Resources Available to Help Your Organization Survive

Yesterday, Retta Livengood gave a very informative presentation on the steps to make your small business, church or non profit resilient to disaster. Some of the material presented can be accessed here:
www.DisasterSafety.org/open-for-business

There are additional resources available for both your family and your organization at: www.ready.gov or by contacting Hancock County COAD through our web site linked below.

Statistically, 40 percent of businesses do not reopen after a disaster, with another 25 percent failing within one year post-disaster and another 15% within two years. Development of a business continuity plan will significantly improve your chances of survival. It is the conversations to develop the plan that are more important than the plan itself. Don’t just fill in the blanks on a template but rather gather your staff and discuss the process openly. Don’t be an information hoarder. Who will carry out the plan if you are incapacitated?

If you are part of the leadership of an organization that would like a short presentation/demonstration about preparedness, let us know.

www.greenfieldcc.org
www.HancockCOAD.org

Your Hancock County COAD Team
COAD = Community Organizations Active in Disaster

After the Ground Stops Shaking

    First, earthquakes can happen in Indiana, not just in California and Puerto Rico.         
    Second, all disasters are local and all disasters are personal. As someone willing to help the community recover, your first responsibility is to yourself and your family.
    Then, there are some common sense things you can do to reduce the impact of any disaster on your family.
1. Close your (and your children’s) bedroom doors. In the case of fire this will significantly improve your chances of getting out alive.
2. Plan an escape route and practice getting out – more than one option!
3. If you, your spouse and your children are scattered around the county at various activities when the winds twist or the ground shakes, how are you going to know how they are or where they are?  If you are counting on cell phone communication, forget about it. That’s not an option.  Talk about more than one potential meeting places to regroup.
4. How much gas in your tank? How much cash in your pocket? Gas pumps won’t work and credit card systems will be down. Plan ahead.

Those are just a few things to consider IN ADVANCE.

If you have a group that would like a short presentation/demonstration about Family Preparedness, let us know.

www.HancockCOAD.org

Your Hancock County COAD Team
COAD = Community Organizations Active in Disaster

Safe Haven from the Storm

    A young father was passing through Hancock County with his two small children on a cold and stormy winter night. The roads were slick and he lost control of his car. He told the first responders he had no family close and could not afford a motel room. But he had to get his toddler and small baby in where it was warm until help could arrive.           
     Thankfully, the warming center was open that night. Volunteers from Hancock County COAD who were  staffing the center were able to provide snacks and a warm place to get some sleep. Since he had left the diaper bag in the car, they went to the store and got diapers and necessary supplies.
     The COAD opens a warming center when temperatures are predicted to be below 20 or wind chill below 15. There are two volunteers (one man and one woman) on each of two shifts all night. These volunteers have gotten shelter training from either American Red Cross or Salvation Army. We could open on other nights if we had more volunteers.
     If you might know someone who would consider joining our team, just forward this email or reply with info for us to contact them.

www.HancockCOAD.org

Your Hancock County COAD Team
COAD = Community Organizations Active in Disaster