1. Preparing for a Disaster
Sandra Mwila-Martial
Walden University PH
Dr. Rebecca Heick
Winter, 2010
Hello everyone, my name is Sandra and I am happy to be here today! Thank you for the invitation to speak to you about disaster preparedness. Before we begin I would like to ask you a few questions and I would like for you all to answer by a show of hands:
How many of you think that being prepared for disasters is a good idea?
How many of you have talked to your parents and practiced a disaster plan with your family?
How many of you know what a disaster kit is and if so have made one?
How many test their smoke alarm monthly with their family?
How many practice an escape plan with their family?
Thank you for your responses so today I will be pass on a few tips about disaster preparedness to will get you started (Leffler, 2008)!

2. Audience/Purpose
This presentation is geared towards young children/youths in elementary schools.
The purpose of this presentation is to educate students on how to prepare for disasters in their communities.
Stakeholders include Public school officials as well as youths.

3. Goals To be able to identify what a disaster is.
To be able to create and practice a disaster plan.
To be able to identify what a disaster kit is and create it one.
To be able to identify the importance of a practiced escape plan.
To identify the importance of being prepared for a disaster.
What you should be able to take away from this presentation is to know what a disaster is, how to make a plan and why, know the importance of a disaster kit and to really know how important it is to be prepared when a disaster strikes.

4. What is a Disaster? Floods Hurricanes Tornadoes Thunderstorms
Winter Storms
Wild Fires/ Fires
American Red Cross.(2007).Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard
Messages. Washington, D.C.
Does anyone know what a disaster is? (Ask this before showing answers)
A disaster is something that could hurt people by causing damage, or cut off utilities like water, telephones, or electricity (American Red Cross [ARC], 2007). Sometimes nature provides too much of a good thing such as fire, rain, wind, and snow that can make things hard for people to live. Floods, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Thunderstorms, Winter storms, and Wild Fires are some examples (ARC, 2007). Can anyone name some other natural disasters that may not necessarily affect our area? (examples students may name: Tsunami, Volcano irruptions, Earthquakes, Land Slides).

5. What is the first thing you must do?
Make a plan with your family!
Make sure you and your family have a meeting place.
Leffler, K. (2008). Community Disaster Education: American Red Cross: Richmond, Virginia: Greater Richmond Chapter.
How would you know if a disaster were to happen right now? Would you be able to reach your family, would they be able to reach you? What if the phone lines were down and cell phone towers that enable cell phone use are also down, how would you get in contact with your family when there is a disaster?
Well the first thing you want to do is have a plan ready for you and your family. A good idea would be to have an out-of-town contact when local lines are tied or jammed but long distance numbers work or if works. You can have Aunt Sally in Colorado can be a point of contact for your family members who you all can check in with to help relay your whereabouts to one another and help you reunite, this way you are prepared before hand when something happens! (Leffler, 2007).

6. What is the first thing you must do?
Making a plan: Make sure you and your family have a meeting place.
Leffler, K. (2008). Community Disaster Education: American Red Cross: Richmond, Virginia: Greater Richmond Chapter.
Having a meeting place is very important when you and your family are separated during a disaster. Have a meeting place outside your neighborhood in case you can’t get home like the library or church. In an event of a house fire a meeting place can include the mailbox that is away from your home or next to a neighbors house if it isn't affected. By designating a meeting place, your family can provide a good way to have a central location to stay until the rest of your family gets there (Leffler, 2008).

7. Planning continued
Have contact information.
Leffler, K. (2008). Community Disaster Education: American Red Cross: Richmond, Virginia: Greater Richmond Chapter.
Having everyone’s contact information and making sure that everyone has a copy of the list is another good way to make a plan. Practicing the plan and keeping copies in several locations such as your back pack and drawers is a smart way to be prepared (Leffler, 2008).

8. What is a Disaster Kit?? Must be kept up to date.
A collection of basic items people in your home would need after a disaster.
Must be kept up to date.
Depending on how many people live in your home depends on how many kits you will need.
Fema For Kids. (n.d). Federal Management Agency.Retrieved
January 22, 2010 from
When a disaster happens, local officials and relief workers will be on scene but sometimes they may not be able to reach you and your family right away. It could be hours or days for them to reach you, especially if electricity, gas, water or telephones are down. Sometimes you may need to evacuate your home quickly and take important things with you and sometimes during a disaster you and your family may not have a chance to shop or get items that you will need. So a Disaster Kit can help you and your family stay safe and little more comfortable after a disaster! (ARC,2007).

9. How To Make a Disaster Kit!
Do this when you get home with your family by starting with 5 things.
Use any container and fill it up little by little or turn it into a scavenger hunt!
Put it somewhere easy where you can quickly grab it in a disaster.
Make one for your pet too!
Leffler, K. (2008). Community Disaster Education: American Red Cross: Richmond, Virginia: Greater Richmond Chapter.
If you don’t have a Disaster Kit don’t feel bad because you can have fun making one! You can use any container that you want for your kit such as a plastic bin, backpack, sports bag or a suitcase with wheels that can make it easy to carry especially if you have to evacuate and travel some distance (Leffler, 2008).
Put your Disaster Kit somewhere that will annoy you but where you can see it everyday or every other day to remind you where it is. If you put it in your closet you might forget that it is there! Check your bag every six months to keep it up to date as you replace some of your supplies (Leffler, 2008).

10. Must Have Items For Your Kit
Radio
Food
Water
Flashlight/light stick
First Aid Kit
American Red Cross.(2007).Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages. Washington, D.C.
Leffler, K. (2008). Community Disaster Education: American Red Cross: Richmond, Virginia: Greater Richmond Chapter.
Making your Disaster Kit can be fun so don’t let your self get overwhelmed! You can start a little at a time but you must include a least these five items that are a must have. Turn it into a scavenger hunt where you add maybe two additional things every week. For the top 5 must have items:
A radio is good to include because it will give you and your family information on where to go or what to do if the power is out.
For food, have non-perishable items that are healthy and something you would enjoy such as tuna pouches or fruit with pop tops, energy bars, peanut butter, crackers, etc…
Would you put a turkey sandwich in your Disaster Kit? Why not? (Ask students this before giving them the answer: It would spoil and make your kit smell very bad)
Include one gallon of water per person for one day so have at least three days worth of water in your kit (3 gallons total). Include a flashlight or light sticks to help you see in the dark when the power is out. Your flash-light can be hand-cranked and always have extra batteries. You can find these at Wal-Mart or Target in camping sections.
Having a first aid kit is great to include if emergency officials cannot reach you. Other items you may want to add or have your parents add are any medications you take on a regular basis in your kit. Once you have these must have items you can add clothing, sleeping bag, your parents can add important papers, extra cash (especially when the ATMs are not working) to buy any other items or food that may be needed. You can also put your tooth brush and toothpaste in your personal disaster kit. Add items that you would also like such as books or games (Leffler,2008; ARC, 2007).

11. Final way to prepare Be informed and get trained! Check smoke alarms
Practice
Check supplies in your kit
Leffler, K. (2008). Community Disaster Education: American Red Cross: Richmond, Virginia: Greater Richmond Chapter.
Another way to prepare for disasters is to be informed such as having me coming in today to speak to you all, this is a good example of being informed. Become trained in first aid and CPR and learn how to use an AED, it is important to have a least one person in your family that knows how to do this (Leffler, 2008). Another disaster that can affect you and your family are fires so together with your parents check your smoke alarm every month by removing dust and pressing the test button. Practice escape plans twice year and go over your family designated meeting spots and check your supplies in your kit by changing your water, food and other supplies. You can do this by helping your parents keep a calendar of this! (Leffler, 2008).

12. For Further Reading
American Red Cross, Disaster Preparedness:
FEMA for Kids, Federal Emergency Management Agency:
Disaster Preparedness for Children:
You can get more information to share with your family from the following sites.

13. QUESTIONS??
Thank you once again for inviting me to speak to you all today. As I did in the beginning, I would like to ask you some after thought questions and please answer by raising your hands please:
1.How many feel better prepared to face disaster at home, school, and in your neighborhood?
2. How many of you will talk about and practice a disaster plan with your family?
3. How many of you will make a Disaster supply kit?
4. How many of you will test your smoke alarm monthly with your parents?
5. How many of you will regularly practice an escape plan with your family (Leffler, 2008)?

14. References
American Red Cross.(2007).Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages. Washington, D.C.
Fema For Kids. (n.d). Federal Management Agency. Retrieved January 22, 2010 from
Leffler, K. (2008). Community Disaster Education: American Red Cross: Richmond, Virginia: Greater Richmond Chapter.