Emergency Response Plans

Volcanic eruptions are one of the powerful disasters nature can bring. Volcanic eruptions are catastrophic enough that it can wipe out several towns in a few hours. They can also cause temporary changes in the Earth’s climate.

Volcanologists are the scientists who study volcanoes. They predict the possibility of a volcanic eruption as well as the severity. However, Volcanologists can not always exactly forecast when and where the next volcanic eruption will occur. That is why, it is important to know the basics in on how to prepare for an emergency volcanic eruption.

1. First, you need to be at least familiar with the terms associated with volcanic eruptions. These will be very helpful in understanding news about volcanic eruptions.

Volcanic ash refers to small dust particles or large pieces of rocks which are erupted to the air and carried down together with volcanic gases. These volcanic ashes can corrode metals, decompose fabrics, clog machineries, block water intakes and drains, and of course kill vegetation.

Pyroclastic flows are those streams of molten volcanic rocks. These flow at hurricane velocity. Because of their high temperature and speed, they can destroy everything in their path.

2. Coordinate with your local emergency team to check for any areas in your region which are prone to pyroclastic flows and volcanic ash.

3. If the volcano is starting to show some signs of eruption, do not go anywhere near it. As mentioned above, Volcanologists could not precisely predict the time a volcano may erupt. You can get immediately killed by a sudden eruption.

4. Follow your local government’s advise when they say you need to evacuate. You should avoid lower areas, especially to those places downwind. Although high infrastructures, such as tall buildings can offer protection from volcanic ash, these are not enough shelter for rock debris and lava flows.

5. As much as possible, do cross a bridge because of the danger caused by mudflows. If you need to cross bridges, look upstream first and ensure that no mudflow is approaching. Take note that mudflows move faster than you can ever run.

6. If the volcano has started emitting volcanic ash, do not go outside until the ash has settled. Also, avoid opening any windows and doors in the house.

7. Once the air is clear, immediately remove any volcanic ash which may have settled on your rain gutters and roofs. Volcanic ash can be disastrous if they have thickly accumulated on your rooftops. In addition, these can cause severe respiratory diseases, especially to infants and old people with lung problems.

8. If you need to drive, avoid areas which have already been heavily covered with dust. Maintain a speed slower than 30 mph.

9. Of course, you need to prepare enough food and water to last for several days. You would also need spare batteries and dust masks. You can use extra clothing to cover your head and thin cloths to breathe with.

When news of volcanic eruption is out, be sure that you are always prepared wherever you maybe. Arm yourselves with enough knowledge to reduce the great impact that a volcanic eruption have. Always listen to the radio for updates and advice on how you can safely overcome this disaster.

Volcanic eruption preparations do not stop after the volcano has erupted. Once the disaster is over, there are a lot of cleanup operations needed. Recovering from a volcanic eruption takes a long time. Cooperation within your community is needed.

A war is possibly the last thing anybody would want to live to experience. The world has already been a witness to several wars. As students, we have studied different wars and how the people during those times have lived. War times are definitely not good times.

Recently, different parts in the world have gone to war. We see different war footages on television and notice how the number of casualties exponentially rises up. Although almost everybody realize that there are no victors in wars, we can’t seem to totally eliminate the prospect of having to go to war.

Somebody famous once said, if we want peace, we have to prepare for war. But as mere civilians, we don’t have that much power to largely make a difference during war times. The most we could probably do is to prepare ourselves, if in case war breaks out suddenly.

Just like in preparing for natural calamities, we need to stock as much food and water as possible. Equally important are pieces of cloth that we could use to cover our mouth and nose, and sunglasses for our eyes as protection against dust particles brought about by bombings and the like.

On a larger scale, the government planning to involve in a war should have prepared emergency underground facilities. These facilities would contain grain silos and medical stockpiles. Civilians and injured soldiers are usually housed in one of these underground facilities.

Large cities in the United States have several underground centers that they could use during war emergency situations. Examples of these are the underground facilities near major railroads.

Aside from gun and ammo, the government should also equip themselves with machineries such as truck transportable bridges, mobile refineries, mobile decontamination services, and water purification systems. Other amenities such as petroleum supply are especially reserved for times of war.

Of course, the government will have to organize effective cooperation between its different civil services. The police, healthcare service, fire service and other public utility providers are expected to work together to ensure that civilians get as much protection as possible. Sometimes, able bodies might be requested to undergo special training programs to help protect the rest of the civilians.

War is such a large scale event that as individuals and small communities, we could only do so much. Most of the preparations involved are left to the national government and international security institutions. As citizens, we will be left with no choice but to follow where the government leads us in times of war. Collective effort is very important for survival.

Probably the most effective way of preparing for war is to disseminate information effectively and rapidly. Information on self-protection should be disseminated to the public. Concerned international authorities will also be able to benefit from information sharing. A large pool of information resources will be helpful for both parties, and would allow them to hopefully come into an agreement even before war could eventually break out.

Because of high technology, which greatly affects how the world goes to war, preparing for war is getting more and more complicated. We already have nuclear, chemical and biological weapons which can wipe out a continent within a few minutes. High walled palaces made of stone which used to protect early civilizations from war are not enough anymore with the severity of the damage which these weapons can cause.

Peace has become an elusive dream for the whole world especially now that the world powers are scampering for world supremacy. Each powerful nation seems to have a secret nuclear arsenal that is on standby in case some other super country is prepared to expose its own nuclear power.

While people all over the world should be concerned about a third world war that will surely be swift considering the use of the nuclear arsenal of every powerful country, people however have to be prepared for something just brewing around the corner.

The risk of a civil war erupting in just about any country is an ever present risk that should be looked into not only by world leaders and the church but also by every person concerned about the safety of his community.

Some countries like Africa have become numbed to strife including civil wars that they no longer anticipate when it is going to happen again. War has displaced more than twenty five million Africans, most of whom live in evacuation camps, with nary a decent roof to shelter even the children.

Like any other war, Civil war can be deadly and can affect majority of the population especially children who could not fend for themselves. Every civil war carries with it human rights abuses from both military and civilians.

The tragedy resulting from every Civil War the world has known is so encompassing. Take this: four million Sudan residents displaced, more than two million lives lost; more than 70 million people in Ethiopia hungry; add the millions of people suffering in Somalia and Ethiopia. This is the face of civil war and every person has to prepare for such an eventuality.

Every family should create an emergency plan no matter what emergency should arise. They should not rely on their governments if they do not want to suffer separation, suffering and death in the government-designated evacuation camps.

Families should consider taking survival courses which may include self defense lessons as well as gun firing lessons. Gun firing can be a family affair although children should be cautioned against the dangers of using guns in ordinary circumstances.

A family would b e better off preparing an emergency first aid kit which should contain the basic medicine for ordinary illnesses. However, a family should from special illnesses like diabetes or asthma and include the basic lie saving and maintenance medicines in the safety kit.

People who live in places that are susceptible to civil war and other emergencies should also pack a special kit which should contain sturdy shoes for family members, maps, all-purpose knife or a Swiss Knife would be better, canned goods, and basic toiletries like soap.

Take every important thing but take only the basic necessities because when a civil war erupts, there may be a chance that the family would be displaced and may b e forced to survive for weeks or even months on the road escaping violence.

Preparing for the eventuality of a civil war is not like courting danger or wishing for it to happen. Rather, it is making sure that the family increases its survival rate when such event happens. It is always better to be prepared for any emergency and if it does not happen at all, then who cares of the family has spent hundreds or perhaps even thousands for the emergency kit. It is all well worth it.

Wherever part of the world you may live, you are likely to encounter a typhoon of some kind from time to time. Of course, there are specific places more prone to typhoons. There are also typhoons which are deadly and could cause great damage, not only to crops and infrastructures but also to human beings.

If meteorologists forecast that a strong typhoon is coming, it is not enough for us to just sit at home and watch TV. If the typhoon is strong enough, you won’t even be able to watch TV because of electricity blackouts. Typhoons are just one of the ways nature demonstrates its power, you should take precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incidents during the typhoon.

Although different kinds of typhoons in different places may bring different kinds of danger, there are some basic emergency preparations that you can do. To ensure your safety, familiarize yourself with the kinds of typhoons that hit the area where you live or are visiting and with the local government’s safety rules and regulations.

Once the National Weather Service have broadcasted that a typhoon will possibly hit your area, immediately start your emergency typhoon preparations. Here are a few things you can do before a typhoon arrives.

1. Fix any broken doors and windows. Make sure that there are no objects which could obstruct the entrance, just in case you may need to evacuate. Tape your big glass windows which can be potentially shattered by road signs, tree branches and other things.

2. If the place where you live always had problems with floods and a great typhoon is expected, move to an evacuation center in a higher ground even before the water levels reach a meter high. You should also park your car in a higher ground. Do not leave it in your garage because it can be carried by strong floods and cause bigger disasters.

3. Since it wouldn’t be wise to be loitering around during typhoons and convenience shops are possibly closed, store enough food and water for a few days. Power and water connections might also stop, so you might as well prepare a lot of candles, batteries, rain coats and thick blankets to keep you warm.

4. Make sure that all items in your backyard or balcony are fixed. If any of those items can possibly be flown by strong winds, better store them inside for the meantime. Also, remove rooftop construction accessories, if any, as these can be detached and may break other people’s windows.

5. Ensure that all water drains in your home are clean to avoid clogged drainage systems which can cause a lot of water problems.

6. Listen to news about the typhoon. If the power is down, make sure that you have a battery-powered radio so you are still updated on what is happening, and know if in case there is an emergency evacuation program. Listening to the news will also keep you informed when the typhoon is expected to stop.

Even if it already seems clear outside, do not leave you home unless you have confirmed that the typhoon is not coming back. It is possible that your area is just experiencing the eye of the typhoon. When the eye of typhoon passes, there are no rains or strong winds.

After the typhoon, do not forget to fix whatever has been damaged. Check that no water is leaking into your home. There are still a lot of accidents which can happen because of not taking enough responsibilities of the effects of the typhoon.

In 2004, a tsunami swept over certain parts of Southeast Asia, which extended up to Africa. More than 200,000 people perished with some bodies never identified or recovered.

The incident is not the first but one of many that have happened over the centuries. It is not only in the Pacific but also in the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, which makes it everyone’s concern.

History shows that tsunamis have occurred dating from 1600 B.C until the present with the latest in July that killed more than 600 people in the island of Indonesia.

Until now, the exact location where tsunamis will strike cannot yet be predicted. Once an underground earthquake occurs, an alert is sent to coastal communities that something could go in that direction.

Since the Pacific is known throughout the world as the ring of fire due to the numerous underwater volcanoes, it is only right that a tsunami emergency alert system is in place to prepare people for the worse.

The tragic event that took place almost two years ago never had such a system. It was only after that regional governments decided to come up with one to prevent it from happening again.

The alert system is made up of four things. This is namely information, advisory, watch and warning.

When an underground earthquake has been detected, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Hawaii will issue the news to the countries in the region. Since the impact is not yet known, an advisory will be sent about possible areas that will be hit.

There is a saying that goes, “ it is better to be safe than sorry.” The prediction may not happen but this is better than having a lot of casualties because the no warning was reported.

The after effects of the underwater earthquake may take hours but everyone knows that the tsunami is coming.

This is the time that people in the coastal communities should watch over the water. If it recedes, then a warning will be given to everyone that a mandatory evacuation must begin.

A siren is usually used to inform everyone. This will sound at different times starting from three hours before impact until half an hour before the tidal waves are supposed to hit the beach.

During this time, residents should already begin moving out of the danger zone. People can go deeper inland or run to the hills. It will be a good idea to bring water, food and clothing. Packing a light transistor radio will also be helpful to be able to stay informed when it is safe to come down.

The tsunami emergency preparation does not end when the reports predict that it is on the way. People will still be there monitoring the situation to issue a warning cancellation if nothing happened or if it is safe to return.

Countries that live in the Pacific Rim of Fire must coordinate with each other to minimize the loss of life. This is because it is much easier to rebuild and impossible to replace someone who died.

Community leaders should hold exercises to time how long it takes to evacuate the area so that everyone will be ready when the real thing hits the shores. A headcount can be done to find out if there are any people still missing should the inevitable strike.

Every year, weather disturbances wreak havoc in different parts of the world. In the coastal communities of the United States, residents will often experience hurricanes. In the northern areas, snowstorms and blizzards. But in the continental plains, there are tornadoes.

What is a tornado? This is a act of nature where a funnel of spiraling air comes out of nowhere and tears anything in its path. Most of these are a half kilometer wide and will disappear almost immediately just like how it popped into the air.

Unfortunately, weather forecasters are not able to predict when this will happen. These move similarly to hurricanes and when one appears, people should hunker down and wait till its over. Before that happens, here are some tips that can aid in tornado emergency preparation.

1. People who live in tornado prone areas should have a silo built a few feet under the ground. Studies have shown that this natural calamity can easily destroy the home so this is the best place to stay when disaster strikes.

2. The silo should have an amply supply of food, water, medicine and other necessities. It will take time to rebuild everything if the home sustained a direct hit and insurance companies won’t shoulder the repairs.

3. There may not be time to run to the silo if the tornado suddenly appears. When this happens, the person should find a place to hide until it is safe to come out. Family members who are separated must go to the assigned meeting place and wait there until the other members arrive.

4. The best way to recover from this will be to have hidden stash of money at home or in the bank at all times. Some call this the emergency fund and this will be one of those times that victims will be happy knowing that everything will be all right.

5. The community will probably not have power, water and communication with the outside world if all the lines went down. Having a portable radio and a set of batteries will keep the people informed of what is happening outside since emergency services will also be out to assess the damage.

6. If the parents are not home and the tornado strikes, someone must be designated as the leader until the elders get back. This individual must be ready to handle the situation and make sure that everyone stays together until help arrives.

7. The family should also hold tornado drills so everyone will know what to do when it happens. Setting a standard like going into the silo in less than 5 minutes will help prepare everyone for the real thing.

The tips mentioned regarding tornado emergency preparation should be taken seriously because this can happen at anytime. It is better to be prepared than caught unaware of what is going on which could mean someone getting injured or even killed.

There is no way to escape a tornado should the home be directly in its path. Everyone should just stay inside the silo and wait until the all-clear signal has been given for everyone to come out. Afterwards, this is the time to try and get in touch with those that are not home to make sure he or she is all right.

During the height of the cold war, the government made various programs to prepare its citizens for a nuclear holocaust. This included making bomb shelters hundreds of feet from the ground as well as teaching children to stay under the table in the event of an attack.

In 1989, the Cold War ended and this is no longer considered as a threat. Unfortunately, after 9/11, America is facing a new enemy. It is no longer a country that has a vast army capable of invading another nation. This foe is now fighting a guerilla war by conducting terrorist attacks both here and abroad.

There has not been a major strike on US soil since 2001. The intelligence communities of various nations have foiled such attempts even though there have been attempts such as the plan to bomb transatlantic from the UK.

Can anything be done to prepare for the next world war? Preventing the next biggest conflict is difficult but not impossible. Thermonuclear is just one way an attack will be carried out but the use of chemical and biological weapons is a bigger threat.

Many people may perish but following some tips for war emergency preparation may ensure the person’s survival.

1. People go to the supermarket each week to replenish the food that was consumed. It wouldn’t hurt to buy a few extra canned goods every so often because it will not spoil until it is opened.

2. Aside from food, having an amply supply of drinkable water will prevent dehydration. Plastic jugs can be purchased from the supermarket but if it is unsafe to go out, the people will have to get this from the faucet. It will be a good idea to add a purification tablet and boil this first to make sure it is safe to drink.

3. Having a first aid kit is always useful to treat wounds. The individual should check that it is complete at all times because no one can tell when this will be needed.

4. If people have to evacuate, it will be a good idea to bring food, water, a few extra clothes, flashlight, compass, matches, candy and an identification card. Everything should be packed in a backpack so everyone can move quickly to the nearest evacuation center.

5. The last tip for war emergency preparation is to be familiar with the disaster plans that have been made the federal government and city. Some states already have contingency plans in place. This has been announced in the Internet and on television and if this should happen, people should stay calm and slowly evacuate.

The tips mentioned are not only useful in the event of war but also when faced with a hurricane, an earthquake or any other natural calamity. This is because people who want to live through the crisis will do anything to see another day.

When the first plane crashed into the world trade center, everyone first thought it was an accident. As the second plane hit, everyone knew it was something worse. There has not been a major conflict in over fifty years but it does not mean that people are safe. There are elements in the world that want to do harm and people have to be prepared for it.