Family Disaster Planning


This website will give families the necessary information on how to plan and prepare for natural or man made emergencies and disasters. This includes:

  • Family Emergency Evacuation Plan (FAM-1)
  • Family Emergency Communication Plan (FAM-2)
  • Universal Medications Form (FAM-3)
  • Grab & Go First Aid Checklist (FAM-4)
  • Grab & Go Emergency Kit Checklist (FAM-5)
  • Hurricane Checklist (FAM-6)
The information in this section is provided by and is the responsibility of the Disaster Planning and Response Committee (DRPC). Questions should be addressed to the Chair of the committee, Jon Rockstad. Jon can be contacted through the church office.

  • Prepare
  • Make a Plan
  • Guides
  • Emergency Kits
  • Checklists & Forms

In preparation for a natural or man made disaster Summerville Presbyterian Church has developed:

  • Plans and procedures to properly protect its facilities, records and files, personnel, equipment, and vehicles.
  • A communications plan that will allow it to locate members of the congregation in the event that they evacuate the area. (see FAM-1).
  • Disaster preparedness planning tools, forms, and web page for its congregation.
  • The capability to utilize its facilities as a Temporary Facility (after disaster occurrence).
  • Coordination plans for disaster assistance with presbytery, local/state/federal agencies, and volunteer organizations (VOAD).

There is a potential for disaster just about anywhere. Here is an overview of the potential in the Summerville area:

High

  • Hurricane
  • Tornado
  • Earthquake

Moderate

  • Fire
  • Flood
  • Train Derailment
  • Haz Mat Accident

Low

  • Terrorist Attack
  • Civil Unrest/Riot
  • Ice/Snow Storm
  • Aircraft Accident
  • Nuclear Accident
  • Medical-Biological

Make a Plan

Planning ahead will help you have the best possible response to a disaster.

Talk: Discuss with your family the disasters that can happen where you live. Establish responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team. Designate alternates in case someone is absent. If a family member is in the military, also plan for how you would respond if they are deployed. Include the local military bases resources that may be available.

Plan: Choose two places to meet after a disaster.

  • Right outside your home, in case of a sudden emergency, such as fire.
  • Outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate your neighborhood.

Choose an out-of-area contact for members of the family to call in case of emergency. The selected contact person should live far enough away that they would be unaffected by the same event, and they should know they are the chosen contact. Remember that during a disaster, if may be easier to make a long distance phone call than a call across town.

Having predetermined meeting places will save time and minimize confusion should your home be affected or if the area is evacuated.

Learn: Each adult in your household should learn how and when to turn off utilities such as electricity, water and gas. Ask your local fire department to show you how to use a fire extinguisher.

Tell: Everyone in your household where emergency information and supplies are kept. Make copies of the information for everyone to carry with them. Keep the information updated.

Practice: Practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassible or gridlocked.

Include your pets: If you must evacuate, take your animals with you. If it is not safe for you to remain, it is not safe for them.

Planning Guides

The South Carolina Guides listed below have been developed to assist you in disaster planning. The guides maybe downloaded by clicking on the names (Adobe Reader may be required to view them).

Emergency Kits

In some emergencies, you maybe asked to evacuate with adequate emergency supplies (recommended minimum of 3-5 days per person). In that case, you'll need to have easy-to-carry "Grab & Go" container(s) (i.e. backpack, duffel bag, or small 21-24" aircraft carry-on type bag w/wheels); that are pre-packed and stored in a convenient location.

The FEMA & the American Red Cross recommend that the following be considered for your "Grab & Go" Emergency Kit: (for instructions or more information about the linked forms, click the "Checklists & Forms" tab above)

Clothing - Personal Care - Special Needs

  • Each family member should have at least one change of clothes; an extra pair of shoes; foul weather clothing; personal hygiene and sanitary items; bath towel; and sleeping bag or 2 blankets.
  • Babies: Formula, bottles, powdered milk, baby food, diapers, medications, & moist wipes.
  • Adults: Extra glasses/contacts, denture supplies, & medications
  • Seniors: Extra glasses, extra hearing aid batteries, list of physicians, special equipment (tagged), denture supplies, insurance & MEDICARE cards, and medications.

Travel - Contact Information

First Aid & Medication

Emergency Equipment & Important Documents

Water & Food

Tools & Equipment

Clean Air

  • Red Cross recommends each individual has protection from contaminates & dust.
  • N-95 Mask or dense-weave cotton material for nose & mouth protection (each family member)
  • Heavyweight plastic garbage bags or plastic sheeting
  • Duct tape & scissors

Pets

Checklist and Forms

The following checklists and forms have been developed to assist you in preparing for Emergencies and Evacuations.

All Checklists and Forms may be Downloaded for Completion.

**Please provide a copy to your FAM-1: Family Emergency - Evacuation Plan to Summerville Presbyterian Church Congregational Disaster Response Coordinator (CDRC) in the church office so that SPC may know if you plan to evacuate and to where you will be going.

More about SPC

There are several things to know about SPC. Some that might interest you are:

Spotlight on KAIROS 2007

The KAIROS Cookie Challenge is an annual event that the SPC Church Family participates in. Along with the fellowship within the church, it helps to reach a group with very special needs and show them the wonder of God's Love. Read this article about KAIROS this year.