The basic unit of disaster preparedness is the individual or household. Effective disaster preparedness begins at the smallest unit, ensuring that each person and family is equipped to handle emergencies. This implies undertaking personal or household preparedness actions; the priority being to lessen the impact of disasters.
There are key prerequisites one must have and these include understanding the common disasters and hazards in their area or surrounding. Individuals and households must also be conversant with community alerts, warnings and evacuation routes in case of disaster occurrence.
The key steps to effective individual or household preparedness to disasters include an emergency plan, emergency kit, knowledge and skills, communication and information, financial preparedness, personal and family preparedness and practice and review.
Emergency planning involves having a communication, evacuation and home safety plan. This means developing a plan on how household members will contact each other and where to meet if separated during a disaster, knowing the evacuation routes and shelters in your area, including practising evacuating your home and neighbourhood, and identifying safe places in your home for different types of disasters—for instance, high places in case of floods— among others.
Ensuring availability of basic supplies—for instance, assembly of emergency kit with essential supplies for a few days, say three to five days. These supplies should include water, non-perishable foodstuffs, battery powered or hand crank radio, flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit, whistle to signal help, dust masks to help filter contaminated air, moist towelettes and garbage bags for personal sanitation, local maps, among others.
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Necessary personal items to be included include prescription medications and glasses, infant formula and diapers, pet food, if applicable, important family documents in a waterproof container, among others.
Basic knowledge and skills are essential in disaster preparedness. These include first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills, thus one must be able to perform basic first aid interventions. This is also the case with CPR basics.
There is also a need for exposure to disaster specific training such as understanding how to respond to the specific types of disasters— especially those that are common in your area, such as floods, cyclones, among others. Further, knowledge in utility management such as knowing where and how to turn off utilities such as gas, electricity and water in your home is necessary.
Another key aspect in effective disaster preparedness at the basic unit level is information and communication, implying that one has to stay informed, being aware of the types of disasters that can happen in your area and follow local news and weather updates. One must also consider signing up for emergency alerts and warning systems on the mobile device.
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It is also important to establish local networks such as connecting with neighbours and community groups to share information and resources. There are those of us who don’t like associating, or connecting, with fellow community members or neighbourhoods. Well, one may enjoy their quiet environment and privacy; however, it may not be a good idea when it comes to information sharing during disasters.
Also consider the issue of financial preparedness to ensure adequate insurance coverage for your home and belongings, including flood or fire insurance if needed. Financial preparedness is also important to maintain an emergency savings fund to meet unexpected expenses in times of disaster.
As a basic unit of disaster preparedness, personal and family preparedness becomes central. Therefore, one has to make plans for family members with special needs, including medical equipment and supplies. That entails understanding the needs of each family member in the event of disaster occurrence. Preparedness should also include pets if applicable, and these cover food, water and transportation arrangements.
In conclusion, while effective disaster preparedness begins at the smallest unit, by ensuring that each individual and family is equipped and capacitated in terms of training, information, networks, financial resources to handle emergencies, it is important to conduct regular family drills to practice emergency plans and evacuation routes. Further, it is important to periodically review and update your emergency plan and supplies to ensure they are current and complete. By focusing on these elements, individuals and households can significantly enhance their preparedness for disasters, contributing to the overall resilience of their communities and the nation at large.
