WEATHER & NATURAL OCCURRENCES• COMMON WEATHER OR OTHER NATURALLY OCCURRING SCENARIOS IN THE U.S. INCLUDE TORNADOES, FLOODS, HURRICANES, EARTHQUAKES, WINTER STORMS, GAS LEAKS, UTILITY DISRUPTION, AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING FIRE. LESS COMMON THREATS INCLUDING VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS, AVALANCHES, TSUNAMIS AND WILDFIRES WILL NOT BE COVERED HERE. IF THOSE THREATS ARE LIKELY IN YOUR PARTICULAR AREA, PLEASE SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR LOCAL EMA (EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY).

WEATHER & NATURAL OCCURRENCES

•THOUGH BASIC RESPONSES TO DISASTERS ARE SIMILAR, EACH SITUATION IS DIFFERENT AND REQUIRES A UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC RESPONSE. EACH CHILD CARE SETTING IS ALSO UNIQUE AND WILL NEED TO FORMULATE A PLAN BASED ON ITS CIRCUMSTANCES. HOME CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, RURAL CENTERS AND URBAN CENTERS ALL HAVE DIFFERENT RISKS, NEEDS AND RESPONSES.

WEATHER & NATURAL OCCURRENCES• THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, OR FEMA, MAINTAINS A VERY THOROUGH WEB PAGE RELATED TO NATURAL DISASTERS. VISIT HTTP://WWW.READY.GOV/NATURAL-DISASTERS FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION RELATED TO MORE COMMON THREATS FOR YOUR PROGRAM.

• LET’S REVIEW THE BASICS CONCERNING THE TOP THREATS.

EARTHQUAKES• ACCORDING TO FEMA, “AN EARTHQUAKE IS THE SUDDEN, RAPID SHAKING OF THE EARTH, CAUSED BY THE BREAKING AND SHIFTING OF SUBTERRANEAN ROCK AS IT RELEASES STRAIN THAT HAS ACCUMULATED OVER A LONG TIME. ALL 50 STATES AND 5 U.S. TERRITORIES ARE AT SOME RISK FOR EARTHQUAKES. EARTHQUAKES CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR. ” PREPARATION FOR AN EARTHQUAKE INCLUDES ANCHORING LARGE FURNITURE TO THE WALL OR FLOOR AND MITIGATING THE RISK OF FALLING DEBRIS BY CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR TOYS AND MATERIALS. AVOID PILING SUPPLIES ON TOP OF TALL FURNITURE THAT COULD FALL ON SOMEONE IN AN EARTHQUAKE. DURING AN EARTHQUAKE, TAKE COVER UNDER DESKS, TABLES OR OTHER HEAVY ITEMS. HTTP://WWW.READY.GOV/EARTHQUAKES

• TO REVIEW YOUR SPECIFIC RISK, YOU CAN VIEW MAPS AT: HTTP://WWW.FEMA.GOV/EARTHQUAKE/EARTHQUAKE-HAZARD-MAPS

FLOODS• FLOODING IS A VERY COMMON HAZARD IN THE UNITED STATES. ANYWHERE IT RAINS, IT CAN FLOOD. FLOODS COME IN MANY VARIETIES. FLASH FLOODS CAN DEVELOP VERY SUDDENLY EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO RAIN. A BROKEN LEVEE CAN CREATE A DISASTER IN SECONDS. SOME FLOODING TAKES PLACE OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME SUCH AS WHEN A RIVER OVERFLOWS ITS BANKS DUE TO EXCESSIVE RAIN OR SNOWMELT. MOST TYPES OF FLOODING PROVIDE SUFFICIENT WARNING TO EVACUATE OR CLOSE THE PROGRAM TEMPORARILY. KNOW YOUR RISK OF FLOODING DUE TO RIVERS OR BROKEN LEVEES. IN THE EVENT OF A FLASH FLOOD, EVACUATE THE CHILDREN TO SHELTERS AND SHUT OFF THE WATER MAIN TO PREVENT CONTAMINATED WATER FROM ENTERING THE MAIN WATER SUPPLY.

HURRICANES• ACCORDING TO FEMA, “A HURRICANE IS A TYPE OF TROPICAL CYCLONE OR SEVERE TROPICAL STORM THAT FORMS IN THE SOUTHERN ATLANTIC OCEAN, CARIBBEAN SEA, GULF OF MEXICO, AND IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN. ALL ATLANTIC AND GULF OF MEXICO COASTAL AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO HURRICANES. PARTS OF THE SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES AND THE PACIFIC COAST ALSO EXPERIENCE HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODS EACH YEAR FROM HURRICANES SPAWNED OFF MEXICO. HURRICANES CAN PRODUCE WINDS EXCEEDING 155 MILES PER HOUR AS WELL AS TORNADOES AND MICROBURSTS. ADDITIONALLY, HURRICANES CAN CREATE STORM SURGES ALONG THE COAST AND CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE FROM HEAVY RAINFALL. FLOODS AND FLYING DEBRIS FROM THE EXCESSIVE WINDS ARE OFTEN THE DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE RESULTS OF THESE WEATHER EVENTS. SLOW MOVING HURRICANES TRAVELING INTO MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS TEND TO PRODUCE ESPECIALLY HEAVY RAIN. EXCESSIVE RAIN CAN TRIGGER LANDSLIDES OR MUD SLIDES. FLASH FLOODING CAN OCCUR DUE TO INTENSE RAINFALL.” HTTP://WWW.READY.GOV/HURRICANES

HURRICANES

• THANKFULLY, HURRICANES PROVIDE US WITH A LOT OF WARNING. IN THEUNLIKELY EVENT THAT YOU ARE IN YOUR FACILITY WHEN A HURRICANE MAKES LANDFALL, MONITOR YOUR LOCAL NEWS AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. ALERT YOUR LOCAL EMA OF YOUR SITUATION AND RESPOND AS YOU WOULD WITH ANY SEVERE WEATHER. MAINTAINING AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FOOD, WATER AND MEDICINE (IF NEEDED) FOR LONG TERM SHELTERING IS CRUCIAL.

TORNADOES• ACCORDING TO FEMA, “A TORNADO APPEARS AS A ROTATING, FUNNEL-SHAPED CLOUD THAT EXTENDS FROM A THUNDERSTORM TO THE GROUND WITH WHIRLING WINDS THAT CAN REACH 300 MILES PER HOUR. EVERY STATE IS AT SOME RISK FROM THIS HAZARD. SOME TORNADOES ARE CLEARLY VISIBLE, WHILE RAIN OR NEARBY LOW-HANGING CLOUDS OBSCURE OTHERS. OCCASIONALLY, TORNADOES DEVELOP SO RAPIDLY THAT LITTLE, IF ANY, ADVANCE WARNING IS POSSIBLE. BEFORE A TORNADO HITS, THE WIND MAY DIE DOWN AND THE AIR MAY BECOME VERY STILL. A CLOUD OF DEBRIS CAN MARK THE LOCATION OF A TORNADO EVEN IF A FUNNEL IS NOT VISIBLE. TORNADOES GENERALLY OCCUR NEAR THE TRAILING EDGE OF A THUNDERSTORM. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE CLEAR, SUNLIT SKIES BEHIND A TORNADO.” HTTP://WWW.READY.GOV/TORNADOES

TORNADOES• HAVE A WEATHER RADIO AVAILABLE AND STAY TUNED TO IT WHEN SEVERE WEATHER IS THREATENING. IF A TORNADO WARNING IS IN EFFECT, PROCEED TO YOUR PREPARED SHELTER. APPOINT A PERSON TO BE A WEATHER MONITORWHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE STAFF TEND TO THE CHILDREN. REFER TOSESSION 3 FOR INFORMATION ON PREPARING A SHELTER AREA.

WINTER STORMS• ACCORDING TO FEMA, “WINTER STORMS CAN RANGE FROM A MODERATE SNOW OVER A FEW HOURS TO A BLIZZARD WITH BLINDING, WIND-DRIVEN SNOW THAT LASTS FOR SEVERAL DAYS. MANY WINTER STORMS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY DANGEROUSLY LOW TEMPERATURES AND SOMETIMES BY STRONG WINDS, ICING, SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.” HTTP://WWW.READY.GOV/WINTER-WEATHER

WINTER STORMS• DANGERS TO CHILDCARE PROGRAMS INCLUDE BREAKDOWN OF THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM LEADING TO A DELAY IN PARENT ARRIVAL AND DISRUPTION OF POWER WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CENTRAL HEAT. FROZEN WATER PIPES ARE ALSO A CONCERN. AN ADEQUATE EMERGENCY SUPPLY OFFOOD AND WATER IS IMPORTANT AS WELL AS AN ALTERNATE MEANS OF HEATING THE BUILDING IF POWER IS LOST. BLANKETS, EXTRA CLOTHING AND MEDICINE, IF NEEDED, SHOULD BE STORED IN AN ACCESSIBLE PLACE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

FIRE• FIRE SAFETY IS GENERALLY WELL THOUGHT OUT IN CHILDCARE PROGRAMS. HAVING COOKING SOURCES IN THE BUILDING AS WELL AS A LOT OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL (PAPER, CRAFT SUPPLIES, ETC.) KEEPS US CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE RISK OF FIRE. FIRE IS A COMMON SCENARIO THAT CAN LEAD TO DISASTER IF NOT HANDLED APPROPRIATELY. STATISTICS ARE NOT AVAILABLE SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAMS BUT ACCORDING TO FEMA, EACH YEAR MORE THAN 2,500 PEOPLE DIE AND 12,600 ARE INJURED IN HOME FIRES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS STATISTIC ALONE SHOULD MAKE US AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY. ALL STAFF SHOULD BE TRAINED ON FIRE SAFETY AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT OR EMA FOR TRAINING INFORMATION.

UTILITY DISRUPTION & GAS LEAKS• THERE CAN BE MANY POTENTIAL DANGERS IN THE EVENT OF A GAS LEAK OR AN UNEXPECTED UTILITY DISRUPTION. GAS LEAKS CAN CAUSE THE RISK OF AN EXPLOSION. A BROKEN WATER LINE CAN CAUSE FLOODING AT WORST AND DISRUPTED HYGIENE ABILITY AT BEST. UNEXPECTED POWER FAILURE CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF FOOD AND MEDICINE AS WELL AS THE DANGER OF EXTREME TEMPERATURES INSIDE THE BUILDING. THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE ESCALATES WITH AN UNEXPECTED ELECTRICAL FAILURE AS WELL. KEEP AN ACCURATE RECORD IN YOUR DRP OF ALL UTILITY PIPES AND LINES. KEEP THEM WELL MAINTAINED AND INSPECTED. THE TYPE OF DISRUPTION DETERMINES THE RESPONSE TAKEN. A DISRUPTED GAS LINE WOULD REQUIRE EVACUATION WHILE A POWER OUTAGE MIGHT NOT. IF THERE IS ANY RISK OF FIRE, EVACUATE THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY.

MAN-MADE DISASTERS• WHILE MOST PROGRAMS HAVE A WELL-PRACTICED PLAN FOR NATURALLY OCCURRING EMERGENCIES INCLUDING FIRE, MANY DO NOT HAVE A PLAN FOR HANDLING A VIOLENT INDIVIDUAL, TERRORISM THAT STRIKES LOCALLY OR A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL EMERGENCY. THESE REQUIRE THINKING ABOUT THINGS THAT WE WOULD RATHER AVOID AND CAN BE QUITE OVERWHELMING WHEN THE POSSIBILITIES ARE EXAMINED. NEVERTHELESS, KNOWING WHAT TO DO IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES CAN BE A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH. A PLAN MUST BE IN PLACE THAT IS PRACTICED AND REVIEWED FREQUENTLY.

POTENTIALLY VIOLENT INDIVIDUALSUNFORTUNATELY, THE RISK OF ENCOUNTERING A VIOLENT INDIVIDUAL IN A SCHOOL OR CHILDCARE SETTING IS ESCALATING. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES, PARENTS OR SEEMINGLY RANDOM ATTACKS IN FACILITIES WHERE CHILDRENSPEND THEIR TIME. PREPARATION, AWARENESS AND TRAINING ARE ESSENTIAL. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CLASSES OFTEN OFFER COURSES ON PERSONAL SAFETY THAT TEACH POTENTIALLY NECESSARY SKILLS IN THE EVENT OF AN AGGRESSIVE INTRUDER.

POTENTIALLY VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS• IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE FAMILY SITUATIONS OF THE CHILDREN IN YOUR

CARE. ARE THE PARENTS DIVORCED OR SEPARATED? ARE THERE OTHER RELATIVES WHO MIGHT WISH TO HARM A CHILD? COULD A PARENT HAVE POTENTIAL ENEMIES AT WORK WHO MIGHT WANT TO USE THE CHILD TO HURT THE PARENT? ARE THERE HIGH PROFILE PARENTS IN YOUR CENTER WHO MIGHT HAVE FANS OR ENEMIES WHO WOULD THREATEN A CHILD? ENCOURAGE THE PARENTS IN YOUR CENTER TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU BY ASSURING THEM THAT YOU WOULD RATHER BE AWARE OF THE RISK AND BE PREPARED THAN TAKEN BY SURPRISE

POTENTIALLY VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS• EXAMPLE: A COLLEGE PROFESSOR HAD TO GIVE A FAILING GRADE TO AN

UNSTABLE GRADUATE STUDENT AND THEN WARNED THE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AT THE LABORATORY SCHOOL ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS WHERE THE CHILD ATTENDS. IN THIS SITUATION NOTHING CAME OF IT, BUT THEPROVIDERS WERE ABLE TO PUT INTO PRACTICE WHAT THEY HAD LEARNED IN TRAINING SESSIONS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE.

POTENTIALLY VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS• YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE AWARE OF ALL INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR BUILDING. HAVE A SWIPECARD OR OTHER RESTRICTED ENTRANCE IF POSSIBLE TO VET POTENTIAL THREATENING INDIVIDUALS. AVOID HAVING CHILDREN WITHIN SIGHT OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE IF POSSIBLE. IF SOMEONE ENTERS YOUR BUILDING AND THEN BECOMES VIOLENT, IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 AND ALERT CENTER STAFF. IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS LOOKING FOR A PARTICULAR TARGET SUCH AS ONE CHILD OR TEACHER, HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO QUIETLY ALERT ANY STAFF WHO MIGHT NEED TO EVACUATE WITH THEIR CLASS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMAIN CALM AND BE POLITE. AGITATING THE INDIVIDUAL WILL ONLY MAKE IT WORSE. IF POSSIBLE, DIRECT THE INDIVIDUAL INTO AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE NO CHILDREN AND ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THEIR ISSUE.

LARGE SCALE TERRORISM• THOUGH NOT NEARLY AS LIKELY TO HAPPEN AS MANY OTHER DISASTERS, TERRORISM CAN’T BE OVERLOOKED WHEN CRISIS PLANNING. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO WAYS TO PREDICT TERRORISM AND IT CAN COME IN MULTIPLE FORMS, HAVING OPEN CONVERSATION WITH STAFF, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES IS CRUCIAL. SOME FORMS OF TERRORISM MAY REQUIRE EVACUATING YOUR BUILDING WHILE OTHERS MIGHT REQUIRE A COMPLETE LOCKDOWN INCLUDING SEALING OFF AIRFLOW. BEING PREPARED FOR ALL TYPES OF CRISIS SITUATIONS IS THE ONLY WAY TO EFFECTIVELY PREPARE FOR HOMELAND TERRORISM. VISIT HTTP://WWW.DHS.GOV/ FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOMELAND SECURITY.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS• PERHAPS ONE OF THE MORE LIKELY SCENARIOS WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PREPARING IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL TO BE RELEASED IN THE AIR OR WATER THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. CHEMICALS ARE IN MOST EVERYTHING. THEY KEEP OUR BUSES RUNNING AND DRINKING WATER CLEAN. THEY CLEAN AND SANITIZE OUR TOYS AND FERTILIZE OUR GARDENS. ON A LARGER SCALE THEY MAY BE PRODUCED, STORED OR TRANSPORTED IN YOUR VICINITY. IF USED AND RELEASED PROPERLY THERE IS VERY LITTLE DANGER. A TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENT OR A LARGE SCALE CHEMICAL SPILL COULD WREAK HAVOC ON A COMMUNITY. GAS STATIONS, HOSPITALS, UNIVERSITIES, DRY CLEANERS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL WASTE SITES ARE ALL POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS• “HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COME IN THE FORM OF EXPLOSIVES, FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE SUBSTANCES, POISONS AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS.” -HTTP://WWW.READY.GOV/HAZARDOUS-MATERIALS-INCIDENTS

• IF A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL IS RELEASED, THE SITUATION WILL DETERMINE THE RESPONSE. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL EMA OR FIRST RESPONDERS AND FOLLOW THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO EVACUATE OR SHELTER IN PLACE. IF YOU SHELTER IN PLACE, CLOSE ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS. SEAL OPENINGS WITH PLASTIC SHEETING AND DUCT TAPE. CLOSE AND SEAL ALL VENTILATION SOURCES AND AIR DUCTS. TURN OFF AIR CONDITIONERS AND HEATERS THAT MIGHT DRAW OUTSIDE AIR INSIDE. MAINTAIN COMMUNICATION WITH EMERGENCY PERSONNEL UNTIL GIVEN AN ALL CLEAR OR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS• IF YOU ARE REQUIRED TO EVACUATE, FOLLOW YOUR EVACUATION PROTOCOL (SEE SESSIONS 2 AND 3) AND TRANSPORT CHILDREN TO A SAFE LOCATION. POTENTIALLY, YOUR DESIGNATED SHELTER MAY BE COMPROMISED AND AN ALTERNATE LOCATED. STAY UPHILL, UPWIND AND UPSTREAM AND GET AS FAR AS POSSIBLE FROM THE SOURCE OF DANGER. FEMA RECOMMENDS RELOCATING AT LEAST ½ MILE FROM THE SITE.