According to the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), over the past 30 years, natural disasters have increased threefold. Not only are natural hazards becoming more frequent, but rapid urbanisation and population growth mean more people are now at risk.
As outlined in the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, hundreds of millions of people will be at increased danger from climate related hazards. As seen in the bushfire tragedy in Victoria, not just people in developing countries will be affected. Earthquakes in Japan, bushfires in Australia, tornados in the United States, tsunamis in Asia, and flooding in Europe will be the norm.
We are not taking the alarmist position in the global warming debate. Governments around the world must take decisive action to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gases. Australia’s commitment should go further than signing the Kyoto Protocol and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent of 2000 levels by 2020. The European Union has committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 relative to 1990 levels. The EU also plans to draw 20% of its energy from renewables and to cut energy consumption by 20% in the same time period. The package is known as the 20-20-20 plan.
Governments along with industry and communities must work together to reduce risks, bolster preparedness, and in turn respond more effectively to the consequences of climate change. Citizens must not be fearful of the challenges ahead. We must not be complacent and think that the 2009 bushfires in Victoria are a freak incident that will not happen again. We can only learn from history from the Black Friday fires in 1939, Ash Wednesday fires in 1983, and the Canberra bushfires in 2003.
National governments, industry, communities, scientists, non-governmental organisations, must move the climate change agenda forward and see it as not just an environmental threat but a humanitarian, economic, and security threat that imposes great instability to all nations. The time has come for all sections of society to build more disaster-resilient communities.
As Margareta Wahlstrom (Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations) stated, “The message is clear: natural disasters need not result in human catastrophe. We must redouble our efforts and invest in simple life-saving measures that can reduce our vulnerability to disasters due to a changing climate. But disaster-risk reduction is too important to be left to the experts. Risk reduction begins at home, in schools, places of work and worship, and throughout our local communities. It is here where we will either save lives or lose them, depending on the steps we take today to reduce our vulnerability to tomorrow’s hazards. For greatest impact, these steps must be grounded in local knowledge and communicated broadly so that everyone, from a local school child to a village grandmother to the municipal mayor, knows how to be protected from nature’s vicissitudes. The polar bears are stranded. Let’s not leave ourselves open to a similar fate.”
A family safety plan is a matter of life and death when natural disaster strikes. As we face the threat of a harsher climate, families and local communities must have a family safety plan in order to ensure minimum loss of life and property.
A family safety plan is a matter of life and death when natural disaster strikes. As we face the threat of a harsher climate, families and local communities must have a family safety plan in order to ensure minimum loss of life and property.
1. GET INFORMED
Contact your local emergency services or local councils to gather the information you will need to create a plan.
Community hazards. Ask about the specific hazards that threaten your community (e.g. bushfires, floods, cyclones) and about your risk from those hazards.
Community disaster plans. Learn about community response plans, evacuation plans and designated emergency shelters. Ask about the emergency plans and procedures that exist in places you and your family spend time, such as places of employment, schools and childcare centres. If you do not own a vehicle or drive, find out in advance what your community’s plans are for evacuating those without private transport.
Community warning systems. Find out how local authorities will warn you of a pending disaster and how they will provide information to you during and after a disaster.
2. MAKE A PLAN
Meet with your family members. Review the information you gathered about community hazards and plans. Explain the dangers to children and work with them as a team to prepare your family. Be sure to include caregivers in your meeting and planning efforts.
Choose an “out-of-town” contact. Ask an out-of-town friend or relative to be your contact. Following a disaster, family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know the contact’s phone numbers.
Decide where to meet. In the event of an emergency, you may become separated from family members. Choose a place right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire. Choose a location outside your neighbourhood in case you can’t return home.
Complete a family communication plan. Your plan should include contact information for family members, work and school. Your plan should also include the information for your out-of-town contact, meeting locations, emergency services, etc. Teach your children how to call the emergency phone number and when it is appropriate to do so. Be sure each family member has a copy of your communication plan and post it near your telephone for use in an emergency.
Take precautions. Find out and show each family member how and where to turn off water, gas and power supplies. Learn how to use the fire extinguisher and install smoke detectors in your home. Store important documents (i.e. wills, passports, photos, birth certificates) in a fire/water proof container or safe deposit box. Keep a list of emergency telephone numbers near the phone e.g. police, fire, SES, ambulance, local council, service providers and relatives.
Involve the family. Discuss with the family why you need to prepare for disaster and explain the dangers to your children. Household members need to agree on and share the essential tasks and responsibilities (i.e. contacting each other of not being home, collecting school children, etc) and work together as a team.
Escape routes and safe places. In a fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate on a moment’s notice. Be ready to get out fast. Be sure everyone in your family knows the best escape routes out of your home as well as where the safe places are in your home for each type of disaster. Use a blank sheet of paper to draw a floor plan of your home. Indicate at least two escape routes from each room and mark a place outside of the home where household members should meet in case of fire. If you or someone in your household uses a wheelchair, make all exits from your home wheelchair accessible. Practice emergency evaluation drills at least two times a year, but as often as you update your escape plan.
Plan for those with disabilities and other special needs. Keep support items in a designated place, so they can be found quickly. For those who have home health caregivers, particularly for those who are bed ridden, it is essential to have an alternative plan if the home-health caregiver cannot make it to you. In advance, provide the power company with a list of all power-dependant life support equipment required by family members. Develop a contingency plan that includes an alternative power source for the equipment or relocating the person.
Plan for your pets. Take your pets with you if you evacuate. However, be aware that pets (other than service animals i.e. guide dogs) usually are not permitted in emergency public shelters for health reasons. Prepare a list of family, friends, boarding facilities, vets and ‘pet-friendly- hotels that could shelter your pets in an emergency.
Prepare for different hazards. Include in your own plan how to prepare for each hazard that could impact your local community and how to protect yourself. For instance, the actions you would take to protect yourself from a windstorm are different from those you would take for a fire. Check with your local emergency services or local councils.
3. ASSEMBLE A DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT
A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items a family would probably need to stay safe and be more comfortable during and after a disaster. Disaster supplies kit item should be stored in a portable container(s) as close as possible to the exit door. Review the contents of your kit as least once every month or as your family needs change.
Also consider having emergency supplies in each vehicle and at your place of employment. Items that you need include:
Three day supply of non-perishable food and manual can opener
Three day supply of water (4 litres/1 gallon per person, per day)
Portable battery powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries
First aid kit and manual
Sanitation and hygiene (hand sanitizer, moist toilettes, and toilet paper
Matches in waterproof container
Whistle
Extra clothing and blankets
Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils
Photocopies of identification and credit cards
Cash and coins
Special needs items such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solution and hearing aid Batteries
Items for infants such as formula, diapers, bottles and pacifiers
Tools
Pets supplies
A map of the local area and other items to meet your unique family needs
4. MAINTAIN YOUR PLAN
Quiz. Review your plan every six months and quiz your family about what to do.
Drill. Conduct fire and emergency drills on a regular basis with your family.
Restock. Check food supplies for expiration dates and discard or replace stored water and food every 6 months.
Test. Test alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Replace alarms every 10 years.
Source: Family Safety Plan, Foundation of Public Safety Professionals.
Rev The Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes, A.C., M.L.C.
Email Gordon - gordon.moyes@parliament.nsw.gov.au
