Neighborhoods United Against Crime in Tampa (NUACT)

Sudden Impact Plan

Feb 07, 2007

The following information was sent to us for the Disaster Coordinator for the State of Florida, Children?’s Medical Services, but it is important information that we all could use. Please read it?…it?’s long, but VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!

Good morning, all.

I wanted to take a few minutes to go over personal preparedness in light of last week?’s tornadic activity. Unfortunately, with the ?“sneak attack?” of the killer storm or storms (an EF 3 on the Fujita Scale, approximately 1500 homes were damaged, 20+ people lost there lives and thousands of people are without power or phone service.

Right now, I bet that you?’re saying, if a tornado sneaks up on me in the middle of the night, I can?’t prepare for it!!! You?’re right?…..no one can plan for a storm when there are only moments to prepare. That is why it is vitally important to have a plan in place before there is a threat of a storm and to put that plan into practice when there is a severe storm watch in your area. Though there is no guarantee that you won?’t be affected, it may give you and your family the best chance for survival.

Sudden Impact Plan:

Get a weather radio, if possible. They start at about $16.00. Keep it next to your bed so that you can (hopefully) hear the warning before the storm hits your area.
Plan ahead by choosing sheltering areas in your home now. Take a look around and find the room that is centrally located in your house away from windows and doors, including the garage. If your house is spacious and the bedrooms are separated throughout your home, pick the safest areas, (like bathrooms, closets, etc.) and divide up your family. Choose a place to meet outside of your home after the storm has passed.
Plan ahead for your pet. If there are severe storm watches issued in your area, make plans to keep your pet close to your room for sheltering.
If there are severe storm watches predicted for your area, prepare your sheltering place, should you need to use it. Keep a comforter or large pillow for protection from flying debris, flashlight for after the storm and cell phone handy. Don?’t forget to grab the weather radio from the bedside. Keep fresh batteries (and screwdriver) available. If a ?“Tornado Warning?” is issued, MOVE TO YOUR SHELTERING AREA!
Have at least one out of state contact available in your sheltering area. You may not have cell service or landline service but it may be beneficial to the emergency crews coming in.

While putting this plan together in my own home this weekend, I had to consider what my son would need to survive in the event that search and rescue crews could not find us right away. My son is lucky in the sense that he is not ventilator dependent and can go without formula or meds for several hours. What about other families?…..especially those who have children requiring ventilation or who are 02 dependent? I would encourage families to consider the plan listed above but to also include a portable 02 tank (and necessary supplies) and/or ambu bag for manual resuscitation. Of course ventilation is not the only treatment that can be life sustaining, so it is important for each family to consider their child?’s medical condition and plan accordingly. Since the area that sheltering will take place is bound to be small, only life sustaining supplies should accompany the child. Encourage families to review the plan with their child?’s alternate caregiver, i.e., PDN, PCA, etc.

I realize that this email is quite lengthy but this is such an important issue. What has happened just a few miles north/northeast of us, could have been us! As a matter of fact, it should have been us. The brunt of the storm just didn?’t come this far south, this time. So, please, for your own safety and the safety of your family, take a few minutes to form a ?“Sudden Impact?” plan. It just might save your life.