BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING:

NCMO 410: DISASTER NURSING

COURSE MODULE COURSE UNIT WEEK
2 6 7
Nurses Role in Disaster: Home Mitigation and Preparedness

✔ Read and understand course unit objectives

✔ Read study guide prior to class attendance
✔ Read required learning resources; refer to unit
terminologies for jargons
✔ Proactively participate in classroom discussions
✔ Participate in weekly discussion board (Canvas)
✔ Answer and submit course unit tasks

Personal Laptop/mobile device

Internet connection/device Reading
materials
Paper and Pen for writing

At the end of the course unit (CM), learners will be able to:
COGNITIVE:
1. Describe nurse’s role in educating family in disaster preparedness and home mitigation.
2. Evaluate family members role in preparedness in planning and management during disaster.
.
AFFECTIVE:
1. Inculcate in mind the importance of nurse’s role in disaster planning and management.
2. Show compassionate and caring attitude as the nurse core values during disaster.
PSYCHOMOTOR:
1. Apply quality and safety protocols, principles of evidence-based practice in disaster nursing.
2. Collaborate with inter-agencies in the delivery of health care and utilizing different strategies during
disaster management.

Disaster Mitigation – the lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of hazards

and related disasters. Mitigation measures encompass engineering techniques and
hazard resilient construction as well as improved environmental policies and public
awareness (NDRRM)

Mitigation is the effort to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact
of disasters. Stated plainly, mitigation can keep natural hazards, like flooding and
hurricanes, from having catastrophic impacts. Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA)

Disaster Preparedness the knowledge and capacities developed by governments,

professional response and recovery organizations, communities and individuals to
effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of likely, imminent or
current hazard events or conditions (RA 10121)

Family Preparedness Plan

Introduction

Disasters can strike at any moment, with little notice. In order to protect your home and
family, it is important to be prepared and have a plan in place. The family preparedness plan
contains four steps that families should take to be ready for any disaster.

Disaster preparedness
▶ Should be in the form of manpower, money, materials.
▶ Evaluation from past experience about risk.
▶ Location of disaster-prone areas.
▶ Organization of communication, information, & warning systems.
▶ Ensuring Co-ordination & response mechanisms.
▶ Development of Public education Program.
▶ Coordination with media.
▶ Keeping stocks of foods, Drugs, & other essential commodities.

1. Identify hazards
● Identify what types of disasters are most likely to happen in your area, and learn about
how to prepare for each (See Disaster Preparedness Series: Disaster Information).
● Learn about your community’s warning system and signals (sirens, text messages, etc.).
● Consider purchasing a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather
radio. This radio broadcasts official warnings, watches, advisories, forecasts and other
hazards 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
● Identify local organizations that perform emergency management (Red Cross/Red
Crescent, nonprofits, etc.) and know how to contact them.
● Educate yourself on any disaster plans in place at your workplace, children’s school or
other places you and your family spend time.

2. Hold a family meeting

● Meet with your family to discuss why it is important to be prepared.
● Review the types of disasters that are most likely to occur, and explain what to do in
each situation.
● Assign responsibilities to each family member, and plan to work together as a team.
● Decide on locations where you will meet in case a disaster strikes:
o Outside your home and neighborhood in case of a sudden emergency, such as an
earthquake or fire.
o Outside your city in case you cannot return home.
● Discuss what to do in an evacuation and create a family evacuation plan.
● If a family member is in the military or frequently away from home, plan how you will
respond if he or she is away when a disaster strikes.
● Document how your family will communicate if a disaster strikes, and create a family
communications plan.
● If anyone in your family has a disability or special needs, adjust your plan accordingly.
● Be sure to include your family pets in your plan.

3. Prepare
● Assemble a disaster supply kit.
● Locate safe places in your home for each type of disaster.
● Determine the best evacuation routes from your home.
● Become trained in first aid and CPR.
● Show each family member how and where to shut off utilities (water, gas, electricity).
● Make a complete inventory of your home and property.
● Teach each family member how to use a fire extinguisher and where to find one.
● Post emergency contacts (friends, family, neighbors, police, fire, etc.) on the
refrigerator.
●

4. Practice your plan

● Practice your plan with your family on a regular basis (every six months).
● Check your disaster supply kit every three months.
● Replace stored water and food every three months.
● Update any emergency contact info as changes

HOME MITIGATION

Mitigation is the effort to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact
of disasters. Stated plainly, mitigation can keep natural hazards, like flooding and
hurricanes, from having catastrophic impacts.

- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mission is to support our

citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build,
sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover
from, and mitigate all hazards.”

1. Flood Mitigation Options

● Purchasing flood insurance

● Elevate your home’s lowest floor above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
● Install flood vents in foundation walls, garages, and other enclosed areas
● Use flood-resistant materials in areas of your home below the BFE
● Anchor any fuel tanks to the floor and make sure vents and fill line openings are above
the BFE
● Install a backflow valve on your sewer system to prevent sewage back up in your home.
● Add waterproof veneer to exterior walls to prevent shallow flooding from damaging
your home

2. WIND MITIGATION
 ● Install hurricane shutters to protect windows and glass doors.
● Gable end roofs are more susceptible to high wind than other roof types. If you have a
gable end roof, add bracings to reinforce the roof.
● Consider fastening the roof to the walls with hurricane straps.
● Reinforce garage doors and double-entry doors to prevent failure under wind pressure.
● Garage doors can be reinforced with girts and by strengthening the glider wheel tracks.
● Double-entry doors can be reinforced with a heavy-duty dead bolt, adding slide bolts on
one of the doors, and using longer hinge attachments on the door and frame.
● Maintain your property. Anything from loose shingles to trees can become a windborne
missile.
● The distance between your home and any tree should be greater than a full-grown tree’s
height.

Sources:
Habitat Ready: Disaster preparedness for homeowners
https://www.habitat.org/our-work/disaster-response/disaster-preparedness-homeowners/family-
preparedness-plan

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Mitigation for Homeowners

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/mitigation_homeowners_fact_sheet_2017.pdf

Family Disaster Plan: Produced by the National Disaster Education Coalition: American Red
Cross, FEMA, IAEM, IBHS,NFPA, NWS, USDA/CSREES, and USGS
https://www.disastercenter.com/guide/family.pdf

Ready ba ang pamilya in case of emergencies and disasters? A quick guide for families on emergency preparedness
https://www.unicef.org/philippines/ready-ba-ang-pamilya-case-emergencies-and-disasters

● Develop a family disaster plan which includes reunification plan, navigation throughout the household during
disaster and assembly of a go-to bag.
● Conduct an earthquake and fire drill at home.