Is America Prepared?

Trust for America’s Health Releases 8th Annual “Ready or Not” Report

This week, Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released its eighth annual “Ready or Not” report on the country’s preparedness for emergencies related to disease, disasters and bioterrorism. Three states, Arkansas, North Dakota and Washington, scored a perfect 10 out of 10 on its preparedness matrix, while 29 other states achieved a score of eight or nine. Only two states recorded a score as low as five.

Is that reason to celebrate?

Although the results certainly represent dramatic improvement since 9/11, when government entities at all levels began ratcheting up their preparedness, the report goes on to state that more work needs to be done and that the gains that have been made are under threat. States nationwide face budget crunches and some have cut funding for emergency preparedness. Many local health departments have had to cut staffing. According to Trust for America’s Health, “The impact of the recession was not as drastically felt by the public health workforce until more recently because supplemental funds received to support the H1N1 pandemic flu response and from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have almost entirely been used.”

With government cutting back, it is important that community groups and individuals step up their emergency preparedness efforts. Volunteer organizations such as CERT have an important role to play, along with churches, temples and neighborhood groups. Families and individuals need also to do their part. A good way to start is by familiarizing yourself with your community’s emergency risks and emergency response resources. It is advisable for most people to acquire basic first aid training. Everyone should be prepared to survive on their own in an emergency for at least three days by maintaining well-stocked survival kits in their homes, workplaces and vehicles.

We should certainly expect our government to be ready to respond quickly and forcefully in the event of an emergency, but preparedness is everyone’s job. More information on emergency preparedness is available on the More Prepared website.

CERT: Preparing Community Members to Respond When Disaster Strikes

When a major disaster strikes, first responders can become overwhelmed or have trouble reaching effected areas. It is therefore essential that community members be prepared to step in and provide basic emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, is a federally-funded program designed to provide citizens with basic training in such things as fire safety, light search and rescue, emergency organization and first aid. Trained CERT volunteers act as a community's first line responders until professional fire and rescue workers arrive. CERT volunteers also assist in emergency preparedness by working with local agencies to improve their community's readiness to respond in a crisis.

The concept for the CERT program arose in 1985 when a group of Los Angeles fire officials visited Japan and saw how communities there had prepared themselves to respond to earthquakes and other emergencies. That same year, many of those same officials visited Mexico City in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake there and learned how ordinary people had stepped in to save lives and provide assistance to those hurt by the quake. A year later, a pilot program was begun. In 1987, the program proved its worth as trained volunteers provided invaluable assistance in response to Southern California's Whittier Narrows Earthquake. CERT was placed under the stewardship of FEMA in 1993, which extended its reach nationwide. CERT is currently one of five programs operated under the Citizens Corps.

Today, there are more than 1100 active CERT programs in the United States. Individual programs are sponsored by a local fire department or other government agency that manages funding, facilitates training and organizes volunteers into CERT groups. The Citizens Corps has established national standards for CERT training. Its basic course consists of nine units covering such topics as disaster preparedness, fire safety, medical operations and disaster psychology. The aim of the training program is to help volunteers "do the most good for the most people as quickly as possible."

More Prepared offers a number of products for CERT programs, including training manuals volunteer emergency response kits, vests, hard hats and patches.

More information about joining a CERT program is available at the Citizen Corp website.

CERT Team Suplies - Portable Restroom

Whether you are camping, traveling or you want to be prepared for an emergency when plumbing is down, don't forget one of life's necessities; a clean and sanitary bathroom. The PETT complete system includes the PETT toilet, the PUP privacy shelter, the TOTE backpack and 15 WAGBAG Toilet in a Bag waste kits. All items fit in the backpack which has an expandable pocket and contains an additional collection bag to transport used waste bags.

The Pup Privacy Shelter is made of a flame retardant gray Taffetta 10C, the PUP privacy shelter requires no assembly and sets up in seconds. Poles and connectors are attached. Simply pull up on the lanyard at the top of the tent and lock the legs in place. Tent stands 6' 6" tall with a sanitary floorless base that measures 4' x 4' and ground secure flaps on 3 sides. The PUP privacy shelter has three screened privacy windows with covers for cross ventilation; a 63" high zip close door and a utility storage pocket. A flap and loop at the top of the tent allows for a shower head or a light.

The PETT Portable Toilet is made of injection molded plastic with three locking legs, The PETT toilet is the same height and bowl size of a standard toilet, yet folds to a mere 5" x 19" x 14" (the size of a briefcase). Weight limit tested by supporting the front end of a truck on 2 PETT toilets! The patented drip edge under the seat keeps the top of the waste collection bag clean for easy disposal.

The PETT Complete System weighs 17.5 lbs.

Hurricane Planning: Emergency Supply List

You should stock your home with supplies that may be needed during the emergency period. At a minimum, these supplies should include:

Hurricane Supply List

• Several clean containers for water, large enough for a 3-5 day supply of water (about five gallons for each person).
• A 3-5 day supply of non-perishable food.
• A first aid kit and manual.
• A battery-powered radio, flashlights, and extra batteries.
• Sleeping bags or extra blankets.
• Water-purifying supplies, such as chlorine or iodine tablets or unscented, ordinary household chlorine bleach.
• Prescription medicines and special medical needs.
• Baby food and/or prepared formula, diapers, and other baby supplies.
• Disposable cleaning cloths, such as "baby wipes" for the whole family to use in case bathing facilities are not available.
• Personal hygiene supplies, such as soap, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, etc.
• An emergency kit for your car with food, flares, booster cables, maps, tools, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, sleeping bags, etc.

Small Business Disaster Planning Tips

The Small Business Association (SBA) encourages business owners to prepare for the possibility of a major disaster and offers the following tips:

1. Start the disaster plan by identifying what your operation needs to do to protect itself in the face of a natural disaster. Even if you don't own the building where you do business, take steps to protect your assets.
2. Determine what production machinery, computers and other essential equipment is needed to keep your business open. Store extra supplies offsite, and make a plan for a temporary location if your company is forced to relocate after the disaster. Be ready for utility disruptions with a portable generator.
3. Find escape routes from the business and establish meeting places. Make sure everyone understands the emergency plan before the storm hits. Designate a contact person to communicate with other employees, customers and vendors.
4. Review your insurance coverage to make sure you understand what is not covered. Most policies don't cover flood damage.
5. The National Flood Insurance Program provides coverage to property owners. Go to the NFIP Web site at www.floodsmart.gov.
6. Consider business interruption insurance. It covers operating expenses, like utilities, and compensates you for the income lost after a temporary closure.
7. Make back-up copies of all tax, accounting, payroll and production records and customer data on computer hard drives, and store the records at an offsite location at least 100 miles away. Important documents should be saved in fireproof safe deposit boxes.
8. To protect your property from wind damage, install impact-resistant windows and door systems, or plywood shutters. Hire a professional to evaluate your roof to make sure it can weather a major storm.
9. Develop a post-disaster communications strategy. Keep current phone numbers for your suppliers, employees, customers, utility companies, local media, and emergency agencies. Appoint a spokesperson to get the word out that your company is still open and on the road to recovery, to dispel rumors of business failure.
10. More preparedness tips for businesses, homeowners and renters are available on the Institute for Business and Home Safety (www.ibhs.org ) also has information on protecting your home or business. The federal government's preparedness Web site www.ready.gov is another helpful resource.

To obtain a complete small business disaster planning guide, click on SBA DISASTER PLANNING GUIDE.