COORDINACIÓN MUNICIPAL DE

PROTECCIÓN CIVIL Y BOMBEROS

Family Disaster Plan

IMPORTANCE

Why is it important to have a Family Disaster Plan in your home?

To avoid putting our lives, as well as the lives of our loved ones and our belongings at grave risk.

Because we love our family members and want to keep them with us, we should not minimize the risks of an emergency situation.

IMPORTANCE

A Family Disaster Plan has the following objectives:

OBJECTIVES

• Designate the safest evacuation routes, exits and areas to avoid major risks. Also, to designate a meeting point for family members.

• That each and every family member know what to do before, during and after a disaster or emergency, through knowledge of basic measures for preparation and self protection.

• Know how safe our home and its surroundings are, as well as what measures we can carry out to correct or improve their security.

•Know the recommended tools and supplies to have on hand for your protection, communication and supply.

First: Inspect the construction of your home, its facilities and furnishings as well as dangers present in your surroundings in order to reduce potential risks, so that:

MEASURE 1

SECOND: Designate safe exits and evacuation routes and areas in order to:

MEASURE 2

THIRD: Prepare yourself to make the best decisions when facing a disaster or emergency in accordance with the circumstances the situation could present, in order to:

MEASURE 3

FOURTH: Conduct regular emergency drills and simulations in the home, in order to:

MEASURE 4

Fifth: IN ORDER TO BE ALWAYS PREPARED, you should organize at least TWO family meetings

MEASURE 5-1

THE FIRST MEETING in order to identify the various tasks outlined in this guide and assign responsibilities for carrying them out; assign someone to check the family first aid kit, insuring that the necessary medical supplies are present and ready for use (not expired); also assign someone to periodically check that adequate drinking water is being maintained in a closed container. Name someone responsible for carrying out simulations and drills, along with identifying the safest areas in the home, as well as areas of high risk. Designate a family gathering place in case of emergency or disaster.

THE SECOND MEETING will be to insure that each responsible person has completed their task and fix a date to conduct a home family drill in order to:

MEASURE 5-2

Evacuation Route

IDENTIFYING RISKS:

Start with a simple sketch of your house and its surroundings

THE RISKS

Note in your sketch your observations regarding possible risks in your home and its surroundings, as well as recommendations to reduce those risks.

Inspect your home and note on your sketch in RED, any problems that need corrected

THE RISKS

IDENTIFYING RISKS

Locate and indicate in your sketch, the location of

stored flammable materials, gas tanks, electrical outlets, etc.

Mark other dangers such as: uncovered sewer or access holes, openings or uneveness in floors, wires or cables laid on floors or other tripping hazards, things projecting from walls, pots, planters or other items that could cause damage.

DANGER DO NOT TOUCH

REDUCING THE RISKS

Next, make sure you identify any items that could fall during an earthquake or become projectiles during a hurricane, such as televisions, bookcases, radios, shelves, cabinets, lawn or yard items, etc.

Adequately store flammable items that could start a fire, in order to reduce risks from:

- Alcohol - Turpentine

- Thinner - Oil

- Gasoline - Other

DANGER

DESIGNATING ROUTES The safest location is one that will offer you the maximum possibility to

survive a disaster.

Identify and mark on your sketch, with GREEN arrows, the routes to reach the safest areas inside the house and those that will best lead you out. Don’t just think of the quickest way out, but the safest!

Remove or relocate objects along these routes that could possibly block your escape.

First you should identify the safest areas both inside and outside the house.

DESIGNING ROUTES

Indicate in your sketch, the best locations of furniture in order to facilitate exit.

Once you have identified alternate evacuation routes, measure the time it takes to reach a safe location for each route. Try measuring the time it would take from various locations within the house and choose the quickest and safest.

DON’T FORGET THAT TO EVACUATE CHILDREN, ELDERLY OR DISABLED PERSONS MAY REQUIRE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TIME. BECAUSE OF THIS, CONSIDER WHAT EXTRA HELP YOU MAY NEED.

DURING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION:

STAY CALM. This is the crucial element in order to survive an emergency. Therefore, you should know how to behave and execute emergency measures.

NO SHOUTING! NO RUNNING! NO PUSHING! STAY CALM!

ACTION

One of the decisions that you often have to make in an emergency is to stay in or leave the house. There is no common answer for all situations, a place is safer to the extent that it is less exposed to risk and affords the best chance of survival.

An outside area is not necessarily safer than inside the house. It can be said that when it is possible to exit the house, we should not expose ourselves to further risks. For the following cases, here are some criteria:

HURRICANE: The best protection is to stay at home with windows protected by masking tape, or proceed in advance to a designated shelter. (Verify the location of the nearest shelter with your state or municipal Proteccion Civil).

ACTION

FLOOD: Evacuate the area when you have news that it will occur, but if that isn’t possible, then remain in the upper areas of your home

FIRE: Exit the house immediately via the best exit route.

EARTHQUAKE: Stay in your house if it is reliably constructed and leave if you have a safe outdoor location and if the exit time is less than 60 seconds.

ACTION

EXIT

MAKE A LIST OF ALL DOCUMENTS AND THINGS YOU WILL NEED CLOSE AT HAND IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY:

Collect personal papers from family members such as:

ACTION

Birth Certificates Marriage Certificates Professional licenses and diplomas Bills of Sale Baptismal Records Military Service Records Prescription Medications

Passports and Visas

School Certificates

Insurance Policies

Credentials

Property Deeds “Escrituras”

Other Documents

Store these items in a fire and waterproof box and keep them readily available

Obtain copies of the listed documents and save them with another family member or trusted friend who lives outside your area, in case you should lose the originals in a disaster. Have a telelphone list and emergency instructions from:

PREPARATIONS

Red Cross________ Security guard house______ Family Doctor________ Fire Dept________ IMSS ________ Insurance Agent____ Delegación __________ ISSSTE _______

School_______ Workplaces of family members_______ Cultural, Social and Sports Centers your family

frequent _______ State Civil Protection_______ Municipal Civil Protection_______ Other _______

Set a meeting place in case the emergenscy occurs when family members are scattered in different areas. Agree that eveeryone should go to this meeting place. It could be the home of a friend or other family member.

Have a duplicate set of keys to your house and autos near your exit door.

Know the blood types for each of your family members

Know the location of the nearest hospital and the quickest way to get there.

PREPARATIONS

Have a radio and flashlight nearby, as well as replacement batteries. If possible, keep a toolbox in order to perform emergency repairs and a first aid kit

with instructions on its use.

Store two days supply of canned food and potable water. Keep track of expiration dates.

During the approach of a predictable disater like a hurricane or flood, stay tuned to

messages from authorites, stay informed of the situation and make early decisions as to whether you have to stay home or go to a pre-designated shelter.

PREPARATIONS

CONDUCTING DRILLS A drill is a test or practice on how to act in case of an emergency caused by an earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, etc. Conducting a drill has several advantages: 1. We can test in advance to see if our preparations are efficient. 2. Allows us to correct situations for better emergency care. 3. Allows us to be well trained in taking appropriate actions during an emergency or

disaster. 4. Promotes a culture of disater preparedness among family members and the

community.

DRILLS

THE STEPS TO CONDUCT A DISASTER PREPAREDNESS DRILL ARE AS FOLLOWS: Imagine what emergency situations could occur in your area Give responsibilities to each family member. Sound the alarm. Immediatly stop all activities and disconnect any operating electrical devices. Review your appropriate exit routes.

DRILLS

STEPS TO CONDUCT AN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DRILL... Exit in an orderly manner. No running, pushing or shouting. Arrive at your designated reunion area. Make sure everyone is present and in good health. Evaluate the results and adjust times and movements as needed. After performing one or two drills, the family should discuss and analyze any

points you find to be incorrect, so that you know what you have to do to improve your plan.

THE PARTICIPATION OF CHILDREN IS VERY IMPORTANT.

DRILLS

COMMITMENTS IN A FAMILY DISATER PREPAREDNESS PLAN

Once everyone is in agreement, each member should endevour to fullfill

his or her assigned responsibilities Commit with your family to permanently and systematically implement the

plan and improve it if necessary. We recommend also organizing a Neighborhood Civil Protection

Committee in your block, building or colonia in order to maintain ongoing collaboration and mutual support.

CONCLUSIÓN

THE END REMEMBER: WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER!.

Coordinación Municipal de Protección Civil y Bomberos Av. Las Américas # 565 Colonia Lázaro Cárdenas

C.P. 48330 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Tel´s 322 2239476 y 2239478

Email protecccivilvallarta@hotmail.com bomberosvallarta@hotmail.com