Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697797323042.pdf (Dominica)
Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 1 Source: FEMA Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 2 Contents Family Disaster Plan................................................................................................................. 4 Important activities when preparing your Family Disaster Plan .................. 5 1.
Know Your Risk ...................................................................................................................... 6 What is a hazard?

................................................................................................................ 6 What is a disaster?

............................................................................................................. 6 What is Disaster Risk?
..................................................................................................... 6 Types of hazards ................................................................................................................. 7 Basic Family Risk Assessment – Thinking It through ....................................... 8 2.

Communication Plan ........................................................................................................ 10 3.
Emergency Kit ...................................................................................................................... 12 4.
Evacuation Plan ................................................................................................................... 16 Hazard Preparedness and Safety Resources ........................................................... 20 Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 3 Family Disaster Plan Dominica is prone to multiple natural hazards due to its geology, topography and geographical location.

Like other countries, human induced hazards also present a threat.
Climate Change and Variability are set to cause more intense weather events such as more severe hurricanes and tropical storms, heavy rains and flash floods.

The mountainous and steep topography of the island makes it highly susceptible to landslides especially during intense or heavy rainfall events.

The island is located in the tectonically active island arc of the Lesser Antilles and has nine (9) potentially active volcanoes.
Given the highly vulnerable nature of Dominica, the Office of Disaster Management promotes the adoption of a prepared lifestyle by the public.

By taking the time to have a well-prepared family or personal Disaster Plan, your anxiety over you and your family well-being whenever the island is under imminent threat from a hazard could be greatly reduced.

Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 4 Important activities when preparing your Family Disaster Plan: 1.
Assess your risk to the hazards that could affect you; learn more about these hazards and plan what you can do to reduce impact and to be safe 2.

Create a Family Emergency Communication Plan 3.

Create a 72-hour Emergency Kit 4.

Develop an Evacuation Plan Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 5 1.

Know Your Risk A simple family risk assessment is an important activity when creating your family disaster plan.
It is important to keep in mind that you are planning for multiple hazards, not just tropical storms and hurricanes!

Assess conditions around your homes, communities and work area or where you do business on a frequent basis and know the hazards that could affect you in each location.

Determine what you could do to minimize personal impact.
You may need the help of experts to identify some of the general hazards and the extent to which you can be affected by them such as storm impact, climate change and variability impact, earthquakes, among others.

Division (https://physicalplanning.gov.dm/land-use-and-development/maps) could help you in this process.

Do not forget your own experiences and that of senior citizens.

Pull information from all available sources.


Look around and in your home and identify hazards that could affect you such as poor fixtures, faulty electrical wiring, objects that could fall during an earthquake, weak or compromised walls that could collapse in a flood (see basic family risk assessment forms).

Planning Physical hazard from map the A What is a hazard?
• A process, phenomenon or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation.

Hazards may be natural or human induced in origin.

Natural hazards are predominantly associated with natural processes and human-induced hazards result entirely or mainly from human activities and choices.

What is a disaster?

• A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society.
It Involves widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts and exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

What is Disaster Risk?

 The potential for loss of life, injury, or destroyed or damaged assets which could occur affecting you, your community or the country in a specific period of time.
Risk is determined by the relationship between the hazard, your exposure to the hazard and your vulnerability and capacity that are linked to factors such as your financial security, health, social status or culture.

Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 6 Types of hazards Here are some examples of hazards.

Dominica experienced most of these natural hazards in the past.
Natural Hazards • Tropical cyclones (depressions, tropical storms, hurricanes) • Volcanic Eruption • Earthquake • Tsunami • Landslide • Flood • Drought • Biological hazards including epidemics and pandemics Man induced hazards • Fire • Cyber attack • Toxic Chemical Spills • Explosion • Civil Strife • Power Failure • Invasion • Terrorism • Shipwreck • Pollution • Air Crash • Oil Spills Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 7 Basic Family Risk Assessment – Thinking It through Hazard Identification (What are the hazards most likely or have affected my community ) Hazards like:  Tropical cyclone heavy rain Strong winds Storm surge  Flood / Flash Flood  Earthquake  Tsunami – coastal low- lying areas  Volcano (for hazards see www.odm.gov.dm)  Landslide  Fire  Epidemics, Pandemics, Biological hazards Assets and people at Risk (what will be affected home/business/common spaces) Possible action to minimize risk / preparedness action (www.odm.gov.dm)  home  family  Loss of lives  livelihoods,  farms (crops, animals),  roads  utilities  critical facilities e.g.
Health centres/hospital, fire station, police station  Child/children school  business or work place   increase awareness about hazards listen to weather information daily  keep updated on health protocols  prepare emergency kit  create evacuation and communication plan trim trees around home clear drains    assess property before purchase (hazard maps)  build to code  have sand bags on hand or build flood barrier  plan ahead  identify safe spaces in home and work place  practice Drop Cover & Hold On for earthquake safety  know the natural tsunami warning signs  Practice proper land use management to reduce landslides  be alert during severe  weather learn the signs of imminent landslides  Know what volcano hazard zone you live in  Get information on how to protect yourself during a volcano eruption  Get training in first aid Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 8 Basic Family Risk Assessment - take a closer look at your home Hazard Identification Look at how your home will hold up to the hazard: Assets and family members at risk Preparedness action  Note the contents of your home that could be damaged (keep records such as pictures)  Note family members at risk:  Children  Pregnant women  Senior citizens  Family members with disability  Is your roof constructed to code or at least secured  Windows and doors  Structure (can it withstand strong winds, earthquake, flood etc.)
 Are the drains clear  Are there trees  overhanging your home Is your property landslide prone?

 Are objects secured to prevent them becoming missiles during strong winds or earthquake shaking?

 Consider insurance for home and contents where possible   Have hazard specific insurance, e.g.
flood, fire Identify who will assist family members at risk Identify safe spaces in your home based on the type of hazard   Check with disaster managers on resources available to assist you Now that you have identified hazards that could affect you, it is time to put your plan together.
 Assign responsibilities: know who should do a particular task during an emergency such as who should turn off utilities, who should ensure the car has fuel, who should grab the emergency kit or who should assist family members with disability  Share: All members of your household should have a copy of the emergency plan or at least know where the emergency plan is kept and household members should know what is in the plan.

 Practice: Once you have put the plan together practice what is in the plan.
A good idea is to practice based on the hazard.

For example: earthquake preparedness - you could select safe spaces in your home; practice Drop, Cover and Hold On as a family.

For tsunami safety identify where your safe zone would be and walk the route to be familiar with it.

Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 9 2.
Communication Plan Prepare your emergency communication plan A family emergency communication plan ensures that household and other important contacts are available to your family, especially seniors and children.

It also helps family to regain contact should they become separated in an emergency or disaster situation.
 Ensure each family member has a copy of this plan and that it is easily accessible for all to see  Include contacts for all householder mobile phones, other numbers such as work, school, childcare providers, friends and neighbours.

 Discuss and decide where you will evacuate to as a family.

Discuss where to go if you were unable to return home.

 Depending on the type of emergency, decide on how you would keep in touch and where you would meet.
(Cell phone, landline, text message, satellite phones, Ham Radio, etc.)

 Select two meeting places in case of an emergency: one in your neighbourhood and another outside your neighbourhood.

Select locations where everyone can easily get to.

 Identify family members or friends who do not live with you locally and off island to be household emergency contacts in case you and your family become separated.

Ensure everyone knows how to contact these people.


 Where possible, children should memorize their home and parents’ cell phone numbers  Remember to plan for persons with disabilities and senior members of the family.

Consider putting their cell phones on easy mode and include critical emergency numbers in their contacts.

Ensure the writing/numbers are large enough and can be read easily during an emergency.

Where necessary, teach them how to use their devices.
Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 10 Family Communication Plan Know the numbers Home: ______________________________ Adult: _________________________________ Home: _________________________________ Cell: ___________________________________ Parent: ____________________________ Cell: ________________________________ Work: ______________________________ Parent: ____________________________ Cell: _______________________________ Work: ______________________________ Child: _____________________________ Cell: ______________________________ Child: _____________________________ Cell: ______________________________ Neighbor: ______________________________ Home: _________________________________ Cell: ___________________________________ Neighbor: ______________________________ Home: _________________________________ Cell: ___________________________________ Off island relative/friend _______________________________________ Home: _________________________________ Cell: ___________________________________ Child school: _______________________ Police: _____________________________ Day care: __________________________ Fire: _______________________________ Hospital: ____________________________ Health Centre: _______________________ PICK A MEETING SPOT Where will you meet up with your family if you have to get out of your house quickly or if your neighborhood is being evacuated and you are not at home?
In your neighborhood: (Such as neighbor’s House or Big tree) Out of your neighborhood: (Such as the library or house of worship) 3.

Prepare an Emergency Kit Share your communication plan with members of your household!

Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 11 3.

Emergency Kit A family emergency kit or “Go Bag” is intended to provide personal comfort and care to you and your family during times when you do not have access to the comfort of your home or familiar environment.
Where possible, your emergency kit should be designed to support your family for at least 3 days (72 hours).

o Make preparing your emergency kit a fun activity and get everyone in the household involved.

o Use this activity to teach children about emergency planning and preparedness.

Allow them to pack their personal emergency bag or add their favourite comfort item to the “Go Bag”.

o Consider the needs of each family member including age group, special needs or any disabilities and special diets.
Discuss medical conditions of household members.

Include essential medications and dosages in your Emergency Kit.

Get everyone involved in preparing the household emergency kit.

Make copies of important documents and store them in different locations if it is safe to do so or store copies electronically.

Have a waterproof container to store documents.


Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 12 Here are some items that should be included in your Emergency Kit Are the following important documents secured?
☐Birth, Marriage and other Certificates ☐ Passport and other travel documents ☐ Immunization cards ☐Personal ID Cards ☐Land Title, Mortgage, Wills, Lease agreements, proof of occupancy (utility bills) ☐Insurance (Life, health, house, car and others) ☐Medical documents ☐ List of all your important contacts (family, doctors, insurance agents) ☐Banking information ☐Photo inventory of your personal belongings Basic Supplies ☐Drinking water (1 gallon per person per day) ☐Nonperishable foods ☐Canned meat, fish, fruit, or vegetables ☐Manual can opener ☐Cookies, candy or dried fruit ☐Canned soups & nonperishable milk ☐Powdered or single serve drinks ☐Instant tea or coffee ☐Large trash bags ☐Flashlight (1 per person) ☐Portable battery powered lanterns ☐Battery operated or solar powered radio ☐Extra batteries for all battery operated items ☐First aid kit including aspirin, antibiotic cream ☐Mosquito repellent ☐Extra Cash ☐Whistle Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 13 Personal Supplies ☐Prescription medicines (1 month supply and copy of prescriptions) ☐Feminine hygiene products ☐Toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant ☐Change of clothing ☐Rain ponchos and work gloves ☐Extra eye glasses or contacts ☐Entertainment: books, games, toys and magazines ☐Bedding: pillows, sleeping bag ☐Masks ☐Gloves ☐Hand sanitizers or rubbing alcohol (70%) ☐Unscented bleach or water purification tablets (add 8 drops of bleach per gal.)
Baby Supplies ☐Disposable diapers ☐Formula, food and medication ☐Bottles and feeding utensils Persons with disability ☐White cane ☐Mobility cane ☐Walker ☐Wheelchair tire repair kit ☐Extra prescribed eyeglasses, contact lenses and contact solution ☐Backup hearing aid and hearing aid batteries Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 14 Pet Supplies ☐Dry and/or canned food ☐ID tags and collars ☐Proof of recent immunizations ☐Water (1/2 gallon per day) ☐Litter box and supplies Other useful supplies to have on hand where possible should there be extended disruption to services ☐Portable camp stove ☐Stove fuel, charcoal or propane ☐Disposable eating utensils, plates cups ☐Napkins and paper towels ☐Aluminum foil ☐Tool Box ☐Fire Extinguisher ☐Masking tape or duct tape ☐Outdoor extension cords ☐Roofing tarps or plastic sheeting ☐Generator Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 15 4.
Evacuation Plan Many kinds of emergencies can cause you to have to evacuate.

In some cases, you may have a day or two to prepare while other situations might call for an immediate evacuation.

Planning is vital to making sure that you can evacuate quickly and safely no matter what the circumstances.

Before an Evacuation  Learn the types of hazards that are likely in your community and the local emergency, evacuation and shelter plans for each specific hazard.
 Consider any special needs of you or your family members including access to constant power, safe water or oxygen, and whether these are best met at home or an external location.

 Decide how you will care for your pets.

 Decide if it is safe for you to shelter in place (at home, work or school) or evacuate.

 Decide if you will shelter at your neighbours or at a public shelter and how you will leave to get to this location  Know where your local shelter is located (www.odm.gov.dm).
Layou Regional Emergency Shelter Jimmit Regional Emergency Shelter Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 16  If you evacuate to a public emergency shelter, follow the latest guidelines from the Ministry of Health for protecting yourself and your family from any contagious diseases: o Be prepared to take cleaning items with you like soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes or general household cleaning supplies to disinfect surfaces.
Also have on hand protective supplies such as mask and gloves.

 Identify several places you could go in an emergency such as a friend’s home in another community or even off island.

 Be familiar with alternate routes and other means of transportation out of your area.

 Always follow the instructions of local officials and remember that your evacuation route may be on foot depending on the type of disaster.
 Have available your family/household communication plan to stay in touch in case you become separated; be prepared to update your meeting place depending on the circumstance.

 Charge devices and consider getting back-up batteries in the event of power- outages  Assemble supplies that are ready for evacuation.

Prepare a an emergency kit or “go-bag” you can carry when you evacuate on foot or public transportation and supplies for traveling longer distances if you have a car.
 If you have a car: o Keep a full tank of fuel if an evacuation seems likely.

Keep a half tank of fuel in it at all times in case of an unexpected need to evacuate.

Gas stations may be crowded or closed during emergencies and unable to pump gas during power outages.

Plan to take one car per family to reduce congestion and delay.

 If you do not have a car, plan how you will leave if needed.
Decide with family, friends or your local emergency management office to find out what resources may be available.

Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 17 During an Evacuation  Visit the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Website or Facebook page for a list of shelters  Listen to a battery-powered radio and follow local evacuation instructions.

 Take your emergency supply kit.


 Leave early enough to avoid being trapped or affected by the unfolding hazard  If you have a disability, you are elderly or require special assistance, plan to go to the shelter early for ease of accommodation  Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency now.

 If time allows: o Call or email the off-island contact in your family emergency communications plan.

Tell them where you are going.

o Secure your home by closing and locking doors and windows.
During planning, make an inventory of items in your home including taking pictures.

o Unplug electrical equipment such as radios, televisions and small appliances.

Leave freezers and refrigerators plugged in unless there is a risk of flooding.

If there is damage to your home, shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving.

o Leave a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
o Wear sturdy shoes and clothing that provides some protection such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and a hat.

o Check with neighbours who may need a ride.

 Be mindful that roads could be blocked from landslides during a hazard impact such as tropical cyclones, heavy rain, earthquake or volcanic eruption  Be alert for road hazards such as washed-out roads or bridges and downed power lines.

Do not drive into flooded areas.


Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 18 After an Evacuation  If you are returning to disaster-affected areas after significant events, prepare for disruptions to daily activities and remember that returning home before debris is cleared is dangerous.

 Let friends and family know before you leave and when you arrive.

 Charge devices if possible and consider getting back-up batteries in case power- outages continue.
 Bring supplies such as water and non-perishable food for the car ride, if available.

 Avoid downed power or utility lines, they may be live with deadly voltage.

Stay away and report them immediately to your power or utility company.

 Only use generators outside and away from your home and NEVER run a generator inside a home or garage.
Source: Modified from Ready.gov Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 19 Hazard Preparedness and Safety Resources Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 20 Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 21 Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 22 Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 23 Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 24 Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 25 Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 26 Office of Disaster Management - Public Awareness and Education 27 Prepared by the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Public Awareness and Education Unit © 2021