With the earthquakes in Japan and Chile the past few days, I have decided to collect a list of emergency preparedness helps relating to natural disasters.
You could use these links to make handouts for classes, find tips for a Emergency Preparedness corner of a Relief Society Newsletter, collect several for a ward preparedness binder, or print them out for your files.
Stake/Ward Disaster Planning and Best Practices
- CDC.gov has published SNAPS data on each county in the United States. Among the interesting data is a breakdown of residents by religious denomination. Could be useful in determing who to call on or team up with in an emergency.
- FEMA has a great section sharing how people dealt with disasters successfully. Useful reading for stake and local leaders.
- CISCO has an interesting guide that breaks up disaster recovery into stages. Might be helpful reading for developing a stake or regional recovery plan.
- California Department of Farms and Agriculture lists best practices for recovering from a disaster, especially as relates to re-establishing farmland and farm animals.
- University of Colorado’s Natural Hazards Center has published a document you can purchase that talks about how to re-establish a community after a disaster.
Coping with a Disaster
- CDC.gov has a good section with mental health resources on helping families cope with a natural disaster.
- Recognizing and Reducing Anxiety in Times of Crisis – helpful reading for church leaders.
Earthquakes
- USGS Prepare Website – The United States Geological Survey is taked with tracking earthquake activity. Their website has a lot of information about preparing for an earthquake and what to do after an earthquake has struck.
Winter Storms
- Weather.com – explains the types of weather storm watches and warnings.
- FEMA.gov has a section with good advice on preparing for winter storms, heavy snow, or very cold temperatures.
- CDC.gov – The Center for Disease Control also has helpful information for winter storms and treating hypothermia and frostbite.
- National Ag Safety – a nice checklist about traveling during a winter storm.
- Edmunds.com tells how to winterize your car.
Extreme Heat / Heat Emergency
- FEMA’s website includes information on what to do before, during, a heat emergency.
Fire
- US Fire Administration‘s website is entirely devote to helping you prepare for a fire in your home, office, school, or property.
- San Diego County has information directed at Wildland fires.
Landslide
- FEMA has a section describing what to do during a landslide or debris flow.
- Redcross.org – has a simple list of things to do after a mudslide.
Volcano
- FEMA’s section on surviving a volcanic eruption.
Flood
Tornado
- FEMA‘s section on Tornado preparedness.
- NOAA‘s Tornado information page includes instructions for developing a Family Disaster Plan
- CDC‘s section includes information about what to do during a tornado, information on mold damage, cleanup, and instructions on how to re-enter a damaged home.
Hurricane
- CDC.gove‘s section on Hurricanes has information about gathering an emergency kit and what to do after the storm.
Thunderstorms / Lightning
- FEMA‘s section talking about these types of storms.
- NOAA has good information about lightning safety and medical treatment of those struck by lightning.
Tsunami
- FEMA has information on Tsunami preparedness.
- Tsunamiready.noaa.gov – find out how to get your coastal ready area for a Tsunami. Includes a movie you could use for a presentation “Tsunami: Know What to Do”.