PRR – First Responders – Floods

PREPARE

Floods and landslides are common across the United States and are caused by a variety of factors, including heavy precipitation, storms, or other natural disasters. In the event of such an emergency, first responders will often have to leave their family in order to assist the general public in emergency response. The health and safety of a first responder is crucial to providing aid and assisting others. Here are a list of actions that first responders can take in order to safely and securely assist others while promoting the safety of themselves and their families.

General Advice:

  • Create an emergency kit. Your kit should contain (not exhaustive):
    • Water to last at least three days
    • Food to last at least three days
    • Flashlight (with extra batteries)
    • First-aid kit
    • Whistle
    • Blankets
    • Toolkit
    • A full list of items can be found on https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.
  • Sign up for your community’s or city emergency response alert system. This can either be via radio, cellphone, or email
  • Raise buildings above flood levels
  • Keep important documents in a safe location that can be readily accessible in the event of an evacuation
  • Have an emergency evacuation plan and review it regularly
  • If desired, purchase a flood insurance policy

Sources:

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1409002852888-3c5d1f64f12df02aa801901cc7c311ca/how_to_prepare_flood_033014_508.pdf

https://ammo.com/articles/how-to-prepare-for-a-flood#why-prepare

 

RESPOND

  • Allocate who will be performing what functions during an emergency
  • Designate specific evacuation procedures and protocols for entering water, rescuing individuals
  • Assess what actions you are comfortable and not comfortable performing
  • Ensure all equipment is operational
  • Create a plan for how all personnel will be accounted for. This could include radios or cellphones
  • Keep in contact with city or county officials for the most recent and updated information – know the evacuation routes and locations
  • Know the impacted areas and make note of the locations that are most at-risk for a flood
  • Coordinate with family members who to contact and what to do in the event of a separation
  • Provide family members with contact information of someone else who can assist them if you are unable to respond
  • Ensure that your immunizations are up to date. A list of recommended immunizations can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/disease/responderimmun.html.
  • Ensure that other first responders and medical officials are all aware of the necessary procedures and are on the same page in the event of a major incident

Sources:

https://www.osha.gov/dts/weather/flood/preparedness.html

 

RECOVER

  • Assess the locations with the most damage. Ensure those locations have a plan for recovery
  • Debrief the scenario: What procedures were executed well? What could be revised or improved?
  • Check-in with family members and ensure their safety and well-being
  • Listen to local news stations and ensure that all news transmissions are accurate
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