Emergency Preparedness: Natural and Human-Generated Disasters

The disaster scenario is a recenly upgraded “Tropical Strom Anna moving toward landfall and is expected to make landfall, and possibly strengthen, in 24 hours. The Governor has declared a state of emergency in response to the potential flooding due to heavy rainfall that is expected with this system” (Department of Children & Family Services, 2011). There are many dangers of a tropical storm-downed power lines, medicine, flooding, generator problems, fallen trees, unclean water and a lack of food. The destruction from the storm depends on its intensity, its size, and its location. After the tropical storm has passed, standing water can cause the spread of disease, transportation or communications infrastructure may have been destroyed and hampering clean up and rescue efforts. People, pets, homes and business are at risk.
Teachers and staff should be prepared to protect the children and structures from risk of a natural disaster (Disaster Training International [DTI], 2001). Preparation should occur in early childhood education environment because risk is everywhere and children may be more vulnerable to injury. If not prepared this disaster could cause the need to replace equipment or repair buildings. It could also cause a program to close for a certain amount of time, or it could cause injury or loss of a teacher, staff member or child’s life. There appropriate steps to develop an advance disaster plan and how to deal with it if it occurs. First, identify the hazards that are typical in your area (ARC, 2001; NCCCHSRC, 2005 b). Also make sure staff member have basic first aid and CPR training, and keep their certificates current.
The following steps to prepare for a flooding and tropical storm: stay up to date with the status of the storm possible flooding in the area, be sure to review and update evacuation and safety plans as needed, be ready if a declaration of disaster is made for your daycare center, inform parents how you will communicate if you are unable to reopen and finally be safe. If the childcare center is declared a disaster, the center will be required to complete a center Re-Opening Form. The form will not be posted until a declaration of disaster is made (Department of Children & Family Services, 2011).
To assess the potential risks after a tropical storm it is necessary to inspect the premises of the childcare facility, to identify potential hazards for the children, prepare any equipment that is damaged and could cause injury, store chemicals and other potentially harmful objects out of the reach of children and make sure all cribs and child equipment meet safety requirements, check all products for recalls.

The assess of risks of a tornado are to designate a safe location inside the facility by avoiding any large rooms that do not have extended length, choose a room on the lowest floor without exterior walls and far from glass as possible. If there are no safe places in the building, consider an alternate location such as the building next door (Tornado Safety in Child Care Centers, 2012).

Potential complications created by the danger itself is, people were not able to reach their children because the main roads were closed, water was contaminated due to broken water lines, gas and water pipes broken causing a fire or flood hazard.

There are several materials or documentation that would be helpful; keep contact information for each child’s parent, legal guardian in a safe place that you have easy access to that you can grab in a hurry and keep a list of all children’s names in the safe location. Teachers should have a portable radio with new batteries that can be taken to the safe location; other items include bottle water, flashlights, extra batteries, thick blankets to shield children from broken glass, and a first aid kit. It is important to check all items periodically to make sure they are in working conditions.

It is imperative to conduct random disaster drills for families and children in your care. Parents should be informed about alternate shelters so they are aware of the whereabouts of their children. An evacuation plan should be posted in each classroom with an alternate exit in case of an emergency. Conducting drills each month to practice the evacuation plans help to insure all routes are covered. If there are multiple routes use one route one month and another for the next. Conduct drills at different times of the day, including nap time, for maximum preparedness. Before going to the safe location, conduct a head count of all staff and children to ensure everyone is accounted for. Bring along an attendance sheet to do a check. Remind the children to stay calm during the drills or any emergency, teach them to get down on their knees, crouch forward and cover their heads during the storm. This will protect them from flying objects.

References:

Department of Children & Family Services: Prepare for Tropical Storm. (2011). Retrieved March 18, 2012 from http://www.dss.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=emaillist&tmp=viewcampaign&nowrap=1&msgid=680&uid=hHhwn=hQ

Frost, S. (2012). Safety Tips for Childcare Facilities: Assess Potential Risks. Retrieved March 18, 2012 from http://www.ehow.com/way_5154588_safety-tips-childcare-facilities.html

Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Education (4^th Ed) Belmont: Wadsworth/CENGAGE Learning.

Rumble, A. (2012). Tornado Safety in Child Care Centers: Practicing and Counting. Retrieved, March 18, 2012 from http://www.ehow.com/info_7921167_tornado-safety-child-care-centers.html

Wikipedia: Effect of Tropical Storms. Retrieved, March 18, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_tropical_cyclones