Ready for Anything: A Disaster Planning Manual for Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs
INTRODUCTION
It’s midnight. The youth living in your emergency shelter are asleep. You’re the lone staff person on duty. Suddenly, you catch a faint whiff of smoke. The fire alarm goes off. Moments later, you hear panicked voices down the hall. You have precious seconds in which to react.
So what do you do? Do you know where your fire extinguishers are? Do the young people you house know how to evacuate the building? Do they know where to meet? What emergency number will you call? What will you bring with you when you evacuate? And what if your facility burns down? Where will you go? How will you get there? What will you do?
It is that final question—what will you do?—that this manual helps you answer. By walking you through the process of preparing for disasters before they happen, it will help ensure that you have an effective response ready. Whether you operate an emergency shelter offering short-term residencies or a transitional living program serving youth who stay for more than a year, this manual will help you take steps to ensure that “disaster” does not equal “catastrophe.”
What is a disaster?
Across the country, thousands each year are affected by large-scale disasters: Wildfires in the West. Floods in the North, Midwest, and South. Hurricanes in the Gulf States. Terrorist attacks in major cities.
Disasters can also occur on a smaller scale, caused by everyday events such as power outages, kitchen fires, or burst water mains—anything that has the potential to significantly disrupt the lives of your youth.
But there is good news. While most disasters are impossible to predict, you can plan for them.
Planning for disasters: Your “Ps and Rs”
In disaster planning, there are three areas to consider— a short list we’ll call your Ps and Rs:
- Prevention and Preparedness
- Response
- Recovery
Prevention and preparedness both refer to predisaster planning. Prevention is about taking steps to stop disasters before they occur. Preparedness means getting ready for cases when disaster strikes anyway. Chapter 1 will walk you through these crucial steps.
Response refers to your actions during a disaster scenario. Every disaster has two possible responses: sheltering in place or evacuating. Chapter 2 will help you prepare to make this decision when the time comes.
Recovery refers to the postdisaster period. You will spend this time repairing damaged infrastructure, replacing supplies, and revising your response plan to take into account lessons learned. Chapter 3 will help you with this important self-assessment.
Using this manual
A successful response to disaster begins months, or even years, in advance, when you sit down to develop a plan. This manual is designed to help you construct that plan. In the following pages, you will have the opportunity to answer questions or complete worksheets. Various templates are also included in the appendices to add to your own disaster preparedness binder.
This manual is in no way a final word. There are numerous resources available online; you will find some valuable ones listed in Appendix A.
Many communities have also taken significant steps in developing their own disaster response plans, by establishing emergency shelters, emergency broadcast stations, evacuation routes, and key government contacts. Be sure to consult with your local or regional government and inquire about existing plans.
Now, grab a pencil and let’s get started!
Prevention and Preparedness >> |
