willingness to help with recovery efforts.  In fact, much of the disaster readiness and response equipment and training that has been afforded to WakeMed are a direct result of federal funding acquired through the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Assistant Secretary’s Preparedness & Response (ASPR) office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

We anticipate that the recovery and reconstruction in the wake of this devastating earthquake will be an extensive process, and expect there to be many opportunities in the months and years to come to join volunteer and mission groups deploying teams to Haiti.  WakeMed stands at the ready to help and will call on our employees, physicians and community to participate in the response. 

If you are interested in supporting these efforts, we encourage you to join the CapRAC State Medical Assistance Team (SMAT 800) by logging on to www.servnc.org.  This team’s mission is to assist local, regional and state efforts by providing medical care and resources to those in need through an effective, controlled, systematic process, reducing death and disability resulting from sudden or serious injury and illness caused by natural or man-made disasters.

• When registering, please provide as much information as possible and try to complete all nine sections. 
• WakeMed employees should affiliate themselves with the Capital RAC State Medical Assistance Team, which is housed at WakeMed. 
• Once accepted to the team, all members will be required to attend a two-day SMAT Initial Training course.
• You will also be required to attend an appropriate amount of trainings/events throughout the year to maintain knowledge and level of readiness (quarterly training, as well as the opportunity to participate in special events is offered throughout the year and does count toward SMAT Continuing Education).

Medical professionals not associated with a hospital or EMS system are also encouraged to volunteer for the Medical Reserve Corps.

While we may feel like we are not doing anything to assist, it is important to understand that an uncontrolled deployment or sending supplies that cannot be distributed is not an effective way to help.  Our hearts and minds are with all who are suffering in Haiti during this devastating time, and we are committed to helping our neighbors across the globe in their times of need.  Right now, the best way we can do this to provide monetary support.

Currently, the greatest need in Haiti is for financial donations. There are many well-organized global relief agencies that are sending people and supplies to the area. They warn that collecting supplies may not be helpful to a nation without the means to distribute them.  Therefore, money is the most valuable way to help organizations purchase the needed items in mass quantity and transport supplies and volunteer workers to Haiti. In fact, the American Red Cross has established a warehouse distribution point in Panama and will be getting essential goods into the country from that point.  

WakeMed has been a partner of the American Red Cross for many years and has already provided financial support to the group. To further aid, we encourage people who want to help to make a donation to the International Response Fund of the American Red Cross. There are numerous ways in which you can give to this fund – visit www.redcross.org; or call (800) 733-2767, or you can donate $10 by texting ‘Haiti’ to 90999.  You may also mail or deliver a check to their office on Peartree Lane.  It is important to note that there have already been reports of fraudulent telephone solicitation for donations. Please be wary of any telephone calls requesting your credit card information.

Medical Assistance

With regard to the deployment of WakeMed’s ESI emergency response resources and people, we remain in close contact with the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services, and they are well aware of our resources and willingness to be of assistance. ESI’s assets, including the State Medical Assistance Team, are deployable only at the request of North Carolina Emergency Management who works closely with FEMA, and the US Department of Health and Human Services.  At this point, we have not been asked to deploy teams to Haiti.