Page 1 OPSPrep Version 1. 3 3/1/92 PREPAREDNESS FOR RESPONDERS and the RESPONDERS FAMILY [Category: OPS] WHAT COMES FIRST IN TIMES OF EMERGENCIES? A question was raised at a RACES seminar. If we are called out on an emergency should we take care of our family first? The answer to this is "Yes". It is always assumed that family and job requirements will come before volunteer service. We are all well advised, however, to preplan with our families so that they may take care of themselves without us if and when necessary. RB86 - 18. FAMILY PREPAREDNESS One of the least discussed subjects in most public safety agencies is what you should do, what you could do, what you are expected to do, or what you should not do in regards to your family in the event of a major emergency or the threat of one. Perhaps this is because it is an unpleasant subject to some, not worthy of consideration by others, or simply "no contest" by yet others. Volunteers who are committed to an emergency response function are grouped with public safety employees in this discussion. RACES personnel, for example, are government employees whenever they are working, training or serving with their state or local government. By the way, there are no "right" answers although, once a discussion gets started, there can be some strong feelings on what should or should not be done. What is important is that emergency public service responders recognize that individuals feel differently on this subject and that every agency should define a policy of what it expects of its employees (and volunteers) before the crisis develops. While being interviewed for my first civil defense position I was told that its employees and volunteers may put in long and unscheduled hours, may respond to incidents never knowing when they will be released to go home, may be called to duty at odd hours to respond immediately, and that by my not accepting these conditions could be sufficient and understandable grounds for my seeking employment elsewhere. Having had fourteen years prior volunteer SAR and firefighting experience where the same ground rules applied, I personally had no trouble with this. It was stressed during the pre-employment interviews and post-employment policy by that agency that its employees should make whatever plans were necessary to assure that their family knew what steps to take and where to go. If necessary, by themselves and without you. It required a state of mind acceptance, if you will, by the employees, spouses and other dependents. Having served as a volunteer emergency responder for so many years prior to being paid, it certainly helped to prepare me for the frame of mind that the employer sought. I later learned that it also made the difference who was hired among equally qualified people. I thus started my career thinking that this was a standard operating practice among all emergency agencies. Nothing could be further from the truth. All emergency workers, paid or otherwise, come to the job without any prior experience and exposure to emergency plans for the family. Each probably had training, but did it include what your family should do if you are not there to be with them? The nature of the crisis has a lot to do with whether or not communications between and your family is or may be possible. All such families should be briefed on what can happen to the telephone system in time of crisis. We take the phone system too much for granted. A sudden knowledge of an event, or the threat of one, can render the telephone system inoperative. The phone system is designed to handle just so many calls. Too many callers at one time and the system collapses. This is why Emergency Broadcast System announcements should always include the admonition to limit the use of the telephone only to emergency calls or emergency calls for assistance. Emergency responders should have a preplan and know what to do and where to go in the absence of a telephone callout. By the same token, our families should know what to do and where to go if they do not hear from us. Better yet, they should be conditioned not to hear from us, that we are involved with the preservation of life and property of many people, and that we are confident in the fact each of the adults in our family knows, understands and accepts that fact. To be sure, there are exceptions and extenuating circumstances. Chiefs, managers and supervisory personnel first should know that there are several categories of crisis reactions among employees and volunteers. These reactions should be discussed at the rank and file levels prior to arriving at a plan or policy. Some of these personal responses are: - "I will stay on the job or report immediately to work; my family knows what to do and where to go." - "I really don't know what I would do. It would depend on the circumstances. This has not been spelled out in our department. I guess that I will play it by ear." - "I'm not doing ANY work until after I have taken care of my family. Even then I might not report for duty. Would you?" It is interesting to note that in an unscientific survey I have found that most respondents fall into either the first or the last category, and that most firmly feel that the opposing position is "absolutely incongruous." I will make no effort to predict what successes can be achieved, for example, in changing anyone's beliefs from the "head for home" category to the "duty above all" school. Be that as it may, it does behoove managers and planners to discuss the matter with their people and adopt an official position. Employees and volunteers should not be left in the dark "because we have never talked about it." One city is a few hours downstream of a potential dam failure that would inundate the city and hundreds of square miles around it. The city feels it is reasonable to expect all of its essential duty employees to have a contingency plan for their families to evacuate themselves to distant safe havens. This leaves the essential employees to continue uninterrupted the business of relocating essential services, records, personnel, prisoners and other wards of the government, etc. Several agencies use some form of the "buddy" system. Those reporting from home stop off at the homes of other employees to see that they are OK; patrol duty personnel may make similar checks if time allows. One county communications department says that, in the event of an earthquake, if you can make it home and back inside of one hour, you may go ahead and do so; if you cannot, stay on the job. Too few agencies have adopted a policy in concert with adjacent jurisdictions: if you cannot get through to your duty station, report to the nearest similar facility and offer your services. That facility may have intercommunications with your own and your whereabouts can thus be made known. Too many agencies have not addressed this subject at all. How about yours? Have you? RB068-72 BE WINTER WISE - BEFORE THE STORM: Keep first aid and critical medical supplies such as prescriptions, insulin, etc. on hand. Keep a stock of food which requires little cooking and no refrigeration; electric power may be interrupted. Keep a portable radio and flashlights in working order. Have extra batteries on hand; have alternative batteries to replace radio NICADS. Keep your automobile fueled; if electric power is cut off, filling stations may not be able to operate. Keep materials like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber handy for emergency waterproofing. WHEN YOU RECEIVE A STORM WARNING: Store drinking water in closed, clean containers; water service may be interrupted. If flooding is likely, and time permits, move essential items and furniture to upper floors of your home. If advised to leave your home, move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood water. Leave a note telling friends or relatives where you are going. Before leaving, cut off all electric circuits at the fuse panel by pulling the main switch, or disconnect all electrical appliances. Shut off the gas service at the valve next to the meter, and turn off the water service at the main valve. DURING THE STORM: Avoid areas subject to sudden flooding. Do not try to cross a flowing stream where water is above your knees. Do not try to drive over a flooded road; you could be stranded and trapped. If your vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground; many people drown while trying to rescue their cars. Do not sightsee is areas where flooding or snowfall is occurring; do not try to enter areas closed by law enforcement agencies without written authority. Avoid unnecessary trips; if you must travel during the storm, dress warmly and advise others of your destination. Use the telephone only for family emergency needs or to report dangerous conditions. Beware of downed power lines; report them immediately to your local gas or electric utility company, police or fire department. Keep tuned to one of your local radio or television stations for emergency information. AFTER THE STORM: DO NOT TURN GAS BACK ON YOURSELF; rely on utility company crews. Do not use fresh food that has come in contact with flood waters. Make sure drinking water is not contaminated; wells should be pumped out and water tested before drinking. Do not visit disaster areas without written authority; your presence will probably hamper rescue and other emergency operations and you might be in danger. Do not handle live electrical equipment in wet areas. If electrical equipment or appliances have been in contact with water do not use them until local authorities tell you they are safe. Use flashlights, not lanterns or matches to examine buildings; flammables may be inside. Report broken utility lines to police, fire or other appropriate authorities. Continue to beware of downed power lines or broken gas lines. Stay tuned to radio or television for vital information. RB 004 to 009 EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM We have received several questions about the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) and its alert tones. California is divided into 29 EBS Operational Areas by the FCC and the State Emergency Communications Committee. Unless they specifically request otherwise, every AM, FM and TV station is a participating member of the EBS. There are four levels of EBS priorities: #1 is Presidential, #2 is local, #3 is State, and #4 is region wide. All broadcast stations in the U.S. are required to have an EBS receiver tuned to a primary radio station specified by the FCC. These EBS receivers have a decoder that "opens up" the receiver upon receipt of the EBS alert tones. These special tones are 853 and 960 Hz sounded simultaneously for over 10 seconds. These tones are purposely different from DTMF (TouchTone) frequencies. Every radio and TV station is required to broadcast an EBS test once a week during daylight hours. These tests must be logged (both those sent and received). The FCC says that the tests must be straight forward and not have any music or other production embellishments. We ask that you let me know should you ever hear a "jazzed up" EBS test by date, time and call letters. One common misconception and question is "What is the EBS station serving this area?" The correct answer is that every radio and TV station serving your area is an EBS station. RB 025 EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS LIST FOR HOME AND FAMILY 1. Pre-disaster family plan. 2. First aid kit. 3. Food (i.e., canned or dehydrated foods, soup starters, peanut butter, puddings, etc.) 4. Bottled water. 5. Flashlight with extra batteries. 6. Transistor radio with extra batteries. 7. Non-electric can opener, crescent wrench, fire extinguisher, whistle, tissues, plastic spoons, paper cups. 8. Special family needs. 9. Pet needs. 10. Secured heavy objects such as: water heaters, book cases, china cabinets, and the like. RB86-29 THE EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM AND AMATEUR RADIO EBS stands for Emergency Broadcast System. Every operational area in the state has designated AM, FM and TV stations to carry emergency information for the public. Amateur radio can be used to provide the link between civil authorities and the broadcast stations when other links are lost. All broadcasting stations must test their EBS equipment weekly. The FCC is now fining stations that fail to receive and listen to the test messages. The reason is, of course, that they could miss a real EBS activation. Progressive operational areas test their EBS once a month from the EOC to all broadcast stations. Amateur Radio operators attached to their local OES offices monitor the stations and report the results to the EOC. Such areas have an EBS that really works. Does it work in your area? RB85-21