Disaster Survival Skills for the Urban Environment

[CharlesHarris]

These links for fully describe Citizen Corps:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Corps
http://www.ready.gov/citizen-corps
http://www.dhs.gov/citizen-corps
http://www.policevolunteers.org/news/citizenCorps.pdf

Citizens Corps has replaced the old Civil Defense structure which began during WW2 and continued through the Cold War.
Post 9/11 it was felt necessary to provide national standards for training and coordination of the various volunteer public safety auxiliaries, and non-governmental organizations.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) are trained in search & rescue, first aid, and light fire fighting. Teams are usually administered by the local office of emergency managment. Some localities have a separate auxiliary Fire Corps, whereas in other areas CERT and Fire Corps are combined.

Neighborhood Watch and Volunteers in Police Service are trained and coordinated by local law enforcement to assist in conducting neighborhood canvasses, health and welfare checks, disseminating emergency information to the public, as well as assisting in traffic control and security.

Medical Reserve Corps works with the Public Health system, assisting with patient intake and data entry, shelter management, medical logistics and transportation.

The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service is a civilian auxiliary for the Office of Emergency Management, Police, Fire and Public Health communications centers. In most areas amateur radio service equipment and modes are used to provide voice, data and imaging. In the Washington, DC Operational Region, volunteer communications unit personnel undergo additional training and background checks and are trained and certified to use the public safety communications and dispatching systems, including the WebEOC incident management software.

Clothing, supplies and equipment are covered in detail in various manuals and handouts. I'll post come checklists which might be helpful.

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Appendix 3 – Version 1.7 Rev. 20 Jul06 Arlington County, Virginia

Personal Equipment Checklist For a 12-Hour Operational Period In the Urban Environment

Bold Items Required – Others optional - recommended

Carry Always In Coat / Vest / Cargo Pockets:

 Medical ALERT Info and ICE Contact Card
 Drivers license, RACES ID and FCC license copy
 Wear your name tag on outer garment
 CASH – $5 coins for phone calls, vending, etc.
 WATER – 2 pints on your person is minimum
 SNACKS – you’ll be out there for 12 hours
 PERSONAL MEDICATIONS for 24 hours
 SANITATION / COMFORT ITEMS; sunscreen, insect repellent, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, Chapstick, etc.
 Scout knife or Multi-tool, Leatherman, etc.
 Pocket / Backup AA flashlight +extra batteries
 Whistle – Fox 40 or ACR (distress signal)
 Compass, orienteering type on cord
 Arlington Police Dept. (ADC) sector map book
 USGS 7.5 Minute topo (24,000 scale) if assigned to a SAR or CERT search team
 VDOT Official Virginia road map
 Bandanna, bright color also serves as flag signal
 Extra reading glasses, if you use them

Personal Protective Equipment (in pack)
 Safety glasses, ANSI Z87.1-1989
 N95 mask, disposable, single-use
 Reflective vest
 Work gloves
 FIRST AID KIT, includes medical exam gloves
 Primary flashlight, or headlamp, for searches
 Extra set of batteries + bulb for search light
 Hardhat + CERT equipment, – if your assignment

Clothing – Worn
 Sunglasses – 97% UV protection
 Boots, ankle support, traction sole
 Hat (Sun / Rain protective)

Extra Clothing – Carried (in pack)
 Rain gear or poncho
 Wool / fleece warming layer for expected weather
 Extra dry socks, in Ziploc bag so they will stay dry
Communications:
â–¡ Text Pager or cell phone capable of receiving SMS
â–¡ Cell phone mobile charger (or extra battery pack)
□ 2 meter portable, ≥5w, w/ CTCSS + 10 memories
â–¡ Extra battery pack(s) or AA battery case for HT(s)
□ Dual-band or separate 220 or 440 or GMRS HT, ≥ 2w
â–¡ Quick reference guide for each transceiver carried
â–¡ Headset or earphone for HT
â–¡ Speaker-microphone
â–¡ Unity gain antenna and counterpoise for 2m HT
â–¡ SLA battery of 1ah / watt of TX output for HT / or mobile
â–¡ External power cord for HT and / or mobile radio
â–¡ Coax+mast+adapters to elevate mobile ant. 15 ft.
□ Packet or HF equipment, IF that’s your assignment
Forms pack:
â–¡ Notebook, pencil, pen, felt tip or grease pencil, and:
â–¡ ICS 309 Log Forms (3)
â–¡ ICS 213 Message Forms (10)
â–¡ ICS 201 or OP Brief form (1)
â–¡ ACS-RACES Quick Reference (1)
24 hours - Emergency Supplies – Store In vehicle:
 COMPLETE CHANGE of dry clothes: shirt, trousers, socks, shoes, and underwear
 Extra drinking water to total one gallon
 Extra food for three meals, balanced nutrition
 Personal meds, hygiene, sanitation supplies
 Blanket (or sleeping bag)
 Duct tape – multiple uses, emergency repairs
 Tent or tarp for rain / sun / wind shelter
 Tow strap or chain with hooks
 Tools: standard and Phillips screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, side-cutting pliers, shovel, hand saw or axe.
 Flares or reflectors
 Fire extinguisher - multi-rated dry chemical

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Pre-Deployment Checklist

PRE-DEPLOYMENT ACTIONS:
 Ensure that emergency notification procedures within your agency are current.
 Ensure you are clear on travel and pickup arrangements established for you.
 Review your assignment. Know to whom you will report and your responsibility.
 Determine emergency communications procedures to ensure that you can contact your control point if necessary.
 Recheck personal equipment and items that you will need for at least seven days.
 Ensure that family members know your destination and how to contact you in the event of a family emergency. (Have family contact County EOC and request ACS. radio desk).
 Update ICE contact list
 Brief dependents and ICE contacts
 Update Family Emergency Communication / Evacuation Plan
 Notify Business Partners (Meetings, Location, POC)
 Advise your unit leader of any physical or personal limitations that you may have.
 DO NOT respond if you are ill or sick.
 DO NOT accept an assignment that exceeds your personal limitations or abilities.

BATTERIES:
 Fully Charge all personal electronic devices prior to packing
 Two sets of spare batteries for all portable devices, flashlights, 2-way radio, etc.
 Rechargeable battery packs for 2-way radio, etc.
 AA battery cases for 2-way radio, etc.
 AC wall chargers for all rechargeable devices

CLOTHING:
 Deployment utility coveralls
 Full change of clothes (suitable for expected weather during deployment days)
o Two sets trousers (utility BDU and casual jeans / chinos)
o Two sets of socks, (work-utility wool outer , polypro liner, casual athletic)
o Two sets of underwear (utility Coolmax and casual cotton/poly)
o Two outer shirts (utility BDU and casual knit polo)
o Windbreaker (casual)
o Long sleeve tank tops (work-utility)
o T-shirts, (casual cotton/poly)
o Walking / athletic shoes (casual for off-duty / rest/ rehab periods)
o Work boots (safety / rescue and utility)
o Extra gloves – your primaries WILL get trashed (rescue and utility)
o Headwear (boonie sun protection/ ANSI Helmet / “dew rag”)
o Eye Glasses (ANSI-rated safety/utility, UV protective/sun and reading)
o Foul weather gear, full wind / rain suit, and polypro fleece liner
o Wool blend sweater or fleece pile jacket as an extra warming layer
o Blanket, wool, sealed watertight with duct tape in a garbage bag
o Sleeping bag+fleece washable liner, + foam sleeping pad and carry bag
o Belts (Rescue/utility and casual )
o Spare shoe laces, (casual, and utility)
COMFORT ITEMS:
 Personal Hygiene Kit
o Toothpaste
o Toothbrush
o Mouthwash
o Dental floss
o Disposable razor(s)
o Soap
o Salt Tablets
o Baby wipes, toilet paper, hand sanitizer
o Towel
o Lip Balm/Sunscreen
o Mentholatum
o Insect repellent
 Watch
 Personal sleep gear
o Pillow
o Ear plugs
 Snacks, hard candy, chewing gum, beef jerky, power bars, etc.
 Off-duty reading material, iPod, playing cards etc.

COMMUNICATIONS:
 Writing implements (see Writing below)
 ICS Forms pack, job aids and operating references
 Cell Phone, or other personal wireless devices capable of SMS
 Mobile chargers + AC wall transformers for cell phone, 2-way, laptop, GPS, etc.
 Packet radio Terminal Node Controller (TNC)
 Laptop computer with imaging, damage assessment and communications software
 Portable amateur VHF/UHF transceiver
 Marine portable VHF (waterways and coastal areas)
 GMRS or agency assigned radio
 Unity gain dual-band VHF/UHF mobile antenna with magnetic mount, 18 ft. of RG8X coax and adapters
 17ah gel cell battery, power cord and wall charger to power portable VHF/UHF, laptop and packet TNC
 HF-SSB radio, deep cycle batteries, power supply, antenna, if your assignment

CURRENCY:
 Cash, enough for return tank of gas, laundromat, three meals + a motel overnight
 Change ($5 stacked in a 35mm film can, for pay phones and vending)
 Credit or ATM cards(s)

ELECTRONICS:
 AM/FM portable radio w/ earpiece
 Pocket voice recorder
 External power cords, power supplies and adapters for all telecomm and navigation devices, laptop, TNC, 2-way radio, GPS, etc.

EMERGENCY and MEDICAL
 Personal emergency strobe (on vest)
 Fox 40 or ACR whistle (distress signal)
 Vaccination card
 Emergency Contact List (ICE)
 Doctors Contact Information
 Dentist Contact Information
 Eye Specialist Information
 List of dependents Phone Numbers
 Medications – two week supply in original containers with Rx labels

FOOD, WATER and COOKING:
 Food, non-perishable, min. 3 day supply, six Heatermeals or MREs + snacks
 2 quart canteens, with metal cup, and nesting warming stand (on person)
 Eating utensils, knife-fork-spoon
 Immersion cup heater
 2.5 gallon of extra drinking water container(s) (in vehicle)
 6 boxes (18) Trioxane fuel bars or Esbit solid fuel tabs and waterproofed matches
 EPA rated personal water filter
 Water purification tablets
 Hydration pack of 70 oz. minimum capacity

IDENTIFIC ATION
 Drivers License
 Agency ID
 Deployment ID
 Gear tags
 ANSI Type II Reflective vest

LIGHTING:
 PETZL or Princeton Tec LCD Headlamp
 Spare bulbs (LCD/Strobe/Flashlight)
 12V Flood / spot search light
 Map / Radio Position Reading Lamp
 Chem-stick Lights

PACK:
 Two Rubbermaid Brute containers to securely hold all of this stuff in your vehicle
 SAR / CERT pack with technical rescue gear, if that is your assignment
 Rucksack, MOLLE or lumbar pack for daily carry during an operational period

PPE:
 Personal First Aid Kit
 Safety glasses
 Hard hat
 Six N-95 disposable masks
 ANSI type II reflective vest
 Gloves, rescue (mechanic’s) and work utility
 Works boots should have safety toe and traction sole
 Wildfire Emergency Pop-Up Shelter

NAVIGATION:
 GPS w/ topo interface
 Compass
 Topo maps, + ADC road atlas

SIGNALLING:
 Smoke canisters
 Fox-40 whistle
 Mil . Signal Mirror

TOOLS AND SHARPS:
 Leatherman\
 Adjustable wrench
 Side cutting pliers
 Screwdriver handle and bits
 Soldering kit
 K-Bar
 Rescue utility tool
 Folding saw or axe
 E-tool

UTILITY:
 Sewing Kit
o Buttons,
o Needles, thread,
o Straight pins
o Safety pins
o Iron-on repair tape
 ZipLock bags, 2 each, quart, gallon
 Zip ties
 Duct tape
 Backfire (railroad) flares
 Duct Tape
 Shelter Tarp
 Traige / flagging tape
 Spray Paint (Orange/Green/Yellow highway marking type)

WRITING:
 Notebook
 Pens (all weather)
 Pencils
 Grease pencils or Map Markers
 Map / Sheet protectors
 Stamps
 Postcards
 Envelopes

You are responsible for making sure your current CPR (current for one year) and First Aid (current for three years) and driving/professional license information is provided to me and kept up-to-date. If you are not current, you cannot go.

Additionally, expect to have the requirement of IS-100 and -200, Incident Command, as a requirement, if you are requested for a Federal deployment. You might as well take them now, if you have not already. IS-700 and -800 is NIMS and National Response Plan. It will be worth your while to get those because, coming soon, our EM roster will require it at the local level.
>
* You are responsible for providing up-to-date emergency contact
information to the activating agencyr.

You are responsible for providing your deployment availability dates up the chain of command via email or phone when requested at Level II. You are responsible for notifying your unit leader immediately if your availability changes. If you and your spouse are enrolled and prefer to deploy together, please compare schedules before advising your availability. ACS-RACES uses the Arlington Alert “all call” email blast. You reply either you can can or can't go.

Advise your unit leader of changes in your phone number(s) for the ALL CALL system and current email address for the CEM list.

Because of the urgency of finding volunteers to deploy during a disaster (local or national), please do not keep your recruiter tied up on the phone. If you are unavailable to go on an assignment, that is certainly understandable, however, we need to move on to the next call immediately.

When the ALL CALL is activated, you are responsible for deciding if you can or can't go. IF you can go, simply follow the instructions. If you can't go, do NOTHING.

If the all call is activated or, Arlington ACS volunteers will receive a sitrep over Arlington Alert as a multi-part message and instructions to check into the LOGNET for the briefing. Don't call OEM to find out what's going on. TheAlert pages and calls are specific. You are needed and you should take some action. Calling your Unit Leader, the Radio officer or OEM, to find out "stuff" takes the time away from the person who is getting called (and he is busy building the team from those volunteers who have responded). If you can't take the action, that's fine. We understand. There is no harm done. Not everyone can go all the time.
Please pack appropriately. This includes information pertaining to your current assignment. You may be moving from place to place and it is very easy to loose valuables. A simple rule is "If you can't bear the thought of losing it, don't pack it." Please keep this in mind as you prepare for deployment.

Please PACK appropriately. If you can't carry it, neither will anyone else. YOU are responsible for your 72-hour survival. There is no guarantee you will be in a one-star hotel. The STARS you see may be those God has provided outside.

After 72 hours, you should expect food (quality and quantity may vary), water (mostly in bottles (if it's not in bottles, don't drink it), and maybe your shelter has been upgraded to the NO-star facility AKA the cot on the gym floor.

If you say you are available for a DRO (Disaster Relief Operation) assignment, this means you will be ready to deploy for a minimum of three weeks within 24 hours. (MH volunteers are recruited for 10-12 days and may be able to deploy within 48 hours.) Recruiting is very competitive with 814 chapters nationally and 67 in a five-state region. It is NOT> uncommon for a disaster to be staffed within a couple of hours.

FEMA deployments range from two weeks to two years (mostly in the 14-day range for Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and short term response units such as Search and Rescue Teams). When the callup is issued, you will be advised for how long and a general where you are going.Everything I know about the assignment, you will know about the assignment.

Likewise, deployments are very competitive. Like Red Cross, if youcan't go on the first round, there may be a possibility for service as the first to go rotate out.

Also, someone has to STAY because there are things to do here as well, ex. who's going to do the single family fires for ARC, if everyone is inNOLA? Don't get down because you are not out on the first train.>

Please keep in mind that the American Red Cross is not a travel club. Do not ask your recruiter where you will be deploying to before you give your answer. You are either available for deployment or you are not.

Once you are assigned to a DRO your recruiter does not have authority over your work location, hotel accommodations, or who you will be working with. All those arrangements are made by the DRO staffing officers.

FEMA travel will make these arrangements. I won't have any control over these as well.

When you are deployed, you WILL receive paperwork, aka email at the least. PRINT and COPY your paperwork. As I learned at the Olympics and at Atlanta, paperwork WILL be lost. You WILL be unexpected. Carry your deployment orders with you, even if you are with the team.

Copies go in any bag you carry.

Leaving your family and home behind for three weeks is difficult, and Iappreciate all of you for your willingness to lend a helping hand tothose in need. We may never know the impact we as individuals make onothers when we are out on a job. Whether you are serving meals, settingup cots, or meeting the needs of other volunteers, you are playing a very important role in serving our communities. Thank you.

The military takes deployments very seriously. Soldiers don't do their
jobs well, if their attention is drawn frequently to trials on the home
front.

That's why there are resources such as
http://www.wood.army.mil/mwr/deploymenthndbook.htm
http://www.acs.monterey.army.mil/mobguide.pdf
http://www.riley.army.mil/Services/Family/ACS/FRP.asp
and, for the military, the American Red Cross has THE Armed Forces
Emergency Services resource.

For us, there's just our brain and the realization that, "If you fail to mplan, you plan to fail". However, the guidance in the military documents is worthwhile, ex. who pays bills while you are gone? If your wife is also a team member, who watches the dog, etc.?

Now is the time to discuss this, plan, prepare, and practice. Two
minutes after the all-call, it's too late.