Recovery

There are many agencies involved in recovery, known as VOAD.
Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster

A few of them are:

The American Red Cross

The Church of Jesus Christ

The Lutheran Church

The Baptist Church

The Salvation Army

These organizations work very closely together regularly.  Each one of them provide specific services during and after a disaster

Example
Many years ago springtime in our city, the banks of a local creek that ran from the mountains through our city were running over and flooding homes along the way.

The city officials contacted the local church leaders, (it was on a Sunday) asking for volunteers to fill sandbags, deliver them to specific sites and to place them all along the way.  Their request was honored as droves of volunteers showed up to help.

It took hours and pretty soon, trucks showed up with water, drinks and sandwiches for the volunteers.  Porta potties were even delivered.

VOAD in action and they are awesome!

Human Waste Is Hazardous When Not Disposed Of Properly

Procedure For 
Converting A Home Toilet Into A Dry System Or Set Up An Emergency Toilet 

      

     Turn off the toilet tank water supply under the toilet, empty the tank of water and towel dry the interior of the toilet bowl.
     Plug the hole with a ball  inside a nylon sock that fits your drain (so the sewer gases don’t come in.) Do this for all of your toilets and drains.   (Make sure you have balls in the nylon socks ready to place them, be sure they fit tight)
    Open a large a plastic bag and place in the toilet or the bucket.  (If using the bucket, snap on toilet seat securely or place a plastic bag across the top to keep the odor down when not in use)

   Make sure to keep the liquids and solids separate
       Use a urinal for liquids (Pour liquids on your bushes outside. They love it)
      Only solids in the toilet, flatten with a stick and cover with an inch of sand, dirt or kitty litter. Repeat until filled. 
      
      To Empty, carefully lift the full bag from the toilet or transport the bucket after you have removed the toilet seat, outside to a previously dug hole .  Cover with a couple inches of dirt, then with your dedicated shovel,  chop to break open the plastic bag so the contents will compost into the soil /or place the full bag of waste into a separate garbage can specified for waste only, put the lid on securely.  When the ground thaws, bury it  (keep it in shade the north side of home or building so it stays frozen)

DO NOT USE ANY CHEMICALS ON SOLID WASTE - because it will interfere with the natural composting, that means no lime or Clorox.  Instead use kitty litter, sand or soil

A Urinal and John Adapter (for women)  may be purchased at Sportsman’s Warehouse, Fishing Dept., or Cabela's Camping Dept

Copyright    CHGetReady.com

Setting Up Outside For Using The Dry Toilet System Or Sanitation Kit Usage

 For Use If You Have No Water and No Power
 
Prepare by digging a 3X3X3 ft hole in your yard as far away from the house and garden area as possible before the ground freezes (winter).   
Fill the hole with leaves and cover the hole with a sheet of plywood.  Cover the dirt from the hole with a plastic tarp held down with a big rock on each corner

       
To use: Place the full bag of waste in the hole, chop the bag thoroughly up with the shovel and cover with a couple inches of dirt from the dirt pile next to the hole. Cover the hole with the plywood and cover the dirt with the tarp and place the rocks on the corners, ready for next time.
If you have not dug a hole previously, place the full bag of waste into a metal garbage can specifically put aside for waste, and place the lid securely on, put on the north side of the house or in a shady place to keep the odor down. When the ground thaws, bury it. 
**Keep liquids and solids separate.  Bushes love liquid (urine).

Copyright CHGetReady

Basic Sanitation Kit

    

             2  -  6 Gal Buckets  (one to use as a toilet, the other filled with soil, sand,
             or kitty litter)
             1 Lid
             Toilet Seat w/Lid to fit bucket
             1 Urinal w/ Adapter for women
             1 Thick Stick at least 2 ft long
             1 - 2 qt  Labeled Squirt Bottle (hand cleaner).
             1 – 32 oz. Spray Bottle (Fill with distilled vinegar and 10 drops of Essential Oil 
             of your choice to clean off toilet seat, adding essential oil increases the sanitizing 
             and anti-bacterial properties of the vinegar)
             1 Shovel
             6X12 Plastic Tarp (to cover the dirt dug from the hole you dug)
             An empty garbage can w/lid (just in case you forgot to dig the hole before the 
             ground froze, place on the north side of house to stay out of the sun, keeps the
             odor down)
             1 sheet plywood  (to cover the 3x3x3 ft hole dug)

            ****Dig a 3X3X3 foot hole as far from your home and garden as possible on your own 
            property for the disposal of waste filled plastic bags
    
       Now add:
         20 - 13 Gal garbage Bags (to place in the bucket to collect waste)
         3 - 4  Rolls Toilet Paper
         1-2 Rolls Paper Towels
         1 Box Vinyl Gloves
         1 Package Baby Wipes

         ***Enough balls to stop all the drains in the house in case the sewer system is down to
         keep the gases out of your home.  (You can use a tight fitting ball in a nylon sock in
         the drain for easy removal). A tennis ball works well, be sure to check it beforehand for size
        ****Be sure to keep wash your hands well after, a little soap and water goes a long way for 
        personal hygiene, and be sure to keep the area of your toilet as clean as possible after each use

   

When And Why Would I Use A Sanitation Kit?

1. If all power is out and water is off in the infrastructure of your community
2. Remember... anything you flush down the toilet may end up in someone’s house downstream
3. You wouldn’t use your precious stored water to flush the toilet
4. You may want to practice when you go camping

Just a reminder......
Always be sure to bury solid waste, deep, at least 3 feet.
Bushes love liquid, uric acid. 
Be conscientious of others. 

 

     

Shelter in Place information for the Deaf

Great informational videos on Sheltering-in Place for the Deaf.


Part 1
Part 2

Sheltering In Place for Campus Living

When away at school, take a look at the video below to raise your awareness and to assist you in your preparations.

Shelter in Place

What does Shelter in Place Mean?

Shelter in Place means to stay in your home and not leave in the event of a chemical spill or event.
Make prior arrangements to collect the supplies you may need.  In the event, grab your shelter - in - place kit and go to the previously chosen room of your home. You will want to go to a room with few windows and as high in the home as possible (no basements chemicals settle low to the ground).  You will want to seal all windows, doors, electrical outlets and vents. 

Take a look at the video below for more information

Water Storing Tips

Invest in you and your family

Empty Water Containers holds Dehydrated Water- 
                              FILL EM UP !!

                    Water is Essential to LIFE!

The human body is 60% water. Metabolism and clear thinking requires hydration, under stress you need even more water
No less than 1 gallon per person per day for drinking and cooking.  Laundry, cleaning and sanitation is extra 

And don't forget your pets.

Find a way to store enough water for your family for 2 weeks

Consider different size & type containers for different uses, as you may need to travel to fill it up 
Fifty five gallon barrel  will need a pump. Good for laundry and cleaning needs.
Five or six gallon water containers to store drinking/cooking water in since they can be transported easily for use and to re-fill from a clean source 
after your current stored water has run out.
Another option,  polycarbonate containers for water drinking and cooking.
Make sure you have pumps available for the size you have chosen if you are unable to acces the water by pouring.
You will need a spigot for the 5 and 6 gallon containers
 The Ready Store

Invest in some kind of water filter for your family for time of usage. 

Filtering Stored Water 

DO NOT expect anyone else to do this for you and your family or household. 
 
Prepare yourself by making whatever sacrifices you must to acquire the needed 
supplies and equipment.
Make it a priority to accomplish this project.  Be sure to store your containers on some type of platform, like a wood pallet, or a layer of bricks with plywood on top.  If you store it on a piece of plywood on a concrete floor, the plywood may disintegrate over time.  

If you store it directly on the concrete, it may affect the taste of the water. 

Make sure to use a RV Hose to fill up your drinking water supply, as regular hoses have lead in the inside of them and may transfer to your water.  Not good.






 Home Depot has them, click here





Be sure to prepare your containers for your water storage
When Filling Water Containers

What about collecting rain water?

If rain water is collected from the roof, consider the fiberglass from the shingles,  airborne contaminants of heavy metals, air pollution and then the actual contaminates of animal and bird feces, mold or fungus and paint from the inside of rain gutters, metal roofs have zinc in the runoff water.

Questioning if the collected rain water from the roof is safe for vegetable 
gardens, that is a lot of contamination of the water that is feeding plants, to feed people.  However ornamental plants and lawn will benefit.  Make a good choice.

If you choose to collect rain water, consider a couple of open lid 
barrels and a huge funnel in your storage for the purpose of collecting rain water directly and a way to strain and purify for use.

Filtering and Using Stored Water

To improve the taste of stored water, consider running it through a reputable filter

AquaRain, Berkey, Katadyne, Seychelle 
Available online and at Recreation/Hunting/Fishing/Camping Stores


Using a pump or spigot, pour water into a water pitcher, then through a filter.

Pour the water from one pitcher or jar to another several times to re-oxygenate it.

Using a glass crock with a lid, or canning jars with lids, fill them up, 
shake, then place water in the sun for a couple of 
hours to re-energize

Remember......... sugary drink powders will create more thirst and though it may 
taste better, will not quench the body’s thirst and need for pure clean water.  More thirst to dilute the sugar response in the body.


What is a Wapi?


A WAPI is a transparent tube which contains wax. The wax melts and drops to the bottom of the tube when it reaches 150°F (65°C) for 6 minutes indicating that the water has been pasteurized and is now safe to drink. A Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI) is a simple thermometer that indicates when water has reached pasteurization temperature and is safe to drink. 
 

When Filling Water Containers

 
Municipal water is already chlorinated and DOES NOT need further treatment

DO NOT wash out containers with soap, simply too challenging to get out 
all the residual bubbles
DO use 1⁄2 c – 1 c white distilled vinegar and water to clean out your container

Fill container 1⁄4 full of water and shake or roll around and dump out, then rinse.

Fill your containers after you have them on pallets or with bricks and plywood to store your water.

After 6 -12 months of filling a new water container, consider emptying the container and then re-filling,  thus seasoning the water container.
*Seasoning the container means the water stored at first will most likely taste like plastic 
when  first used, to get that strong plastic taste out, simply empty and re-fill it.

Change out drinking/cooking water every 3-5 years
Keep water containers out of the sun, if not water will turn green.  If it is green, do not drink it!!

Option * Label water containers Drinking/Cooking, or Laundry/Cleaning


Copyright  CHGetReady

What is a District Liaison? How does their part work?

A District Liaison is the connection person between the District (Stake) Leadership and the City Leadership.

A District Liaison is also known as a Stake Preparation Leader, wearing two hats:

1. As the Stake Preparation Leader
2. As the District Liaison

A District Liaison oversees and assists the Precinct Leaders in their District to get their neighborhood/Precinct organized. In Cottonwood Heights City, the District Liaisons are part of the Precinct Training Team.

In Cottonwood Heights City, we have 49 Precincts.

The District Liaison Team works together to ensure their Precinct Leaders are informed, trained, confident and effective leaders in their own Districts.

This is a serious team effort as the District Liaisons Teach Family Preparation, support "how to connect the dots of response" by including The City Emergency Prep Team representatives of Red Cross, Neighborhood Watch, Animal Control, Unified Fire, CERT Training, Comms, and the Emergency Management Team, to be part of the Precinct Training Team.

Precinct Leaders will learn of how each area of responsibility and expertise works to prepare for and execute the emergency response plan as well as assisting each Precinct Leader in creating their own Neighborhood Emergency Response Plan since help may not come for 72 hours and beyond.

They will become educated about recovery and what organizations are involved, how it all works together. Also known as VOAD, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.

Neighborhoods can come together before the emergency to organize and prepare themselves, enabling them to be trained and ready.  Hopefully running to do their job  as they help one another.

Many Precinct Leaders (Ward Emergency Prep Leader), have chosen to step up to the next level and are serving their community as well, wearing two hats:

1. As the Ward Prep Leader
2. The Precinct Leader.

Where this is not possible, the Precinct may invite someone in their neighborhood to serve as their Precinct Leader. 

The Ward Preparation Leader fulfills their responsibilities in preparation of families in basic emergency and being prepared for anything that may come their way, with food, water, supplies and gaining skills to sustain themselves, also,  financial and spiritual preparation.

The Precinct Leader fulfills their responsibility in response, organizing their neighborhood by inviting Block Captains, CERT Team and Precinct Comms to join the Precinct Team, develops and executes Neighborhood/Precinct Emergency Plan Drills.  Make a plan for the Neighborhood to fund and gather their own CERT Cache, in other words their Neighborhood/ Precinct Emergency Supplies. (Wow, that was a mouthful!)  Creating a great team effort opportunity, all  bases are covered.
 The Precinct Leader attends quarterly Precinct Leader Team Trainings with the District and City, and holds regular meetings with their Block Captains, Comms and CERTS.

Precinct Leader, Block Captain, Comms and CERT Team are not callings. It is an opportunity for neighbors to come together to serve their local community (neighbors and friends).

Copyright CHGetReady

Precinct Leader

 

If you have chosen or have been ask to be a Precinct Leader or Emergency Preparation Leader, you will become part of a great team that already exists or you may have the opportunity to develop, your own Neighborhood/Precinct Team.

Welcome to Precinct Team Training.   We look forward to assisting you as you organize your neighborhood.

You may become a trained Precinct Leader through your city Precinct Team Training and/or CH GET READY.

 

Let's Get Started...............

1.  A first step as you organize your neighborhood is to divide up your neighborhood into blocks.  Use an overhead map that you may download and print.   Make sure it is the simplest map available, showing property boundaries and roads only.  Check on Google or with your city GIS specialist. 

2.  Divide your neighborhood up in blocks of 6-10 homes that are next to or across the street from each other.  Number the blocks.

 3.  Now comes the fun part, pick up the phone and begin calling a person or a couple from each of those blocks, inviting them to be the Block Captain for their block and joining the Block Captain Team of your Precinct.

4.   Assign them their Block Captain #, generate a Precinct Team Contact List: include your Precinct # (applies on a City Map), CERTS, Block Captain #, Name, Phone #, E-mail, # Homes of each BC. Then, distribute this list to your Block Captain/ CERT Team. 

5.  You will want to begin holding regular communication drills to learn and practice your communication skills. (weekly drills work real well at first to establish the skill and familiarity with the equipment)

Make a call - in chart of your Block Captains and CERTS contact info.

6.   You must have a Communication Specialist (Comms), who will run your  communication drills.  So the next step is to recruit someone in your neighborhood/precinct to become the Precinct Comms.  ( A registered HAM operator is perfect, or someone who is willing to learn, teach and run your weekly communication drills).

7.  You, the Precinct Leader and the Precinct Comms are a team.  You will work together to dispatch CERTS, emergency supplies and organize people in an emergency.  You will benefit by becoming CERT Trained to assist you in this responsibility.

8.  Plan a date and time with your Precinct Comms, to practice communication drills with your Block Captains and CERTS to practice and sharpen your communication skills on your walkie talkies. Inform all your Block Captains and CERTS the time, day and channel these weekly drills will be on.  Be consistent, don't give up.  Every week counts for those who check-in. Practice, Practice, Practice, even if you miss occasionally, you will benefit by holding your drills.

9.  All Block Captains and CERTS invest in their own Walkie Talkies.  This way everyone buys in and is truly committed.  Paying a price has a way of pushing us to get our $'s worth.  Developing skills are an amazing investment in self. 

10.  You will want to hold Block Captain Training meetings.  Quarterly works well.  Use this website to encourage basic family preparation, food and water storage and use, Grab 'n Go Kits, Sanitation Kits,  Sanitation Procedures, 72 Second Kits, Laundry Kits,  Car Kits, School Kits, alternative heat, light and cooking supplies, alternative cooking skills etc.  Security of Home, Sheltering in Place, Alternative Sheltering, Cold Weather Clothing, Use of Emergency Ribbons, How to use walkie talkies, Teach them to all be self-reliant and to learn and live self-sustaining principles.

11.  Prepare and secure your own home in all ways.

12.  Encourage your Block Captains to share what has been learned with their own block of neighbors (and beyond).

13.  Create your own Neighborhood Emergency Plan.  Include:    

• The physical site of your Neighborhood Command Post
•  Shelter, water and food for your CERT Teams so they can rest
• Medical staging area for triage and treatment area
• Morgue
• Nursery
• Pet area (in your neighborhood, in case of home structure damage)
• Pre-assign Team Leaders for set up
• The Precinct Leader will oversee their neighborhood plan (as per CERT Training)
• Comms responsible for all communication coming in and going out of Precinct, from BC and CERTS to District Comms.  Will receive info from District Comms from outside the Precinct in.  Will pass info to Precinct Leader.
• Develop and share the Neighborhood Emergency Plan with your Precinct (neighborhood)
• Practice Emergency Drills with Block Captains and CERTS first, add pre-assigned team leaders
• Create your own Neighborhood Emergency Cache (trailer) of Emergency Supplies
• Surround yourself with people of integrity, work together

14.  Work consistently, by doing small and simple things weekly or do a project together and then take a break knowing you are planning another part of your project.  Remember that you create great things to happen when you are consistent and committed.

The amazing sense of community and caring for one another strengthens all of us.  Friendly, strong relationships are the foundation for a successful and amazing life.

Look for people who want to help and who have the desire to be of service in their community.  Those kind of people are an amazing value to your neighborhood.  People with heart do take their responsibilities very seriously.  Also, you get to know your neighbors. Relationships are the foundation of working together.  Working together motivates people to do their best.  We are beings who love to serve our fellowmen.

You will have the opportunity to guide your neighborhood and to become an effective and prepared team, as you gain knowledge, skills and confidence to deal with many challenges that may come your way.

With courage, practice, and by getting to know one another, confidence will grow with knowledge and skills gained. You must all work together as a team.  That means everyone learns what their job is and does it.  We get better with practice.       

Remember.......in an emergency or large scale disaster, you and your neighbors may be on your own for at least 24 hours to a week and in some instances, maybe longer.  Prepare accordingly and work together as a team to take care of your own family’s needs, encourage your neighbors to take care of their own needs and work on your neighborhood's emergency needs.

That means preparation, relationship building, skill building, gathering supplies and practice of working together.

In Cottonwood Heights, we meet quarterly as Precincts for training.  We know people are busy, so a quarterly meeting is reasonable.

CERT Training is encouraged, HAM Radio training is also encouraged as channels on walkie talkies may be jammed.  So realize you may need to have a team of younger people or athletes that will act as messengers to deliver emergency supplies to your CERT Search and Rescue Teams.

First Aid, CPR Training is also encouraged.

We are here to support you as you organize your neighborhood with tools, lists, documents, links, rosters, comms radio check in script, etc.

Check back to hook up to classes, CERT, HAM Radio Training, FIRST Aid being held in the area.

Believe in you!!!

Your neighborhood will become better prepared and will get to know one another as friends and can create a great team, so that if and when that emergency happens, you  know what to do, what not to do, who to contact, how to get your information out and back, you will know your surrounding Precinct friends that you may need to call on or for your team to help.             

In a Nut Shell..........
Know your Precinct Team..... Precinct Comms, Block Captains
Create your Precinct Emergency Plan, and practice it, learn from it and adjust it when necessary.
Hold quarterly meetings with your Block Captains and CERTS, include, family preparedness, trainings, planning drills and other pertinent information, etc. Keep in touch with your team. Encourage Block Captains to share info with their neighbors, cover training on emergency ribbons and practice with your team and neighbors.

Remember.......in an emergency
1. Take Care of your own household first, make sure your own family is safe
2. Plan to set up the command post with your Precinct Comms to dispatch CERTS after they have cleared their own homes as safe. 

3.  Send Team Leaders to set up their areas after they have checked in at the Command Post
4. Organize non-CERT volunteers appropriately
5. Be prepared to turn over all responsibility to the City First Responders when they arrive 

6. Know that what you do matters in a very real way to real people

7. You can do great things a small bite at a time

Copyright  CHGetReady.com

Block Captains

If you have been ask to be a Block Captain by your Emergency Preparation Leader/Precinct Leader, you have joined a great team.  You will learn skills that will prepare you to be a great asset in the event of an emergency.

Block Captain Duties

1.  Prepare your own household.

2.  CERT Training is valuable to guide you through that process. Look for CERT Training in your area. Invest your time in your own education of CERT Training, First Aid, CPR.  You may even be interested in becoming a HAM Radio Operator. Great skills that will benefit you for your entire life.

3.  Invest your own set of walkie talkies. You will then be vested and will want your neighborhood to succeed.

4.  Attend Block Captain Training Meetings.  You will learn how to prepare your own home and also your Neighborhood/Precinct Emergency Plan.

5.  Get to know your block of neighbors.  Give them your contact info and receive theirs.

6.   Share with your neighbors (your block) what you have learned on family preparation. Encourage your neighbors to prepare their own homes with food, water and emergency supplies.  Also how to Shelter-in Place, Alternative Heating, Lighting and Cooking, Grab 'n Go Kits, Laundry Kits, Sanitation Kits and Procedures, Car Kits, Pet Responsibility, Cold Weather Clothing, etc.

7. As you meet with your block team, get familiar with tools and equipment each other owns that would be available in the event of any type of emergency, and that you can access quickly. Become friends, look out for one another.

8.   Join in your Precinct's scheduled call-in drills to learn and sharpen your communication skills.

9.   Deliver the Emergency Ribbons to your neighbors.  Teach them how to use them and when.

10.  Report the status of your block's Emergency Ribbons for practice drills or real life event.

11.  Practice Emergency Drills with your Precinct Team and eventually with your entire District and then your City.

Your knowledge, confidence and value will increase as you gain skills, prepare your own home, and work together as a block team, and precinct team.   "You are stronger than you think"

Can YOU Sleep when the wind blows? Are you prepared?

If everyone prepares to take care of themselves and family's needs, helping others will come automatically, and that feels AWESOME!
Just like the airlines teach, put your oxygen mask on first.......Be part of the solution 
copyright CHGetReady

What is a Precinct?

A Precinct is your neighborhood, or for some,  your ward area.   It is a geographical area that is connected by roads in close proximity so in the event of an emergency, you can help each other.
Getting to know neighbors, becoming friends and serving one another is the name of the game.

What is a Precinct Team? 
A Precinct Team includes a Precinct Leader, Precinct Comms (communications), Block Captains (1 per 6-10 homes in your neighborhood/Precinct) and CERTS (trained CERT Team Members) also, Team Leaders included in your Neighborhood Emergency Plan.

What does a Precinct Leader do? 
Organizes the neighborhood into blocks.  Invites Block Captains, Comms and Team Leaders to join the neighborhood team.  Plans and practices regular communication drills with their Comms, Block Captains and CERTS.  Also, plans and practices the neighborhood emergency plan.

Encourages family preparation and neighborhood gatherings to get to know one another.

A Precinct Leader would benefit greatly by CERT Training,  First Aid Training, and CPR.

Precinct Leaders are supported  by and become part of their District and City Team.  Our is the Cottonwood Heights City Precinct Leader Team.
We attend Quarterly Precinct Team Training at the Cottonwood Heights City offices where training is provided that will support  Precinct Leaders on  how to use and report the Emergency Ribbon status of their neighbors, setting up a neighborhood cache (emergency supplies), assistance on creating the Precinct Emergency Plan, steps on how to begin emergency training drills and how to layer each area of their plan for yearly drills, updates on city news,  CH Neighborhood Watch Training,  How to deal with the animals in your neighborhood in the event of an emergency by CH Animal Control, Unified Fire training and instruction on keeping your home and neighborhood safe from area fire potential, District news and to become familiar with emergency plan of the city.

2013 www.chgetready

What does a Block Captain do?
A Block Captain is responsible to their block of neighbors.  Getting to know them by sharing tips on preparation and being friends,  shares contact information, plan as a block group what supplies and equipment they all have that would aid them in search and rescue, Emergency Ribbons know how for practice drills and in the event of a large scale emergency, participates in regular walkie talkie check ins and Precinct Team Training Drills
They may also become CERT, First Aid, and CPR Trained.

What is a Precinct Comms? 
A Precinct Comms is your neighborhood communication specialist.  Can be HAM Radio licensed, runs your weekly radio drills and is a team with their Precinct, District and City Comms Network. They are the other half of the Neighborhood/Precinct Leadership Team.   Send and receive communication concerning their neighborhood status.
Training is two times a year at Cottonwood Heights City Precinct Team Training, held in January and July.
Copyright   ChGetReady

What is a District?

A District is a group of several Precincts, sometimes known as Stakes and Wards.

We used the area mapping system of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for Wards and Stakes in our city since it already existed.  (why invent a new one when a successful one already works?)

Emergency Response is a Civil responsibility, therefore using the names, Precinct and District is appropriate.

We have six entire Districts in our City and five partial Districts/Precincts from surrounding cities that are in  Cottonwood Heights City Boundaries.