Page 25 - DDME "The Disaster Forum"

Team drills Mul@func@onal exercises Tabletop exercises Func@onal exercises
Full scale exercises
These are all utilized prior to a disaster to test our plans and participate in the testing of the national plan.
C. Emergency Plan Training – The training provided by the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) and the TCIG Department of Emergency, Disaster and Training are invaluable to ensuring competency and skill maintenance. While we have internal training programs the opportuni@es created by these lead en@@es create opportuni@es for knowledge transfer and shared learning. We learn from each other. We are truly as strong as our weakest link and efforts are ongoing to ensure all links in the disaster and emergency chain are strong and durable. We have benefited from training in:
Emergency opera@ons center training Incident debrief process training Emergency communica@on training Incident command center training Mass Casualty Management Chemical spill management
D. Achecklisthelpsassesspreparednessandgaps
We use memory aids and job cards to assist the team in performing their roles under stressful situa@ons.
Comprehensive preparedness checklists that set out core principles, standards, capaci@es, and prac@ces are used by the departmental teams to assess their level of preparedness and fill gaps.
Our community partners are important. Obeying the shut down and all clear ensure personal safety and does not place others at risks. Persons need to have a family and financial plan. Every household should have several items easily available in case of a disaster. These items include a flashlight and extra
baSeries, a first aid kit, a crank or baSery-operated radio, prescrip@on medica@ons, an emergency whistle to signal for help, a gallon of water per person for at least three days and non-perishable food. Try to have three to five days worth of cash available. That means keeping it on hand or in a secure place. In the event you can’t get to your local bank or the power is out and ATMs are not available, having that cash on hand can reduce your worries significantly. Being prepared for a disaster will help you and your family remains calm and safe.
Leadership and management must con@nue to make emergency preparedness a top priority within their organiza@ons. The principles of emergency preparedness must be integrated into all aspects of opera@ons. The cri@cal roles and responsibili@es needed during disaster responses must be thoroughly understood and rou@nely prac@ced by those who may assume such roles. Failure to plan and prepare and failure to execute emergency response
protocols are the basis for a less than stellar performance to a disaster.
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