Inclusive Household Disaster Preparedness Workbook | i
Š 2014 Handicap International - Philippines Program
This document has been was developed by the Scale Up, Build Up Project funded by the European Union Humanitarian Aid. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the European Union Humanitarian Aid.
Printed in the Philippines
References: Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs, Public Safety Canada Inclusive Household Preparedness Pocket Guide, Disability Inclusive Community Based Disaster Risk Management: A toolkit for practice in South Asia, Handicap International
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INTRODUCTION
1
HOW TO USE THIS WORKBOOK
2
STEP 1: KNOW THE HAZARDS
3
STEP 2: MAKE A HOUSEHOLD CONTINGENCY PLAN
5
Early Warning System
5
Evacuation Plan
7
Household Preparations
8
Health and WASH
9
Benefits, Entitlements, and Access to Relief
10
STEP 3: CREATE AND EXPAND YOUR PERSONAL SUPPORT NETWORK
11
STEP 4: PRACTICE AND PARTICIPATE
13
PULL-OUT CONTINGENCY PLAN POSTER
15-16
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This workbook is intended to facilitate a discussion among members of vulnerable households to increase their capacity and reduce their vulnerabilities to disasters. While it gives focus on vulnerable households, it does not mean that households without vulnerable members cannot use it to prepare better for disasters. Vulnerable households are those households with members who are people with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women, older persons and children. This approach of ensuring that all are actively engaged in the disaster-related activities and processes irrespective of their impairment or other status such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status is called “inclusive disaster risk reduction and management.” The inclusive approach is important because people with disabilities are more vulnerable during disasters.
They tend to be invisible and are often excluded more than others from relief actions.
They face additional barriers in accessing emergency support.
They are at greater risk because their level of vulnerability increases during disasters.
The workbook covers a wide range of topics that need to be addressed by the entire family. For each topic, there are questions that will allow the family to evaluate their knowledge level on disasters and to identify areas that need additional support or training.
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1. Appoint a household member to lead the discussion. 2. Include all the members of the household, even the children, older people, pregnant, and household members with disabilities. This will make the discussions meaningful with the different perspectives, needs and concerns that are placed on the table. Also, it will ensure that all household members are aware about disasters and preparedness plans. 3. Assign a household member to be the documenter who will write down the agreements. 4. Complete the contingency plan template. Make sure that it is understood by all members of the household. 5. Post the contingency plan at a common area of the household.
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Disasters affect the whole community, but each individual will be affected differently depending on one’s vulnerabilities and capacities. The first step towards preparing for disasters is to have an understanding how a disaster may affect the entire family. For the following discussion, you may refer to the community’s risk assessment results.
What are the hazards in the community?
What are the causes of these hazards?
When are these most likely to occur?
Where do these hazards occur most likely? Will our house be affected by these?
What are the possible impacts of these hazards on our household (economic, health, household structure etc.)? What can we learn from past events about these potential impacts?
What is our family’s typical weekly schedule? Where can each member of our household be found at certain times?
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Sunday Saturday Friday Thursday Wednesday Tuesday Monday Time
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The following are discussion points with the entire family to create the household contingency plan. It would be good to have your community’s contingency plan on hand for reference during the discussion. After each section, remember to list things that the family needs to prepare for disasters on the space provided.
A. Early warning system
What early warning system is in place in our community?
What sources of early warning information are available to us (e.g. TV, radio, SMS, word of mouth, etc.)?
What the warning messages / codes mean? (e.g., sirens, color of flags, etc.)
At what point should we evacuate our home?
Who are members of the early warning system task force, and what are their contact details?
What is our household’s system to make sure everyone receives early warning messages?
Place the results of the family’s discussion on the table on Page 15.
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Does information reach everyone?
Early warning device Bells, alarms, sirens, radio, drums, loud speaker announcements and other audio signals
Impairment
Appropriateness
Physical
Suitable
Visual Hearing and/or speech
Suitable
Not recommended
Intellectual and mental
Suitable but with caution: training required to avoid panics
Physical
Suitable
Visual Flags, leaflets, posters, flash lights and other visual sigHearing and/or nals speech Intellectual and mental
Not recommended but some may be possible for those with low vision Suitable Suitable but with caution: training required to avoid panics
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B. Evacuation Plan
Where are the safe place(s) to go in our community? Where does our family intend to go? What is/are the best route(s) to get there for all members of our household? (from home and other locations e.g. school, market, place of work, etc.) What transportation is available to get there, do we have to go by foot? Does anyone in our household require additional support or the use of assistive devices? What are the usual times in the day that a household member is left alone? What assistance is available from household members, neighbors or the Search and Rescue Task Force? What facilities are available at the shelter/safe space? Does anyone in our household have specific requirements that aren’t catered for? Can these be improved in advance? Who are the key people who can provide assistance to us in the event of an emergency?
Place the results of the family’s discussion on the table on Page 15.
An inclusive evacuation plan is…
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C. Household Preparations
What items might be needed by each member of our family in the event of (or needs to be prepared before) a disaster (consider personal needs such as medication, assistive devices, important documents)? What items can be stored or prepared in advance? (consider food and non-food items) Can any adaptations or insurance be made to our lives and home to make it less affected by the hazard or less susceptible to damage? What are the assets that will be left behind after an evacuation that may be damaged or lost? Can all members of our household get in and out of the house easily? Could any adaptations be made to make it easier for members to move around? Do we have any savings or insurance that might help us recover if a disaster comes? If not, are there any local schemes we can join?
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D. Health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Are there family members who cannot wash by themselves? Are there any implications that a disaster might have on the health of our household members like aggravate an existing condition or cause psychosocial problems? Is there any advice or information that needs to be given to health or first aid workers regarding particular conditions of household members? Where can we receive health services in the event of a disaster? Do we know who the health workers or members of the first aid task force are in their community? How do we purify water and maintain hygiene standards?
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E. Benefits, Entitlements and Access to Relief
What sources of relief or support exist in the event of a disaster and what is our household entitled to? What is the process for accessing this support? Is any documentation required? Do we need to be at the official shelter? Which family member is responsible for communicating with Government or other relief sources?
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
Identify people who you think can help you obtain the resources you will need after a disaster. Other than your family, identify other people who have the capacity to assist or help you in times of emergencies like your neighbors, community health workers, leaders, etc. Have an emergency contact person both in the community and also elsewhere.
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Talk to the people in your network directly and explain what is expected of them as part of your support network. Discuss with each one of them what you think your needs will be during a disaster and let them know what is the best way will be to assist you. Have your network practice your personal evacuation plan with you, and make sure your network knows to check on you immediately after a disaster or an evacuation order.
Contact Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) or other persons with disabilities in your community. Connecting with other persons with disabilities will provide you an opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences of disasters. Working together can also facilitate the process of ensuring that disability is included in your community’s disaster preparedness plans. Find out if there is a DPO in your community and join their meetings and activities. If there is none, ask about your community or municipality’s focal person for persons with disabilities. Inclusive Household Disaster Preparedness Workbook | 12
The household contingency plan needs to be tested to see if it works. During the simulation, all the household members will act out the contingency plan to be familiar with each other’s roles and to build confidence in what to do in the event of a disaster. Once done, discuss the results with all the household members to discuss which parts of the plan work and to adjust those parts that need improvement. Once done, share your plan with the relevant Task Forces and management committees in the community and update it regularly.
Take action! 1. Save money regularly to cover losses in the event of disaster. 2. Store seeds in a safe place in case of crop damage. 3. Plan how to protect assets that will be left behind from damage or loss. 4. Attend available hygiene or first aid trainings in your community.
5. Take part in disaster risk reduction activities in your community. 6. Have a directory of emergency contacts from the government and others who can help in case of emergency.
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EMERGENCY CONTACTS
NAME
CONTACT INFORMATION
List of instructions that you can easily follow in an emergency Personal list and minimum one-week supply of medical supplies and equipment Detailed list of all prescription medications Identification tag or bracelet to inform rescuer of medical condition
Example: People with diabetes
LIST OF EMERGENCY BAG CONTENTS Basic contents:
Water Food that will not spoil (canned food and dried food) Multipurpose tool (knife, can opener, screw driver, etc.) Flashlight – hand-cranked or batterypowered (and extra batteries) Radio – hand-cranked or battery-powered (and extra batteries) Clothes and blankets Hygiene kits First aid kit Cash in small bills A copy of your emergency plan and contact information
Specific items according to needs:
For people with hearing impairment
Tire patch kit Inner tubes Heavy gloves (to protect hands) Spare battery (for motorized wheelchair)
For people with chronic illnesses:
Supply of food items appropriate to dietary restrictions
Wr i ti n g pads an d pe nc i l s for communication Flashlight, whistle or personal alarm Pre-printed phrases useful during an emergency, Assistive equipment according to needs (i.e., hearing aid, personal amplifier, etc.) Extra batteries for assistive devices
For people with visual impairment
For wheelchair users:
Extra supply of insulin or oral medicine Extra supply of syringes, needles and insulin pens (if used) Small container for storing used syringes and/or needles (if applicable) Blood glucose testing kit, spare batteries and diary Fast acting insulin for high blood sugar (if applicable) Juice or snacks for low blood sugar Ice packs and thermal bag to store insulin (if applicable)
Extra white cane, preferably longer in length Extra vision aids (magnifier or reading glasses) Extra pair of prescription glasses (if applicable) Pet food for service animal
For children
Milk Educational toys Books
Others:
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Hazard
Go
Get Set
Ready
Go
Get Set
Ready
Go
Get Set
Ready
What are the signals for each level?
Early warning Where will the family go in the event of a disaster?
Safe place or evacuation center What kind of transportation do we need to get there?
How to get to the safe place or evacuation center
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Ready = be aware and monitor the situation Get set = Prepare for possible evacuation Go = Evacuate to the identified safe place.
What does each level mean?
Go
Get Set
Ready
Go
Get Set
Ready
Go
Get Set
Ready
Handicap International - Philippines 12D The Valero Tower, Valero St. (accessible entrance at San Agustin St.) Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227 Tel: +63 (02) 812-6990 Fax: +63(02) 519-3341/ 892-4583 Email: info@handicapinternational.ph www.handicapinternational.ph
Developed by the Scale Up, Build Up Project funded by
Humanitarian Aid 17 | Inclusive Household Disaster Preparedness Workbook