Natural Disaster Drill

Goal - why is this important to us?

We care about the safety of our clients and staff. In the event of a severe weather emergency, we want everybody to know what to do.

Ingredients - what do I need to get started?

• Air Horn
• Computer
• Phone

Timeframe - about how long will this take?

5 minutes for drill, could be much longer if actual emergency

Contacts - who do I need to let know?

Complete “Emergency Drill Report” in Apricot.

If this is a REAL weather emergency, also notify your Program Coordinator and complete an Incident Report in Apricot.

Steps - what do I do?

When practicing an emergency drill, first talk with your coworkers about what needs to be done, and how you will decide who does what. Keep in mind that you will each need to do more than one of the following tasks:

1. Use the air horn to notify clients that there is a severe storm or tornado. The air horn and earplugs are located with the emergency supplies in the office. Sound the air horn toward the dorms, toward the basement, and outside. (Note: Outpatient can notify verbally)

2. Immediately direct clients to the designated shelter area:

• Farm – Basement Laundry Room
• Downtown – Middle of Basement
• Spera – Basement Hallway
• Outpatient – Basement (Follow Staff to Basement)

3. Collect the client roster, emergency flashlights, and a cell phone, and immediately proceed to the designated shelter area. Once all clients are present, do a roll call.

4. Sweep the inside of the building to make sure all clients are aware of the severe storm or tornado emergency. If someone is unable to move to the designated shelter area under their own power, two staff could use the stretcher in the office to carry that person.

5. Sweep the outside of the building to make sure that no clients are outside.

6. In the event of an actual severe storm or tornado, the Program Coordinator should monitor the status of the storm via radio or internet. The Program Coordinator should decide whether or not clients and staff should go to the designated shelter area. When the storm warning is over, announce the end of the emergency. The Project Manager may make an agency wide call to have all staff and clients go to the basement if deemed necessary.

7. Time the drill. Time starts when the air horn sounds, and ends when roll call is completed in the designated shelter area.

8. Complete the Emergency Drill Report on Apricot and log in daybook

Remember to follow all of these steps in the event of an ACTUAL weather emergency!

Follow-up - what loose ends do I need to wrap up?

Follow all instructions from your Program Coordinator if this is a real weather emergency.

** In the event of an actual severe storm or tornado, Dawn Farm may experience a power failure. Make sure you are also familiar with the Power Outage procedure.