Communicating in Emergencies
Presented by Sister Shaffer and Brother Dickson
Emergency communication means you understand where to find information and know how to determine its truthfulness. Also know how to convey your status in an emergency, even without cell phones, and have a plan for communicating with and about ministering brothers and sisters.
Truthful Information:
Avoid Panic—Consider the Source. Who can you trust?—The internet says it’s so. Neighbors on NextDoor are chiming in. How do you know the reporting is truthful?
1. Primary Sources include County, Sheriff, CalOES, CalFire, and local police—you can trust their interviews, press releases and social media.
2. The Watch Duty app—put this free app on your phone—posts are vetted and timely.
3. Government websites are trusted addresses ending in .gov
4. Be cautious of secondary sources like the news. Journalists are simply middle men passing info from Sheriff, Police, and government anyway. The press have had to post retractions from being too rushed and not vetting their other sources of information.
5. Be discerning with all other info-avoid rumors, posts from strangers or even friends, or news reports from 3 states away that have heard about our disaster. Discern what info you share, and listen to.
Evacuation:
1. Advise Departure—Let someone know you’ve left your home for a safer location. Visit CalFire today to get yellow tags to affix to your front door knob, signaling to first-responders you have evacuated. This saves them from parking and knocking, so they can move on to those who need help.
2. Safer Destination-Have supplies ready to go. Full gas tank. Travel together. Go-Bags; 1 at door, 1 in trunk. Save what's important to you, but don't be consumed with saving things. Be Practical—bring clothes you can wash/wear easily. For all your photos and important documents, start now with digitizing and backing up to the Cloud. Common Sense—bring meds, water (crisis makes us thirsty), coat, flashlight, ID, cash, pet food/leash, cell phone/chargers, laptop/cord.
3. Never Fear—There is a plan in place for your care in an emergency. Each ward has its own emergency plan, including how to handle displaced members/pets. Your ministering brother and sister know you and care about you.
Today’s reminder is to create a plan within your household about how you will communicate with others in an emergency. Be prepared to rely on yourself for the first 72 hours. Avoid panic by tuning in to primary source reports. We hope you will find consolation through a crisis with these tips during fire or storm disasters.
D&C 38:30 “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.”
“I pray that we may be aware of the needs of those around us… May we ever be ready to extend to them a helping hand and a loving heart.”—President Thomas S. Monson