Disaster Survival Skills for the Urban Environment

[CharlesHarris]

In the US communities in the Washington, DC have been conducting this type of training for municipal employees and Citizens Corps Groups.
The .ppt presentation may be downloaded at following link:

http://www.w4ava.org/races/KKauxcomm33.htm

This student's outline, is taken from the .ppt slides:

OBJECTIVES:

Why teach “survival” in the city?
Catastrophes vs. disasters
This is about your family SURVIVAL, not volunteering
Priorities for human survival
Break-out sessions:
Shelter construction
Fire making
Signaling
Equipment and supplies
Social implications of disasters
Personal security concerns

Disaster V. Catastrophe
Disasters are short term
“Make do for 3-4 days until help arrives…”
Catastrophic events are long term
Katrina-scale hurricane, tsunami, earthquake
Major terror attack, nuclear detonation, dirty bomb
No help is coming soon, “you are on your own”

Why?
Complete loss of civil infrastructure
Minimal or no police, fire or EMS response
No electricity, municipal water, communications
Transport of fuel / food is severely impaired
Public safety agencies will be overwhelmed
Recovery is long term (over 30 days)

What our military survival schools teach:
Seven Priorities For Survival
"Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst”
Positive mental attitude
First Aid / Sanitation
Shelter
Signaling
Fire
Water
Food

Situational awareness, basic knowledge and
a “survivor’s mindset” enable you to cope effectively

STOP Calm down, and size up your situation…
THINK Anticipate which hazards are most likely
Take stock of materials and resources around you
OBSERVE Orient yourself to your surroundings
PLAN Select equipment and supplies appropriately
ACT! Execute your plan, evaluate progress, adjust, "carry on."

PREPAREDNESS
Have an evacuation kit ready at all times
Don't presume that a disaster will be short-term
Pack essentials first, then consider comfort items
In real emergences, forget last-minute purchases
Plan for more supplies than you “think” you may need
Inspect / renew your supplies each spring and fall
Provide entertainment for young children.

SIX STEPS TO PROBLEM SOLVING
Size Up Your Situation
Determine Objectives (stay or evacuate?)
Identify Resources (either stored supplies or salvaged materials from your surroundings)
Evaluate Options (use the safest way)
Plan (use your head)
Act...Improvise and overcome

FIRST AID AND SANITATION
Maintain personal and family health
Prompt treatment reduces infection risk
Sanitation reduces risk of disease vectors
Water borne illnesses, diarrhea
Major cause of dehydration
Increases your survivability!

Disaster Injury Risk Factors:
Tool / equipment hazards, risk of hand, eye, head injuries, electric shock, chemical burns
Human factors, stress / fatigue
Structural instability
Trauma risk, falls, building collapse potential
Terrain, loose rock, fallen limbs, wet or insecure footing, risk of falls, puncture wounds and lacerations from debris.

Disaster Contamination:
Stagnant surface water
Mosquito breeding
Contaminated flood waters
Sewage treatment system overflow
Petroleum, industrial, agricultural chemical contamination
Airborne contaminant plumes
Smoke, dust, toxic gases
or radioactive fallout.

SHELTER
Protection from the elements
Wind and rain resistant
Insulation from cold

The “Stay or Evacuate” Decision
If evacuation is not mandatory, the same safety rules
for entering a structure apply to using your home as shelter

DO NOT OCCUPY IF:
There is structural damage
(6 sides of the “box” are not plumb)
Utilities cannot be controlled
Structure was damaged in a fire
DO NOT occupy a floor that has been flooded,
micotoxins from molds are respiratory hazard!

EVACUATION PLANNING
Best to relocate with friends or relatives outside of affected area
Don't rely on government-run shelters
They are an “option of last resort” for those unable to evacuate
Evacuation route selection is important
Make sure your vehicle can carry essentials
A huge “bug-out” vehicle is a handicap on crowded roads
It uses more fuel, which may be expensive / scarce in an emergency.
Don't plan on fuel being available en route
In normal times always keep your gas tank at least half full
Upon warning an event is imminent, conserve fuel, keep tank ¾ full
Carry extra fuel containers outside the vehicle

EVACUATE OR STAY?
Conclusion from FEMA Urban-Rural Evacuation State Planners Workshop Sept. 2006
Given:
● Population of the DC Metro area
● Propensity to self-evacuate, overwhelmingly by automobile
● Wide distribution of evacuation destinations,
● Perceived vulnerability to terror attack, and anticipation of multiple attacks
Result:
● A large-scale, chaotic mass self-evacuation should be anticipated.

Nuclear Detonation – 10-Kiloton Improvised Nuclear Device
http://iis-db.stanford.edu/pubs/21872/Da...Report.pdf

Contamination from a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD)
would cover up to a few hundred acres with low-level radioactive material; http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/pdf/dirtybombs.pdf

A nuclear detonation would affect large areas (10-100 sq. miles)
damaged by direct effects and 100s to 1,000s of sq. miles with radioactive fallout.
http://www.nti.org/e_research/cnwm/overv...print=true

Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) – a terrorist attack would most likely be a small device <10 kilotons yield, EMP effect of a ground burst would be mostly within the Moderate Damage Radius, but also propagated by conductors such as power and telephone lines, railroad tracks, pipelines, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse

EVACUATION
Feasible only if all personnel can evacuate before fallout contamination arrives and;
Essential functions for Continuity of Operations are transferred to an alternate facility
Affected area would have to be small and warning time adequate to execute the evacuation
Detonation effects (blast/thermal/EMP) will likely impede evacuation
Evacuees may be exposed and/or contaminated.

SHELTER IN PLACE
Critical facilities that cannot evacuate (hospitals, EOCs) must continue to operate
Necessary if fallout/contamination would arrive before evacuation can be completed
Fallout Shelters will be needed to protect against high level radiation/detonation
Shelter-in-place (not necessarily Fallout Shelter) near RDD/very low level
Shelter stay may range from a few days to 2 weeks.
Authorities outside affected area can organize rescue/evacuation effort
Shelter occupants may be exposed and/or contaminated.

SHELTER IN PLACE - Continued
Necessary if operations can not be transferred or if staff, patients or clients cannot evacuate
Necessary if needed to support operations of other response agencies
Must have Radiological Monitoring & Exposure Control capabilities
Critical Facilities may be used to shelter families of the staff
Critical Facilities will not be used to shelter the general public.

DECONTAMINATION after a flood or attack
start immediately, even if you don’t know what the agent is.

Sandia decontamination foam (US Patent 6,566,574 B1) sold
as Scott's Liquid Gold Mold Control 500 in most hardware stores.

Is effective against most chemical and
biological agents, including nerve, blister,
anthrax, SARS, Norwalk, avian and common flu.

Widely used for hospital /hotel sanitization
mold remediation in commercial buildings,
cleaning / neutralizing agricultural sprayers.

Moderate cost, about $30 at Home Depot to treat 1000sf.

http://www.sandia.gov/news/resources/rel...ntrol.html

EXPEDIENT FIELD DECONTAMINATION
If you are contaminated:
Remove everything, including jewelry
Cut off clothing normally removed over the head
Place contaminated clothing in plastic bag, tie closed
Wash your hands before using them to shower

DECONTAMINATION - Continued
Flush entire body with cool water
Blot dry with absorbent cloth
Put on clean clothes
Avoid use of affected areas, to prevent re-exposure
If professional help arrives, report to responders
for thorough decontamination and medical assessment.

NUCLEAR ATTACK ISSUES:
Structural damage to shelter from nearby detonation
Fire in the shelter
Dangerously high radiation levels
Severely high temperatures and humidity
Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide imbalance in the shelter
Depletion of essential supplies
Disease and injury
Unrest, anxiety, crime or defiance of order or authority

Time - Fallout radiation intensity decays rapidly;
90% in just the first 7 hours. The less time you
spend in a radiation field, the less dose received.

Distance - The farther you are from a source,
the less dose you receive.

Shielding - Denser (heavier, massive) materials
absorb more radiation. Greater thickness of any
given material absorbs more radiation.

Protection Factors & Mass of Materials
*PF = “Protection Factor” refers to the ratio between the radiation dose rate of the OUTSIDE to that INSIDE the shelter, for instance a PF = 10 means that the inside dose rate is 1/10th the outside rate.

How Much Protection?

PF* Lead Steel Concrete Earth Water Wood
2 .3"" .7" 2.0" 3.3" 5" 9"
4 .5" 1.5" 5.0" 7.0" 10" 15"
8 1.0" 2.0" 6.5" 10.0" 15" 27"
16 1.2" 3.0" 9.0" 14.0" 20" 3 ft
32 1.5" 4.0" 12.0" 15.0" 2 ft 4 ft
64 2.0" 4.2" 13.2" 19.8" 2.5ft 4.5 ft
128 2.1" 5.0" 15.0" 2 ft 3 ft 5 ft
1000 3.0" 7.0" 22.0" 33.0" 4 ft -
2000 3.3" 7.7" 2 ft 3 ft 4.5 ft -

Outside radiation, divided by the Protection Factor, is reduced in proportion. For example, if the outside radiation rate is 1,000 R/hr, a person shielded by 3 ft. of earth would receive a dose rate of .5 R/hr. but a person shielded by 1 ft of earth would receive about 10 R/hr.

Sheltering at Home During an Emergency
For using a building without working utilities as shelter

Exhaust – candles, camp stoves, lanterns, generators,
heaters, charcoal grills, all generate carbon monoxide
and must not be used indoors!
Open flame – above ignition sources
must never be left unattended!
Fuel – most of the above require flammable fuels
to operate, which must be stored outdoors.
Use Fire Marshal approved fuel containers

Improvised Emergency Shelters
As in all real estate, most important is location:
Avoid low spots with poor drainage
Seek a gently sloped area so that surface water drains away
Sheltered from prevailing winds
Away from bodies of water (attracts insects and animals)
Insulated from direct contact with ground, rock,
or concrete, which conducts away body heat.

Avoid as shelter:
Areas around downed utility lines
In or near culverts
Within the “collapse zone” of a damaged building
(maintain 2:1 ratio of distance away to building height)

Improvised Shelters:
Sheds
Tents
Tarps
Vehicles

Don’t disable a good car!
Remove car batteries to power communications and
shelter lighting only from cars that do not start
If a car starts reserve it for emergency evacuation, or
Use it as a “battery charger”
Salvage lighting, remove dome lights, tail lights,
trunk lights, etc. & with at least 36” of wires.
Position batteries in shelter; attach wires & lights
As batteries discharge, replace with new batteries
or recharge batteries.

Emergency Shelter Materials:
Salvage building materials from debris or
from damaged structures only when it can be done safely
TYVEK building wrap
Plastic sheeting
Roofing paper and shingles
Siding, plywood
Chain link fence
Lumber
Carpeting
Wire, rope, and fasteners

Build Your Shelter In Layers
Structural framing: lumber, plywood, fencing, metal
Fasteners: reinforce structural connections with nails, wire or rope ties, wooden spikes
Water and wind proofing: TYVEK, plastic sheeting, tarp, shingles, roofing paper
Insulation: drywall, leaves, tree branches, carpeting, (may also be used as ballast to hold water/wind proofing layer in place)

SIGNALLING

Day: Mirror flashes – best daylight signal device
Smoke
Brightly colored cloth flag / panel (VS-17)
ICAO surface-to-air signals
V Require assistance
X Need medical assistance
Y Yes - affirmative
N No - negative
→ I am proceeding in this direction

Night: Flashing strobe light
Fire
Signal flares
Sound, i.e. whistle, siren, vehicle horn

FIRE:
Maintains body temperature
Great morale booster
Deters wild animals and insects
Boils water
Cooks food
Used as day (smoke)
or night (light) signal

FIRE MAKING METHODS
Matches or lighter
Flint and steel (Doan Machinery Corp. Fire Starter)
Use cotton ball and petroleum jelly as tinder
Battery and steel wool
Fresnel lens

WATER SUPPLY
Minimum for drinking
1 gallon per person, per day
More water is needed for
Cooking and food preparation
Personal hygiene, sanitation and decontamination
Store a two week supply as minimum
Food grade containers with screw caps
Away from direct sunlight

EMERGENCY WATER SOURCES
Captive water in household hot water tank and interior plumbing is OK
Filter cloudy water to remove particulates, using an EPA-rated filter
with a pore size ≤ 1 micron, then:
Disinfect with Clorox (6% sodium hypochlorite) add 8 drops of Chlorox
bleach per gallon if clear, 16 drops if cloudy, let water stand 15 minutes before use
Or boil vigorously for 15 minutes
Store potable water in clean containers.

All natural sources (from springs, ponds, rivers or streams)
must be boiled or chemically disinfected.
Chemical disinfection or boiling - Kills bacteria and viruses
Doesn’t remove particulates or chemical pollutants
Filtration - Coffee filters, etc. remove gross particulates only
EPA-rated filters (pore size smaller than 1 micron) are needed
to remove bacteria, viruses and Giardia cysts, but don’t remove chemical pollutants.
Distillation is the most effective method.

FOOD
Lowest of the seven survival priorities
Need is mostly mental, because we are used to eating regularly
Healthy people will do OK without food for a week or more, if they are well hydrated
Balanced nutrition is a important health factor for elderly and infants.

SHELF LIFE OF FOOD STORED IN THE HOME
Food in a refrigerator is safe for a day after the power goes off,
either use it in 24 hours or throw it away
Frozen food is safe if there are still ice crystals,
once thawed, cook and consume it within 24 hours
Next use non-perishables and dry staples
Canned foods are best for long term storage
(up to 4 years) but are heavy to transport and bulky to store
Dry packaged foods are easiest to transport
Choose foods requiring minimal preparation
Eat at least one balanced meal daily
Include nutritional supplements in supplies
Drink enough water.

EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLIES
MREs, or Heater Meals®
Prepared survival rations
Primitive survival methods:
Fishing
Hunting
Trapping
Foraging

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Folding utility knife or multi-tool
Scout type, Leatherman®, Swiss Army or Mil-K-818
Manual can opener, if not on utility knife
Sturdy fixed blade, such as 5" Mil. Aircrew Survival Knife
For chopping, digging, or as pry bar
Shovel, Gerber field spade or similar
Hand saw, #7947 Fiskars Woodzig Pruning Saw, folding 10"
Axe

ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES
Each person should have their own backpack of personal essentials
Flashlight
Portable radio
Extra batteries
First Aid Kit, (containing a first aid manual)
Personal medications and sanitation supplies
Cooking and eating utensils
Wool blanket or sleeping bag for each person
Sturdy shoes and extra socks
Rain gear
Change of warm clothing and underwear
Items for special needs, care of infants

DISASTER FINANCIAL PLANNING
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaste...y/FinPlan/

Electronic transactions, account verifications may be impossible
Evacuate with enough cash for at least two weeks of essentials
Carry account numbers, contact addresses and telephone numbers for all important persons and institutions
Helping one's unprepared friends and neighbors may prove expensive!

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF DISASTERS
Cumulative psychological effects upon survivors

Evacuate or Stay? – Do you have a plan?
Where will you go? Is it safe to travel?
Can you REALLY get there? Do you have enough resources to make it work?
Warn friends not to invite others to come and evacuate with them
They’ll overwhelm your limited resources!
Never allow family members to be separated
Even if it means waiting for later rescue and/or evacuation
The well prepared may be threatened by those who weren't – get to know your neighbors NOW for a safer community later in case of a disaster
Make plans to ensure neighborhood security/family protection
Post a guard in rotating shifts, to deter roving criminals or looters
Keep firearms and ammunition safely secured
Take a home firearms safety-protection course

Lessons from Hurricane Katrina
When help arrives, you may get it
“…….whether you want it or not.”

Don't believe that all rescuers will respect your property
Relief workers from other States often don't know local laws
Relief organizations have their own bureaucratic requirements that may conflict with your needs
Expect frustration over lack of communication and empathy by rescuers and local/State government.

COURSE SUMMARY:
Positive attitude – Stop Think Observe Plan
First Aid / Sanitation – Maintain proper hygiene, preserve family health, prevent illness or injury
Shelter – Protection from environmental hazards - use Time, Distance, Shielding
Signaling / Communication- be heard / seen
Fire – Warmth, light, food prep, water sterilization
Water – Prevent water-borne illnesses through filtration, chemical sterilization, boiling or distillation
Food – Eat at least one balanced meal daily, drink enough water, include nutritional supplements
Equipment- Flashlight, knife, saw, axe, shovel
Planning – Prepare a Kit, Make A Plan!
http://www.Ready.gov

For further information:

http://www.fema.gov/txt/library/f&web.txt
http://www.vaemergency.com/prepare/planning/index.cfm
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/housing/356-479/356-479.html
http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/psa/riskmgt/...pplies.htm
http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/comm...dness.html
http://www.dougritter.com/home.htm
http://www.cityofmemphis.org/pdf_forms/dirtyBlast.pdf
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/dirtybombs.asp
http://www.oism.org/nwss/s73p926.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_skills

Acknowledgements:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Arlington County Fire & Rescue Department
Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Huntsville-Madison County, Alabama, EMA
Doug Ritter
Derek Rowan
Steve Willey
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Virginia Cooperative Extension Service
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Virginia Department of Health

[Highlander]

A very detailed list,.. but very little mention of clothing, other than listed under `essential supplies`, I would have thought that in your climate it may have had a more detailed section.

What are the Citizen corp groups?

[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

---

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.