1. Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge T-505 Kick-off Discussion
February 22, 2010

2. Trailhead
Tonight we begin a journey that will take us through the month of March and into April before we are done
The Emergency Preparedness merit badge can be used as an Eagle required merit badge in lieu of Lifesaving.
Both of these merit badges are also offered at summer camp
We will give you the opportunity at the troop meetings and the Advancement campout to finish this merit badge with us as a troop.
If you don’t finish with us over the next two months, you can bring your “partial” with you to Summer camp and finish there.
If you don’t have First Aid Merit badge already, you can earn that at summer camp.

3. Bring the following items home that are now in your mailbox
You’ll Need What’s in Your Mailbox Tonight to Get Started
Bring the following items home that are now in your mailbox
Syllabus- The plan of what we will be doing
Copy of the Emergency Preparedness merit badge book
Table Required for Requirement 2b
List of Government Agencies responsible for emergency management (req. 6b/c)
Home Safety checklist to be completed at home during an inspection you will conduct (req. 9a)

4. Why Emergency Preparedness is Important
Emergencies can happen without notice – BE PREPARED!!
As a scout you can learn the actions that are needed before, during and after an emergency
If you learn what to do in an emergency ahead of time, you will be more confident when others are afraid/panicking
Your family, neighbors and community may look to scouts for their experience with first aid, planning, leadership and discipline to lend support in an emergency situation.

5. Four Aspects of Emergency Preparedness
Preparedness- recognize possible threats and plan
Response- evacuate or provide help, reduce secondary damage
Recovery- Getting things back to normal, rebuilding, repairing, aid in restoring “calm”
Mitigation/Prevention- manage risk by becoming aware of hazards and risks and taking preventative measures

6. Preparedness Questions
Have I prepared a disaster supplies kit?
Have I made an emergency plan with family members in case of a disaster?
Do I know safe places to go within my home during bad weather?
How will I know what local authorities are trying to tell me?
Do I know the most likely hazards in my community?

7. Response Questions How can I plan before a crisis?
Have I gathered and positioned supplies?
Do I have the contact phone numbers that I might need?
How can I react after a crisis?

8. Recovery Questions How can I help clean up the damage?
Do I have the tools to help rebuild?
How can I help my family become calm/recover emotionally?
Do I understand that recovery can take time?

9. Mitigation and Prevention Questions
How can I make my home safer from fire and explosion?
How do I check for household hazards?
How can I help to lessen the damage from an emergency?
Can I help to make sure that people are acting in a safe manner during an emergency or dangerous situation?

10. Government/Community Emergency Agencies
Naperville Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
DuPage County-Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (Citizen Corps, Community Emergency Response Team, Medical Reserve Corps, USAonwatch.org, Volunteers in Police Service)
Illinois Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

11. Things You Should Start to do Now at Home
Read your Emergency Preparedness merit badge book.
Plan on earning first aid merit badge at summer camp this year if you do not already have it.
Prepare you personal emergency service pack and your family emergency kit using the exact lists of items needed as listed on pages 27 and 29. (Page 28 items are optional)
Take pictures of the items prepared in #3 above to bring to a meeting with a merit badge counselor
Your mailboxes have the home safety checklist you should complete at home with your parents for requirement 9a