Planning Activities for Collaborative Groups
Collaborative Group’s First Priority: Planning
The time to form a group will have expired if natural disasters begin to occur so often that they exhaust the resources of local and national rescue systems. It would be too late if earthquakes and human-made conflicts disable road systems, waterways, and ports. However, if you read these words under more benign conditions, engage your path of evolution, study, plan, and organize a collaborative group, no matter how small.
Develop response plans for emergency scenarios in the region you inhabit. Once you complete and exercise the emergency response plans in simulated scenarios, write down the results and lessons learned for each group member. These plans must clearly describe group goals and individual actions to ensure the group’s safety during emergencies. Include all steps necessary to ensure survival, and do not mind the criticism of those who judge your efforts as tedious or unnecessary. You will be grateful for the time and effort spent preparing in advance during actual emergencies.
Consider engaging your group in three types of activities:
1. Theorizing and planning.
2. Assessing the efficacy of emergency response plans and theories.
3. Retesting to improve their effectiveness.
Planning Considerations
Conduct planning sessions well ahead of any imminent threat to your safety or security. Schedule these planning sessions quarterly, if not monthly, until you have a robust set of emergency plans. Practice executing these plans with all members of the collaborative group.
Consider situations that require evacuation due to specific threats.
Determine the conditions that may allow you to anticipate the need to evacuate, rather than relying solely on the analyses of civil authorities.
Unless you live in an area with a sparse population, please consider that community shelters may become overcrowded. If you can evacuate to a hotel or a collaborative group member's home, do so. This action will provide an added measure of security and safety.
Create a map and mark potential evacuation shelters (e.g., collaborative group homes, hotels, and public shelters).
Select evacuation shelters considering your capability to travel ( e.g., range of vehicle with a full fuel tank) and mode of transportation (e.g., privately owned vehicle, public transit).
Create a packing list for each group or family member, including clothing (selected according to the season), KN95 masks or equivalent, water, ready-to-eat meals, medications, a personal first aid kit, flashlights, communication devices, and power cables or batteries. Consider shrinkable rain gear, safety glasses, and a safety helmet.
Create a ready-to-go backpack for each family or group member, including all elements of the packing list (see resources on item 10).
During an emergency, select the evacuation shelter closest to you, but well outside the threat's zone of influence. Ensure you have enough time to leave your home and reach your chosen evacuation shelter before the threat arrives in your local area. Your ability to leave on time depends on the population density of the local area and the roads designated for evacuation routes. Consider using these facts in your planning sessions.
Be ready to evacuate at the first call from civil authorities. If evacuation is likely to be necessary to ensure your safety and security, consider leaving before civil authorities issue a call for mandatory evacuation.
Ready.gov and FEMA.gov are excellent resources for detailed information on preparing your home, family, and loved ones to endure emergencies, including weather and environmental threats.
