Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness is about assessing and
preparing for the possibility of a natural or unnatural
disaster. While we are unable to prevent most natural
disasters, through careful planning and a well
coordinated response (Emergency Preparedness) we
may be able to mitigate and reduce the negative impact
on our lives, industry, and commerce.

Emergency Preparedness begins with a step by step
approach.

The first step is to assess your risk:

What

most vulnerable to?

How high is the probability that

the incident will

occur?

What is the likely impact if the

incident did occur?

The second step in Emergency Preparedness is to
identify the resources (human and physical) you
might need to mitigate or reduce the impact and
then make plans to obtain those resources.

The third step is to you make a Family Emergency
Plan. You need to ensure that each person is
aware of their roles in the plan. Be prepared to
activate the emergency plan as the situation
necessitates. Identify alternate evacuation routes
to and from your home and the nearest
emergency shelter.

The 5 Ps in Emergency Preparedness planning state:
‘Proper planning prevents poor performance.’ Ensure
that you are ready to deal with disasters or emergency
situations by having your Emergency Preparedness plan
in place before anything happens.

Emergency Kit

An emergency kit is basically a bag (or any designated
object or room) stocked with supplies that will be most
useful to you in case of an incident. Developing an
emergency kit is best done as soon as possible because
one of the main characteristics of an incident is that it
can occur without notice or with only very little warning.
The content of your emergency kit should be planned
based on the potential hazards in your community and/or
your geographical location. Two great features of an
emergency kit are:

1. Water proof

A water proof emergency kit gives you the added
security and peace of mind that in case of flooding or
any other water related incident, your emergency
supplies are safe and dry. So the contents of the
emergency kit can perform their intended duty.

2. Fire resistance

A fire resistant emergency kit has the added benefit of
preventing or delaying the incineration of important
documents that may be included in your kit. The planned
location of the kit is also important if a quick evacuation
is needed.

It is recommended that your emergency kit should have
enough supplies to last you and your family 72 hours
(three days) without outside aid. The reason being that
in an emergency situation many other families in your
neighborhood may be affected as well and it may take
sometime before outside aid gets to you and your family.
Having a thorough emergency plan is the best way to go
to ensure that your emergency kit has all the supplies
you and your family will need in an emergency.