Talking with your family and neighbors about what to do if a natural disaster occurs is the starting point for being prepared.

If you haven't done this, now is the time. Here's a plan for families to consider in preparing for a disaster:

Pick two places to meet – one near your home in case of fire, for example, and one outside your neighborhood if you can't get home. Families should carry a card with the addresses and phone numbers of the designated meeting places.

Ask about emergency plans at the places where your family spends the most time – schools, day-care centers, workplaces, nursing homes or other facilities and how families are contacted in a crisis. Also find out if there are adequate emergency supplies, if there's a “shelter-in-place” should the need arise and if there's an evacuation site if it's necessary. If a plan doesn't exist, volunteer to help develop one.

Designate an out-of-state relative or friend to be the central contact person. Put that person's name, address and phone number in writing for each family member to carry at all times and make it available to the people with whom your children or aging relatives spend time (this is included in the cutout card).

Initiate the plan

Create a checklist of things you'll need and need to do in an emergency; do what you can in advance; rehearse your plan as a family and update information every six months.

Explore with your children the Ready website for kids where they can do activities and test their knowledge about disaster preparation. They also will find things to pack in their own disaster-supplies backpack (crayons, favorite books, scissors and glue, deck of cards, doll or stuffed animal, puzzles) to help them feel comforted and stay occupied in an emergency.

You can find checklists, preprinted forms to fill out and other useful information at:

www.ready.gov – U.S. Department of Homeland Security

www.ready.gov/kids – Ready website for kids

www.redcross.org – American Red Cross

Preparedness Planning for Your Business from Ready.gov

Businesses can do much to prepare for the impact of the many hazards they face in today’s world including natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and widespread serious illness such as the H1N1 flu virus pandemic. Human-caused hazards include accidents, acts of violence by people and acts of terrorism. Examples of technology-related hazards are the failure or malfunction of systems, equipment or software.

Ready Business will assist businesses in developing a preparedness program by providing tools to create a plan that addresses the impact of many hazards. This website and its tools utilize an “all hazards approach” and follows the program elements within National Fire Protection Association 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs. NFPA 1600 is a National Standard and has been adopted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The five steps in developing a preparedness program are:

Program Management

• Organize, develop and administer your preparedness program
• Identify regulations that establish minimum requirements for your program

Planning

• Gather information about hazards and assess risks
• Conduct a business impact analysis (BIA)
• Examine ways to prevent hazards and reduce risks

Implementation
Write a preparedness plan addressing:

• Resource management
• Emergency response
• Crisis communications
• Business continuity
• Information technology
• Employee assistance
• Incident management
• Training

Testing and Exercises

• Test and evaluate your plan
• Define different types of exercises
• Learn how to conduct exercises
• Use exercise results to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan

Program Improvement

• Identify when the preparedness program needs to be reviewed
• Discover methods to evaluate the preparedness program
• Utilize the review to make necessary changes and plan improvements

READY RATING: Take your free online business preparedness assessment today

If you have an infant in your home, it's important that disaster supplies go beyond the obvious.

Do a mental inventory and then pack up the things your baby can't do without:

• Diapers and baby wipes
• Rash ointments and other medications
• Bottles and formula
• Powdered milk
• Special toys and blankets

Other Resources
For teachers: Grades 1-12 Classroom Curriculum by FEMA
For kids: http://www.ready.gov/kids/games

School Emergency Planning & Safety

You may be prepared for an emergency, but have you considered your pets? According to the U.S. Humane Society, 62% of U.S. households owned at least one pet in 2012. Here in Encinitas, we have several dog parks, many restaurants with outdoor pup-friendly seating, a water dish outside nearly every storefront on the 101, and an annual festival dedicated to canines in Cardiff. We can guess that Encinitas likely surpasses that percentage and that’s just dogs. Cats, birds, fish, reptiles, and horses also make up some of the various animals Encinitas pet owners may have. Moreover, many pet owners are quick to admit they consider their pet to be a family member. Nothing speaks more to the love and appreciation we have for our furry, finned, or feathered family members than including them in our emergency preparedness plans. For example, do you have food and water set aside for your pet in your emergency survival kit? How about bedding and shelter? Below we provide resources for pet preparation and the prevention of pet loss in the event of a disaster.

Before a Disaster

• Register your pets – If your pet has a microchip (which is highly recommended by many national animal support organizations), register your pet with your veterinarian’s office and a national registry. See AVMA FAQs for more information on microchips if your pet does not have one.
• Plan to take your pets with you – When you have to evacuate, always take your pets with you. Even a small disaster, which may be assumed to last only a few hours, can turn into a larger and longer event. In your family evacuation plans, know the places that will accept your pets too.
• Have your pet checked out after a disaster – If there is any chance your pet has been exposed to hazardous materials, such as mold or smoke, take him or her to the vet.

Local Resources

For temporary lodging for cats and dogs during an evacuation, check in with the Rancho Coastal Humane Society. Your vet may be able to make suggestions as well.

Other considerations: Do you board your pets when you travel? Be sure to ask the kennel about their emergency plan. Will they keep your pets until you can pick them up? If their location becomes uninhabitable, where will your pet go? Do not count on being able to call them during a disaster, the phone lines might be down. Be pro-active and find out ahead of time.

Websites on Disaster Preparation for Pets

Find checklists, tips, and advice on preparing your pets for unexpected emergencies.

• American Veterinary Medical Association
• ASPCA Disaster Preparedness for Pets
• FEMA Readiness for Animals

Additional Information

Pets need disaster kits and planning as much as humans. You can get more details from your veterinarian and various organizations, such as the San Diego County Humane Society and the SPCA, 5500 Gaines St. in Linda Vista, (619) 299-7012. Have your pet fitted with a microchip containing information to aid in identifying it if it gets lost. Contact the San Diego County Department of Animal Services, (619) 278-9760 or www.sddac.com for details.

During a Disaster

• Evacuate pets early, if you have warning. If you are not home, ask a friend or neighbor to help. If you must leave pets behind, do not tie them up. Leave food and water in non spill containers. If they are left inside, place a notice on the front door that pets are indoors.
• Emergency shelters generally do not allow pets to accompany owners. Officials there should be able to help find suitable temporary quarters for pets.

After a Disaster

• If your pet is lost, visit animal shelters daily and distribute fliers in the area. After recovering your pet, examine it for injury or illness and see a vet if necessary.
• The San Diego Humane Society's volunteer Animal Rescue Reserve, (619) 299-0871, operates a 24-hour service to help recover horses, livestock and household pets.

Steps to take if you live in a condo or an apartment:

Evacuation plans: The Uniform Fire Code requires multistory buildings to have evacuation plans that are reviewed before the first residents can move in. Some plans, particularly for high-rises, are checked regularly.

Homeowner associations are not required to maintain disaster plans. But some boards appoint a committee to oversee emergency planning. Assigned duties may include first aid, search and rescue, emergency stockpiles and other steps to take until outside aid arrives. Property managers typically supervise the details in large complexes. Check with your homeowners' board or landlord and become familiar with how to operate the utility controls for your building.

Advice for tenants and condo residents:

• Evacuation: Do not collect personal belongings before exiting. Stay in the designated safe area until you are notified when you can return. Use handrails when descending stairs; persons in wheelchairs and on crutches should be carried downstairs after assembling at the stairwells.
   
• Fire: If there is a fire alarm system in the building, learn the location of alarm pull boxes. Spend no more than a few seconds trying to extinguish a fire by smothering it or using a fire extinguisher. Call 911, notify onsite staff, leave your unit and do not lock the doors. If you are trapped in the unit, stay low to the ground, crawl to an outer room and close the door. Use clothing or linens to seal cracks and the door. Signal for help by using the phone or hanging a sign in your window.
   
• Earthquake: Move away from windows or any forms of glass; find shelter under a sturdy desk or table, kneel down and cover your head with your arms; if in a wheelchair, stay in it and move to cover beneath a doorway. If outside, move away from the building and utility wires. Take great care when re-entering buildings; watch for structural damage and falling objects.
   
• Floods: Move to the second floor or roof, if necessary. Stay away from wiring and electrical connections.

The American Geriatric Society says meeting the specific needs of older family members may very well be life-saving.

Things to consider:

• A medical ID bracelet to alert others to health problems and food or drug allergies.
• At least a two-week supply of prescriptions and medications in their original packaging.
• Medical equipment such as extra eyeglasses, blood-pressure cuff, blood-sugar monitoring equipment, hearing aid batteries, ice packs or an insulated bag for medication that requires refrigeration.
• Copies of medical records with doctors' contact information, lists of problems and how they're being treated and the names of drugs taken.

Visit the American Red Cross webpage on senior citizens for more information.

The first step in preparing for an event is to assess your risk. For example, do you live or work near a freeway, railroad or pipeline where hazardous materials are transported? Do you live near open space? Is your home near the shoreline? Some of the hazards we should prepare for include:

Terrorism

Should another terrorist act occur, there is no better-prepared place to be than California. For more than 25 years, state and local government agencies have been preparing for these types of events to ensure the safety and security of the general public.

Preparing for terrorism involves the same steps as planning for other disasters. Please visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department also offers a variety of topics covering the threat of terrorism here.

Wildfires

Because of dry conditions and below normal precipitation, wildfires are an ever-present danger in our community. Older residential neighborhoods bordering canyons or near slopes with moderate to heavy brush are at the greatest risk. In 1996, the Harmony Grove Fire swept through the communities of Elfin Forest, Rancho Santa Fe, Carlsbad and Encinitas, destroying dozens of homes. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to protect your family and property from wildfires. Review Firewise Gardening and Defensible Space. 

Severe Storms and Flooding

In Encinitas, severe weather events occur in greater frequency than other natural disasters, making storm preparedness a priority. As recently as 1998, severe winter storms resulted in heavy property damage along the coastline and flooding along Escondido Creek. On March 27, 2002, Encinitas became the first San Diego County community and only the second community in the state to be declared “Storm Ready” by the National Weather Service. The Storm Ready program encourages communities to establish programs that help residents be better prepared to handle weather-related events or disasters in the future.

Up-to-date weather forecasts and safety advisories are available on the National Weather Service's San Diego forecast office website.

Dam Failure

A failure of Wohlford Dam in Escondido would produce flooding around Escondido Creek approximately two hours after the dam’s failure.

Earthquakes

There are two known faults that could produce earthquakes capable of causing major damage in Encinitas. The first is the Rose Canyon fault, which begins in the ocean and comes ashore near La Jolla, extending south through Rose Canyon in San Diego. The second is the Elsinore fault, which runs near Interstate 15 and the San Diego County line, through Warner Springs and continues southeast to the Mexican border. Both of these faults are capable of producing major earthquakes of 7.2 to 7.6 on the Richter scale—about the same intensity as the Loma Prieta quake in 1989 and Northridge quake in 1994.

Earthquakes can be particularly destructive in areas where liquefaction occurs, such as near lagoons and creeks. This is because loose, soft soils tend to amplify ground motion, thereby increasing damage. See here for how to respond in an earthquake and watch the video below.

Tsunamis

A tsunami is a series of long-period sea waves produced by a submarine earthquake or volcanic eruption. To date, tsunami damage in San Diego County has been limited to coastal harbors. However, a catastrophic earthquake in Chile in 1960 generated one of the greatest tsunamis of modern times, causing loss of property and life across the Pacific. Tsunami warnings are issued to the public when a danger exists. The tsunami warning system does not issue false alarms. During a tsunami emergency, Sheriff’s, Fire, Marine Safety and other emergency personnel will do everything possible to evacuate the shoreline and prevent the loss of life. Give them your fullest cooperation and follow all their directions. Low-lying areas in Encinitas, such as Moonlight Beach and “Restaurant Row” in Cardiff, can be potentially impacted by tsunamis. View tsunami evacuation routes in the City of Encinitas.

Chemical Emergencies

During a toxic chemical release, you may be told to “Shelter–in-Place.” This means to stay inside a building or vehicle (wherever you are) and seal it off from the outside air. You can view important safety information about chemical emergencies prepared by the CDC here.

Electrical Outages

Do you remember the biggest blackout in U.S. history? In 2003, a widespread power outage struck the Northeast leaving more than 50 million people without electricity. Not to mention the Southwest blackout we experienced here in 2011, which affected over seven million people. Power outages can happen anytime, so preparation is important. Since the length of an outage can vary from a few hours to several days, you should plan to get by without utilities for at least three days. In addition to having a family emergency communications plan and disaster supply kit,

The Ready Campaign offers tips to prepare for a power outage:

• Keep your car gas tank at least half full. Gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps;
• Fill plastic containers with water and freeze them. These items will help food stay cold during the outage; and
• Keep a set of house keys with you if you normally use your garage to enter your home in case the garage door does not work.

Your response during the blackout can also impact your safety. Here are some tips to follow:

• Only use flashlights for lighting. Never use candles;
• Do not run a generator inside your home or garage; and
• Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed so your food stays as fresh as possible.

To check the status of Stage III rolling blackouts (load curtailments), please visit San Diego Gas and Electric’s website.