The GO|STAY|KIT Talkshop proposal for the May 2013 National VOAD Conference in Portland
Title: What Constitutes an Emergency?
What exactly is an emergency? Is it something that sends you out of your home immediately to seek help or shelter? Or, is it something subtler, demanding time and preparation to survive?
According to Amanda Ripley, author of The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why, “nine out of ten Americans live in places at significant risk of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorism, or other disasters.” Therefore, an emergency can mean different things to different people, depending upon the make-up of your family and where you live. How a family of 5 prepares for an emergency is going to require different preparedness values than a senior citizen living alone, or is it?
We will examine how different people should cope with different types of emergencies. A natural or manmade disaster or medical emergency by its very nature is a chaotic event and surviving such an experience does not lend itself well to those who are unprepared.
Identify the Preparation Required for Each Group:
- Families
- Seniors
- Those with access and functional needs
- Those living in convalescent care facilities
- Those traveling within the U.S.
- Children
- Special needs families
- Those on medication
Discuss the Preparation Required for Each Emergency:
- Natural disasters: wildfire, earthquake, hurricane, flood, tsunami
- Manmade catastrophes: poison gas, poison water, nuclear, terrorism, pandemic
- Medical emergencies: convalescent care facilities, emergency management
We will relate all of the various types of emergencies, to the differences & similarities of how to prepare for each disaster. Because a natural or manmade disaster or medical emergency can strike at anytime at any location, being prepared and surviving this eventuality is something that must be addressed – especially for vulnerable populations, seniors, and special needs families.
