Disaster Recovery: a Local Government Responsibility

Cover Story

by Christine Becker Disaster Recovery: A Local Government Responsibility

isasters happen. A massive flood inundates a central downtown. A tornado levels a small town in a matter of minutes. A hurricane ravages a community. And, all disasters are local. They happen in cities and towns and counties of all sizes where citizens look to their local government man- Dagers and elected officials to lead the immediate response, guide the longer- term recovery, and reassure them that life will be normal again . . . someday. Regardless of community size or the nature of the disaster, local government leaders are responsible for overseeing all four phases of emergency management—preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation (see Figure 1). Federal and state governments play a supporting role in the immediate aftermath and in providing funding and guidance for long-term recovery and mitigation. Preparation and response—half of the emergency management cycle—gen- erally get the most attention, particularly in high-risk areas. Preparing to respond usually involves significant training and practice to ensure that key local employees and supporting resources are ready to jump into action quickly and that local residents understand their roles and responsibilities in preparing for and responding to disasters. Local government leaders—particularly those who have been through a major community disaster—recognize that preparing for long-term disaster recovery demands as much attention as preparing for short-term response. After a major disaster, the recovery process takes months and even years to bring a community back to a “new normal” and as strong as or better than before the disaster.

6 Public Management  March 2009 Figure 1. The Emergency Management Cycle. Frances L. Edwards, associate director of the Collaboration for Disas- ter Mitigation in San Jose, California, Response and former director of emergency services in San Jose, California, says the recovery process begins “when the situation is no longer getting worse, all the living have been rescued, and s s R the community has found the floor.” e e Brett Kriger, director of the In- n c stitute for Building Technology and d o

Safety’s (IBTS) Disaster Management v r

Group, says the recovery process be- e a

gins even before the response stage p y

is complete because decisions made

while responding to the emergency P

can affect the recovery process (see

Figure 2). “There’s usually a 30 per-

cent overlap in the middle where the

i t o i i community is still responding while g t gearing up for recovery,” Kriger says. a Kriger, who has worked in numer- ous disaster response and recovery Emergency Management is an ongoing process with four mutually dependent and operations with and for the Fed- eral Emergency Management Agency overlapping components. Source: Institute for Building Technology and Safety Di- (FEMA), says actions taken during saster Management Group. the response phase can have an impact on overall results once the com- Focusing on Long-Term a program designed to help cities and munity moves into recovery. Recovery counties be better prepared for long- “Sometimes local officials become Long-term recovery involves more term recovery in the event of a disaster. so wrapped up in the urgency of the than debris removal and restoring Based on a survey and a series of meet- response that they don’t do the neces- power, which are considered short- ings and workshops, ABAG identified sary documentation to qualify for re- term recovery actions. According to four areas that cities and counties imbursements and longer-term recov- FEMA, long-term recovery refers to should address to prepare for long- ery funds,” Kriger says. “That’s why the “need to re-establish a healthy, term disaster recovery: planning for recovery is as important functioning community that will as planning for response.” sustain itself over time.” In its Long- • Financing. And, according to Kriger, good Term Community Recovery Planning • Expediting long-term housing work at the response stage supports re- Process: A Self-Help Guide, FEMA recovery. covery. “The four phases of emergency outlines a recovery approach that • Supporting recovery of downtown management produce the ebb and flow emphasizes a community-driven businesses and the local economy. of a preparedness-based community process with significant public in- • Ensuring local government facilities life and define how the community volvement and local control.1 The and services recover smoothly.2 perseveres before, through, and after process also emphasizes a “project- times of crisis,” he adds. oriented” focus on actions that will Long-term recovery strategies and Marcy Douglas, city administra- have the greatest impact on commu- needs will vary depending on the tor of Northwood, North Dakota, a nity recovery. scope of the disaster. In small commu- community of 1,000 that was leveled In this guide, FEMA also urges a nities like Northwood, North Dakota, by a category 4 tornado on August significant focus on mitigation as part and Greensburg, Kansas, tornadoes 26, 2007, believes that a commitment of long-term recovery to prevent or at damaged or destroyed everything— to recovery from the first day of the least minimize similar damage in the homes, businesses, municipal build- emergency has helped that tiny com- event of another disaster. ings, schools, recreation facilities, and munity rebound. The Association of Bay Area Gov- more. For those communities, decid- “If you respond to a disaster with ernments (ABAG), which serves 109 ing to rebuild was a first step, followed recovery in mind, recovery will hap- cities and counties in the San Fran- quickly by engaging the entire com- pen,” Douglas says. cisco, California, area, has developed munity to ensure that their hometowns

ICMA.org/pm Public Management  March 2009 7 Figure 2. Transitioning from Response to Recovery Process. each disaster and get better prepared for the next one. Kyle Hayes, city manager of Beau- mont, Texas, which was hit by Local Response to Contain & Control Threats to Life & Property Hurricane Rita in 2005 and more recently by Hurricane Ike, notes that businesses ramped up quickly in both cases, which helped sustain the local t economy. Because 35 percent of Beau- mont’s revenue comes from sales tax,

TRANSITION PHASE ryve the rapid recovery of retail businesses was essential to community recovery. Response Reco

Disaster Even Disaster Hayes explains that the massive devastation sustained in Louisiana and Mississippi from Hurricane Ka- trina only a few weeks before Hurri- Combined Agency Operations to Return Life to Normal cane Rita occurred helped Beaumont and other cities in Texas get ready. “We hadn’t had a hurricane in de- Time From Event Response to Prestorm Condition Recovery cades, and when we saw what hap- pened from Katrina, we started get- When a crisis occurs, the needs are vast and the humanitarian response rela- ting ready,” Hayes says. tively proportional. As the humanitarian community provides for the vulnerable In Biloxi, Mississippi, where 35 population, the crisis fades away. But to establish good foundations and effective percent of city operating revenue linkages to longer-term development, the recovery from the crisis needs to start comes from taxes on the gaming in- as early as possible. As can be seen from the diagram, the transition phase over- dustry, the city had purchased a busi- laps both the relief and development phases. Recovery is the process of trans- ness interruption insurance policy at the beginning of the 2005 hurricane formation from relief to development. Source: Institute for Building Technology season. The policy guaranteed $10 and Safety, Disaster Management Group. million in income if the gaming industry were shut down because of would come back, and then bringing • Affordable and available housing for a disaster. Hurricane Katrina shut other resources to the table. workers. down the gaming industry, but the In other communities, when signif- • Large employers with business con- payment from the business continuity icant damage is confined to one area, tinuity plans who can get up and insurance policy provided some fi- local leaders must balance ongoing running quickly to launch the eco- nancial breathing space as city leaders public service expectations with ur- nomic comeback. launched the city’s recovery. gent long-term recovery needs while • Strong connections between gov- In Northwood, North Dakota, ensuring that the vision for “new nor- ernment and business to facilitate a city officials met with all the local mal” keeps the community together. recovery partnership. businesses right after the tornado to The following sections highlight identify needs and figure out how to long-term recovery approaches and les- Bruce Moeller, city manager of encourage local rebuilding. “They all sons; they draw on the direct experience Sunrise, Florida, says open communi- had a scared, stoic look but eventu- of managers who have been there. cation with the business community ally we talked about plans to rebuild,” is essential. says City Administrator Marcy Doug- Economic Recovery “The city manager needs to have las. “In a small town like Northwood, Most managers who have experienced a frank discussion with the business buying local is a way of life, and disasters recently say getting the lo- community regarding the importance everyone wants everyone else to sur- cal economy working again is vital to of business continuity plans in the vive. But the local government is an launching a successful comeback. Re- event of a disaster,” Moeller says. essential spark to encourage small starting the economic engine depends “This is particularly true with small businesses to stay.” on a number of factors: businesses to help them understand A 2001 study published by the Pub- how to prepare to recover quickly af- lic Entity Risk Institute (PERI) looked • A willingness and capacity of busi- ter a disaster.” at factors that affected the ability of ness to reopen quickly if facilities Because Florida experiences fre- small businesses and not-for-profits aren’t severely damaged or to re- quent hurricanes, Moeller says both to recover from natural disasters and build in the community. government and businesses learn with thus contribute to long-term local

8 Public Management  March 2009 economic health. The study found Guidelines for Employee Support and Continuity of Service these five factors that were critical to long-term survival: Here are guidelines that can be useful for maintaining local government service levels: • The disaster’s impact on the organi- zation’s clientele. • Prepare a clear plan for enabling employees to participate in response and • The availability of convenient sub- recovery by helping them meet family needs in advance. stitute goods and services that can • Establish a disaster housing plan for essential first responder employees— replace the business while it is try- police, fire, emergency operations center staff, shelter workers, and damage ing to rebuild. assessment and repair teams. • The status of the business before the • Maintain the necessary financial relationships to ensure that employees’ pay- disaster. • Financial resources lost by the business. checks are issued and a backup plan for delivery when direct deposit is not • The owner’s ability to adapt to the used. new, post-disaster environment.3 • Ensure that employees and their families have guidance on developing a personal support kit and family disaster plan. Leading the Recovery • Establish expectations of all employees—both essential first responders and Most agree that the key factor in suc- all other employees—in personnel policy and labor agreements, with options cessful long-term recovery is local for dealing with failure to meet those expectations. leadership. A clear vision, a well- • Establish a clear communication method for employees only—an 800 number, defined plan, broad and diverse funding to finance the recovery, a support- a radio station, an e-mail system, a meeting place for information, or other ive and involved business community, means—to provide up-to-date information about employee expectations and and effective partnerships at the fed- public service needs. eral, state, and local levels all contribute to successful long-term recovery. Source: Adapted from Frances L. Edwards, “Businesses Prepare Their Employees for Disaster The biggest difference, however, is Recovery,” The Public Manager, Winter 2006. effective leadership. In Greensburg, Kansas, where recov- the early stages of recovering from The team wasn’t part of the city’s ery was difficult to envision on May 5, massive flooding in June 2008 that response and recovery plan. It was just 2007, the day after one of the strongest completely submerged the down- something Prosser knew he needed to tornadoes on record leveled the town, town. With floodwaters still rising, do quickly to bring the community City Administrator Steve Hewitt led the City Manager Jim Prosser created together. He says the broad team has immediate response and helped coordi- a recovery and investment coordi- been an effective resource for leading nate development of an ambitious re- nating team that has led the charge the recovery and coordinating diverse covery plan. Hewitt was recently named from immediately after the flooding, activities. American City & County magazine’s beginning with response and moving But the role of the manager in sus- municipal leader of the year for “creat- now to recovery. The team includes taining the momentum and helping ing a vision for a better Greensburg and representatives of every sector of the the community weather the ups and leading his town toward it.”4 community and has met regularly to downs of long-term recovery is es- Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is still in guide long-term recovery. sential. “There’s a delicate balance between acting fast to meet the community’s need to see progress and waiting Look to ICMA for better information, a better plan, a solid response,” Prosser observes. Emergency Management: Principles and Practice for Local Government, 2nd edi- “There’s a big push to do some- tion. This second edition of ICMA’s landmark book is the only comprehensive thing now. But if you don’t have a resource and textbook for state-of-the-art emergency management for local good plan and you can’t get the re- government. Hardcover. December 2007. Item no. 43482. Regular price: $80.00; sources, you’re setting up people for more disappointment. Overpromising member price: $68.00. can be fatal in long-term recovery.” Prosser points out that Cedar Rap- Homeland Security: Best Practices for Local Government. An ICMA Special Report ids was lucky to have already carried that includes a collection of contributions from public safety professionals in- out a visioning process well before the volved in all phases of emergency management—mitigation, preparedness, re- flood as part of a change in govern- sponse, recovery, and more. Special Report. 2003. Item no. 42858. Price: $54.00. ment structure. “Pre-flood, we had a clear sense of

ICMA.org/pm Public Management  March 2009 9 Aftermath: Rescuing Essential Records after a Disaster

“They were very nasty, wet, and stinky.” That’s how Cynthia ture and humidity and increasing air circulation as much as Mahner describes tax records inundated during Hurricane possible. High temperature and humidity, and stagnant air, Katrina. The records were essential to Mahner’s real estate contribute to mold growth, a major long-term threat to business, and she was fortunate to be able to dry them and records. Stabilizing the environment will prevent further remove enough mud to make them useful again. deterioration until the records can be removed from the In the immediate wake of a disaster, life and safety is- disaster area and treated. sues take priority, but as the immediate crisis passes, governments and businesses turn to rescuing the records on Call a professional and get advice as quickly as possible. which their functions depend. Safeguarding such records in Your state archives can provide—or point you to—experts advance of disaster is the best strategy, but no amount of who can give advice tailored to your specific disaster. There planning will rescue every record. Knowing how to rescue are many options for recovering wet records, so the sooner damaged records is critical to disaster preparedness. a professional arrives on the scene the better the chances of recovery become. Public Enemy Number One: Water Nearly every records disaster comes down to one thing: Handle records carefully to prevent further damage. Wet water. Certainly, disasters can affect records in many ways: records are especially vulnerable to greater damage and they can be burned, carried off by strong winds, buried by should be treated as if they are fragile. Don’t try to clean a muddy landslide. But in such cases the records are often dirty records or storage media yourself. Don’t flatten pages lost beyond recovery. Records that survive fires, floods, or book covers. And don’t attempt to open wet books or landslides, and even tornadoes are likely to be damaged by computer casings. water. Water can quickly obliterate hard drives and other Instead, carefully pack the damaged materials in either electronic storage devices; fortunately, water is often less plastic milk-carton-type crates or cardboard boxes lined damaging to paper records than people think. with plastic trash bags. Separate wet items, especially bound This last point is important because responders may mis- volumes, with wax or freezer paper and freeze within 72 takenly believe that they have no alternative but to destroy hours. wet records. Records professionals sometimes arrive on the scene to find that there are no records left to recover. The Protect identifying information as you pack damaged first thing to remember, then, is that even badly soaked and records. Identifying information such as box and binder la- dirty records may be salvaged. bels can become separated from the records they identify, Even electronic devices might be salvageable if treated making recovering that much more difficult. Even identi- quickly enough. The tips here will help you rescue damaged fiers written directly on boxes can wash or fade away records, and these suggestions apply equally to electronic unless they are written in permanent, non-soluble ink, so and paper records (except where noted). record the original location of records before removing them from the area. Take photographs to help document Stabilize the environment by lowering the tempera- original order.

where we were going as a community,” or negotiable That’s why incorporat- funds; and (4) identifying internal staff, he says. “If you don’t have that vision ing a framework for financing long- or external resources, or both, to man- in the aftermath of a disaster, you’ll term recovery improves the odds of age the financial side of recovery. lose the community’s confidence.” success when disaster strikes. Knowledge of federal resources and Strategies that can be put in place the rules governing access to those re- Financing the Recovery well before a disaster include (1) un- sources is essential to maximize funds Financing long-term disaster recovery derstanding all federal requirements for to support long-term recovery. poses significant and often frustrating response and recovery grants, including ABAG offers these pre-disaster fi- challenges for local leaders who must required documentation for reimburse- nancial recovery action steps for local rely on the state and federal governments; (2) identifying all potential governments: ment as major sources of disaster sources of funding for long-term recov- • Modify purchasing and contracting recovery funds. Those challenges are ery; (3) establishing lines of credit to procedures to expedite emergency exacerbated in the heat of a crisis provide cash flow for direct expenses purchases. when funding is urgent, not optional and matches while waiting for federal • Adopt a repair and reconstruction

10 Public Management  March 2009 Aftermath: Rescuing Essential Records after a Disaster (continued)

Air-dry slightly damp records. Records that are only dent of the Council of State Archivists, Iowa City, Iowa slightly damp may be air-dried. Even electronic storage media (www.statearchivists.org). Christine Wiseman is preserva- may continue to function if they have become only slightly tion administrator for the Georgia Division of Archives and damp and not dirty. Distribute damp records in a way that History (www.statearchivists.org). allows air to circulate freely. If it is sunny, you can dry records outside. However, do not leave them overnight or un- Special Handling Required attended. Inside drying can be done on tables covered with Photographs: plastic sheeting or on absorbent paper, such as unprinted • Keep wet photographs in clean water until able to air- newsprint. Place fans around the room to circulate the air. dry (no longer than 72 hours). • Blot excess water carefully with a color-free paper Freeze wet paper as soon as possible. Extremely wet pa- towel. per will stick together and begin to mold within 48 hours; • Air-dry, emulsion side up. inks will run and feather. It is important to freeze wet paper • Large quantities of wet photos may be frozen (never as soon as possible after a disaster. Freezing paper stops the freeze early glass formats). deterioration process so that decisions about recovery can be made carefully over time. Note: Some items should never Film negatives, microfilm, and microfiche: be frozen. See “Special Handling Required,” below, for more • Fill watertight container with cold water. information. • Submerge items so that they don’t move around. • Make sure water is at least 1 inch above packed Transport carefully. Such oversized materials as maps, materials. plans, blueprints, and ledger books should be transported • Ship to a film processing lab for recovery. using bakers’ trays, pallets, or plywood covered in plastic sheeting. CDs and DVDs: • Wipe dry using a soft, lint-free cloth. Clean the area thoroughly before returning rescued • Wipe only from the center of the disk to the outside records to their original locations. Carpets, ceiling tiles, edge (never use a circular motion). wooden shelves, and other surfaces can harbor mold long • If necessary, clean with gentle soap-and-water solution. after cleanup from a disaster has been completed. Records returned to such an environment can be damaged by a re- Hard drives: currence of mold. Be certain the environment that houses • Unplug all power and peripherals. the records is actually clean before returning the records to • Remove hard drives and place in airtight plastic bags their storage location. to prevent hard drives from drying out. • Arrange for hard drives to be shipped to a data recov- —David Carmicheal is director, Georgia Division of Ar- ery specialist as soon as possible. chives and History, Morrow, Georgia, and a former presi-

ordinance to facilitate use of FEMA far short of the federal funding it had devastation, and we will emerge as public assistance dollars. hoped for. a better, greater community—our • Establish an internal claims reim- “CDBG is a primary source of new normal,” he says. “But that bursement process for FEMA funds. funding for our recovery plans, and it process will take three to five years, • Adopt a local hazard mitigation is coming a lot slower than expected and the community needs to under- plan as part of the general plan to and at lower levels,” Prosser says. stand that.” facilitate access to additional FEMA “That adds complexity to what we’re funds.5 doing. We could move much quicker Community Care if more resources were available Long-term recovery from a major In Cedar Rapids, financing recov- sooner.” disaster can be a long, slow process. ery remains a major challenge. Lower But, he remains optimistic, In Grand Forks, North Dakota, it than expected allocation of communi- which is essential for his com- took more than 10 years. On the ty development block grant (CDBG) munity’s recovery. “Cedar Rapids Gulf Coast, since Hurricanes Katrina funding to the state has left the city is still Cedar Rapids despite the and Rita and, more recently, Ike and

ICMA.org/pm Public Management  March 2009 11 Disaster Management: An “There are so many people who are just getting by,” says City Manager PM International Scenario Bruce Moeller. “A significant event that interrupts normal life will push After the devastating tsunami of December 2004, ICMA’s CityLinks program pro- them over the edge. This registry vided disaster recovery, mitigation, and preparedness assistance to two coastal helps all the local governments in cities in southern India. The Post Tsunami Recovery Program, funded by the U.S. Broward County anticipate those spe- Agency for International Development, created a partnership between Cuddalore cial needs.” and Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu state and three hurricane-prone Florida cities— Keeping an eye on the pulse of the Palm Bay, Oldsmar, and Port Orange. community—and on the pulse of lo- A team made up of ICMA staff, officials from the three Florida cities, and rep- cal government employees who are leading the recovery process—is im- resentatives of the India-based Urban Management Centre provided pro bono, portant for sustaining the momentum hands-on technical assistance, capacity building, and focused exchanges. The Cit- and preserving the community spirit. yLinks team helped the cities rebuild damaged parks and playgrounds and improve “We were blessed with strong people municipal services. They undertook flood mitigation projects to improve the cities’ who, in many ways, started the road to ability to respond to natural disasters, plan for seasonal weather, and mitigate re- recovery before the city could do it,” curring flooding in low-lying areas through improved drainage systems. says John Schmisek, director of finance Because mapping is a crucial element in disaster preparedness and planning, the and administrative services in Grand team also completed computer-aided design (CAD) base maps for the two Indian Forks. “Their attitude was ‘we know we need to recover and we can do it.’ cities and showed municipal staff how to update them. The maps identify geographic Ten years after the flood, I’m here to tell features, low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding, public infrastructure systems and you—don’t ever say never.” PM facilities, land uses, and important structures. Later the Tamil Nadu state government purchased CAD mapping software for cities in the state to sustain the commitment 1Long-Term Community Recovery: A Self-Help to mapping as a vital disaster preparedness and planning tool. Guide (Washington, D.C.: Federal Emergency Management Agency, December 2005), www. Although the CityLinks program came to an end, it left in place sustainable fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2151. improvements—and an international partnership between local government pro- 2Linda Min and Jeanne Perkins, “Summary: fessionals in Florida and in India—that will continue for years to come. Long-Term Disaster Recovery Planning by For more details about the program, visit the ICMA Web page at http://icma. Local Governments in the San Francisco Bay Area” (Oakland, Calif.: Association of Bay Area org/inter/ns.asp?nsid=3925. Governments, October 2008), 1, http://quake. abag.ca.gov/recovery/SURVEYresult2008.pdf. Gustav, recovery has been an ongoing through the second, and the city Visit the Web site for the Regional Long-Term process—almost a way of life. needs to be prepared to deal with Disaster Recovery Initiative at http://quake. Constant information and commu- that,” Edwards says. abag.ca.gov/recovery/ for additional informa- nity connections are vital. Even when Trees became a focal point in tion and available resources. 3Daniel J. Alesch, James N. Holly, Elliott there’s no real news, having some Northwood, North Dakota, after the Mittler, and Robert Nagy, Organizations at Risk: news is important to assure a tired tornado. “People didn’t have roofs What Happens When Small Businesses and Not- community that there is a light at the over their heads, but they wanted for-Profits Encounter Natural Disasters (Fairfax, end of the tunnel. to plant trees because Northwood Va.: Public Entity Risk Institute, October 2001), Frances Edwards says a long-term was always known for its tree-lined https://www.riskinstitute.org/peri/images/file/ recovery plan should include strate- streets,” City Administrator Douglas Organizations_at_Risk.pdf. gies for dealing with the psychological says. 4“Municipal Leader of the Year: Come-back impact of a disaster and the pace of re- “They wanted that normalcy in- Kid,” American City & County, November 2008. covery. “It is important to know your stantly, and we had to manage that 5“Financing Disaster Recovery,” Local and community and how segments will be need carefully.” The city eventually Regional Disaster Recovery Planning Issues affected by the disaster and the recov- developed a tree recovery program as Paper (Oakland, Calif.: Association of Bay Area Governments, July 8, 2008), http://quake.abag. ery process,” Edwards says. During part of its plan that led to the planting ca.gov/recovery/PR-Recovery-Finance.pdf. a recovery from a major flood in San of 1,000 new trees. Jose, Edwards explains that the city’s In Florida, with each hurricane, large Cambodian community was local leaders focus on refining their Christine Becker is president, Christine particularly affected because the flood long-term recovery processes. Bro- Becker Associates, Washington, D.C., and brought back memories of traumas in ward County, for example, has created coordinates association relations for the their home country. a “vulnerable population registry” to Institute for Building Technology and Safety “Once traumatized, individuals help local leaders pinpoint those most (IBTS), Herndon, Virginia (csbecker11@juno. relive the first trauma while going in need after a disaster. com). IBTS is an ICMA strategic partner.

12 Public Management  March 2009 PM Check Your Emergency Supply Kit Daylight saving time begins in the United States on the per rash ointment, medications, and moist zZ second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in towelettes. November. Thanks to public education by fire and rescue • Pet food and extra water for your pet. officials, U.S. residents are made aware that the batteries • Important family documents such as copies of in smoke alarms should be changed every six months, and insurance policies, identification, bank account re- a good way to remember is to change the batteries when cords, and Medicare cards, all in a waterproof, por- clocks are changed at the beginning and end of daylight table container. saving time. • Cash or traveler’s checks and change. The Fairfax County, Virginia, Office of Emergency • Emergency reference material such as a first-aid Management also reminds county residents to use the book. beginning and end of daylight saving time as a reminder • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. to check and restock emergency supply kits. The county • Change of clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, offers information about what can be included in a kit long pants, and sturdy shoes. on its emergency information Web page at www.fairfax • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper. county.gov/oem. When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, Here’s what the county recommends for its residents. bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use bleach to treat water by using Recommended Items to Include in a 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per Basic Emergency Supply Kit gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe, or • One gallon of water per person per day for at least bleaches with added cleaners. three days, for both drinking and sanitation. • Fire extinguisher. • At least a three-day supply of nonperishable food, • Matches in a waterproof container. such as ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and veg- • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items. etables; protein or fruit bars; dry cereal; peanut • Mess kits, paper towels, paper cups, plates, and plas- butter; nuts; crackers; and canned juices. tic utensils. • Flashlight and extra batteries. • Paper and pens or pencils. • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA • Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children. weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both. Additional Supplies for People with Disabilities • First-aid kit. • Prescription medicines, list of medications including • Whistle to signal for help. dosage, and list of any allergies. • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air; plastic • Extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries; extra sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place. wheelchair batteries, and oxygen. • Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for • A list of the style and serial number of medical devices. personal sanitation. • Medical insurance and Medicare cards. • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities. • List of doctors, relatives, or friends who should be • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food). notified if a person is injured.

Additional Items to Consider Adding to an —Merni Fitzgerald Emergency Supply Kit Director of Public Affairs • Prescription medications, eyeglasses, contact lenses, Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs and supplies and denture needs. Fairfax, Virginia • Infant formula, powdered milk, bottles, diapers, dia- [email protected]

ICMA.org/pm Public Management  March 2009 13