Emergency Plan

The following procedure is only intended as a general guide to assist residents with safety issues. Every emergency situation is different, requiring a unique response. It is the resident's responsibility to use common sense, to be familiar with the building's emergency and evacuation plans and to prepare themselves for emergency situations properly.

All residents have a responsibility to know and observe all House Rules pertaining to safety. Residents must be familiar with the building, particularly fire exits, stairwells, landings and door operations, as well as the location and operation of each fire extinguisher and fire alarm box.

Please read the below sections to learn more about the following emergency situations:

Fire
Each residential floor has two fire exit doors and stairwells. Fire exit doors are open without using keys.

If you should discover a fire, stay calm, and call the fire department immediately by dialing 911 on your phone. Do not assume that someone else already notified the fire department. Rycroft Terrace is assigned to the Fire Station by Don Quijote,  and the fire department has entry access to all three buildings and the elevators. When reporting a fire, make sure to give your exact location to the dispatch personnel. You can say: “I am calling to report a fire at 1550 Rycroft Street. There is a fire on floor X, coming from apartment XXXX.”
Listen to the instructions of the dispatch personnel and follow their directive.

If the fire is small, you may try to bring it under control. Paper or trash fires can be extinguished with water. However, you should never use water on grease/oil or electrical fires. Each residence should have a fire extinguisher rated for adequate fire protection. Your local hardware store can advise you on purchasing the correct type and size fire extinguisher. The cost ($10-$50) of these compact fire extinguishers is minimal, and they are widely available to cover different types of fire sources.
As mandated by local authorities, each apartment must be equipped with a properly functioning smoke detector. It is the Owner's responsibility to make sure that the apartment is equipped with an operating smoke detector in the living room as well as in the bedroom. Make sure to check the batteries periodically.

In case of a larger fire, immediately inform all occupants of the fire by activating the fire alarm, located on each residential floor in the middle. Be familiar, at all times, with the location of the red alarm boxes. Pull the handle to activate the alarm. An alarm will sound on all floors and the alarm panel in the lobby will identify the location of the activated alarm.

Your and your neighbors safety should always come first. If the fire is beyond control, leave the area and evacuate the building immediately by using the fire exit stairway.

DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS. All elevators will automatically return to the main lobby for the Fire Department's use and will only operate using the fire department's keys.
When using the stairway, go down the right side of the stairway, leaving the left side for Fire Department personnel. Always leave the stairway doors closed. This will keep the smoke out of the stairwell. DO NOT PROP STAIRWAY DOORS OPEN.

Upon hearing the fire alarm siren, you need to evacuate the building.
Before opening your apartment door, first feel it with the back of your hand for heat.

>>> If the inside of your door is hot or you see smoke seeping into your apartment, the hallway may be engulfed with fire or smoke. This is especially important for the studio apartments. Brace the door firmly with your foot to avoid the door from blowing inward from the heat and smoke pressure built up in the hallway. Open the door slightly while bracing and holding it firmly. Keep your body away from the door opening. If smoke or flame is present and too intense for escape, close the door immediately, but do not lock it. Seal off all cracks around the door with wet towels to help keep the smoke out of your apartment, but LEAVE YOUR DOOR UNLOCKED so the Fire Department can enter to search all apartments for any injured or trapped residents. Fill your bathtub and sinks with water for later use if needed.

>>> If your door does not feel hot from the inside, and you don't see smoke seeping into your apartment, brace the door firmly with your foot and carefully open the door to check the hallways. If the hallways are passable, evacuate your apartment by using the nearest fire escape stairway. Use only the fire exit stairway to evacuate the building. Do not use the elevators. Exit only on the ground floor. Although the Diamond Head exit stairs are equipped with emergency backup lights, electricity may be down from the fire, so each person should take a flashlight with them if possible.
Walk away from building entrances, and keep the entrances open for emergency personnel use. Return to the building only if and when the fire department signals that it is OK to return to the building.

Earthquakes
An earthquake is the sudden, rapid shaking of the Earth, caused by the braking and shifting of subterranean rock. Since it is not possible to predict when an earthquake will occur, it is essential that you and your family are prepared ahead of time.

Prepare for Earthquakes
- Securely fasten shelves to walls.
- Keep large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
- Store breakable items in lower cabinets with doors and latches.
- Inspect and repair electrical wiring; these can be potential fire hazards during an earthquake.
- Check your apartment for structural defects.
- Keep toxic and flammable items securely stored in cabinets with doors and latches.
- Identify safe places in your home or office where you will ride out an earthquake.
   The best protection is under heavy furniture where you are protected from falling debris.
- Learn how to turn off electricity and water.
- Get an emergency supply kit.

Plan to act Quickly
- During or immediately after an earthquake, the best protection is to get under heavy furniture,
   such as a desk, table or bench, staying away from large windows, mirrors or other glass.
- The greatest danger is directly outside buildings, at exits and along exterior walls, due to falling debris.
- If you are already outside, stay clear of buildings, power lines, overpasses and elevated expressways.
- Most deaths and injuries are due to falling walls, flying glass or debris.
- Expect aftershocks. Smaller quakes (and sometimes larger ones) can often follow hours or days after 
   the initial shake, causing further damage to weakened buildings and structures.

Hurricanes
Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency. However, there are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Learn more about the potential emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them. In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in Hawaii and stay informed. Contact information for Hawaii resources include:

State of Hawaii Homeland Security Oahu Civil Defense Agency,
3949 Diamond Head Rd.
Honolulu, HI 96816-4495
Phone: (808) 733-4246

650 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 523-4121
Website: http://www.scd.state.hi.us

Department of Civil Defense Division
3949 Diamond Head Road
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 733-4301

Citizen Corps: Get Involved in Preparing your Community. Citizen Corps, Homeland Security's grassroots effort, localizes preparedness messages and provides opportunities for citizens to get emergency response training; participate in community exercises; and volunteer to support local first responders.
Citizen Corps County Councils
City & County of Honolulu Citizen
Corps Council
Contact: William Ballfour
Phone: (808) 523-4121
Email:wballfour@co.honolulu.hi.us

During an emergency, stay informed! Local authorities may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should listen to NOAA Weather Radio, watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for official news and instructions as they become available. If you're specifically told to evacuate or seek medical treatment, do so immediately.

STAYING PUT: Whether you are at home, at work or elsewhere, there may be situations when it's simply best to stay where you are and avoid any uncertainty outside. There are other circumstances when staying put and creating a barrier between yourself and potentially contaminated air outside, a process known as "sealing the room," is a matter of survival. Use available information to assess the situation. If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to take this kind of action. The process used to seal the room is considered a temporary protective measure to create a barrier between you and potentially contaminated air outside. It is a type of sheltering in place that requires preplanning.
To "Shelter in Place and Seal the Room"
- Bring your family and pets inside.
- Lock doors, close windows and air vents.
- Go into an interior room with few windows, if possible.
- Seal all windows, doors and air vents with plastic sheeting and duct tape.
   Consider measuring and cutting the sheeting in advance to save time.
- Turn off fans, air conditioning and any forced air systems.
- Take your emergency supply kit unless you have reason to believe it has been contaminated.

- Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to seal gaps so that you create a barrier
   between yourself and any contamination.
- Local authorities may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what
   you should do. However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for official
   news and instructions as they become available.

Learn how and when to turn off utilities:
If there is damage to your home or you are instructed to turn off your utilities:
- Locate the electric, gas and water shut-off valves.
- Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves.
- Teach family members how to turn off utilities.
- If you turn the gas off, a professional must turn it back on. Do not attempt to do this yourself.

EVACUATING: There may be conditions under which you will decide to get away, or there may be situations when you are ordered to leave. Plan how you will assemble your family and anticipate where you will go. Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency. Create an evacuation plan:
- Plan places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood.
- If you have a car, keep a half tank of gas in it at all times in case you need to evacuate.
- Become familiar with alternate routes and other means of transportation out of your area.
- If you do not have a car, plan how you will leave if you have to.
- Take your emergency supply kit unless you have reason to believe it has been contaminated.
- Lock the door behind you.
- Take your pets with you, but understand that only service animals may be permitted in public shelters.
   Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency.

If time allows:
- Call or email the "out-of-state" contact in your family communications plan.
- Tell them where you are going.
- If there is damage to your home and you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and
   electricity before leaving.
- Leave a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
- Check with neighbors who may need a ride.

At Work and School: Like individuals and families, schools, daycare providers, workplaces, neighborhoods and apartment buildings should all have site-specific emergency plans. Ask about plans at the places where your family spends the most time: work, school and other places you frequent. If none exist, consider volunteering to help develop one. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead, and communicate with others in advance. For more information on working together, visit Citizen Corps at http://www.citizencorps.gov.
Schools and Daycare: If you are a parent, or guardian of an elderly or disabled adult, make sure schools and daycare providers have emergency response plans.
- Ask how they will communicate with families during a crisis.
- Ask if they store adequate food, water and other basic supplies.
- Find out if they are prepared to "shelter-in-place" if need be, and where they plan to go if they must get away. Visit Ready Kids at http://www.ready.gov/kids/ for more information. For more information on developing emergency preparedness plans for schools, please visit the U.S. Department of Education at http://www.ed.gov/emergencyplan. For more information on special needs, see Disaster Preparedness For People With Disabilities at http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/specialplans.shtm from FEMA, and Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities' Resource Center http://www.disabilitypreparedness.gov
For seniors, see information from the Red Cross: Disaster Preparedness for Seniors by Seniors at http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/seniors.html.
Workplaces: If you are an employer, make sure your workplace has a building evacuation plan that is regularly practiced. Visit Ready Business at http://www.ready.gov/business for more information.
- Take a critical look at your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system to determine if it is secure or if it could feasibly be upgraded to better filter potential contaminants, and be sure you know how to turn it off if you need to.
- Think about what to do if your employees can't go home.
- Make sure you have appropriate supplies on hand.

Neighborhoods and Apartment Buildings: A community working together during an emergency makes sense.
- Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together during an emergency.
- Find out if anyone has specialized equipment like a power generator, or expertise such as medical
   knowledge, that might help in a crisis.
- Decide who will check on elderly or disabled neighbors.
- Make back-up plans for children in case you can't get home in an emergency.
- Sharing plans and communicating in advance is a good strategy.

Each person's needs and abilities are unique, but every individual can take important steps to prepare for all kinds of emergencies and put plans in place. By evaluating your own personal needs and making an emergency plan, you can be better prepared for any situation. A commitment to planning today will help you prepare for any emergency situation. Preparing makes sense. Get ready now.
- Consider how a disaster might affect your individual needs.
- Plan to make it on your own, at least for a period of time. It's possible that you will not have access to
   a medical facility or even a drugstore.
- Identify what kind of resources you use on a daily basis and what you might do if they are limited
  or not available.
- Get an emergency supply kit.
- If you must evacuate, take your pets with you, if possible. However, if you are going to a public shelter,
   It is important to understand that animals may not be allowed inside.
- Plan in advance for shelter alternatives that will work for both you and your pets; consider loved ones
   or friends outside of your immediate area who would be willing to host you and your pets in an
   emergency.

Things you should have:
- Two pairs of Latex, or other sterile gloves (if you are allergic to Latex).
- Sterile dressings to stop bleeding.
- Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic wipes to disinfect.
- Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
- Burn ointment to prevent infection.
- Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes.
- Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant.
- Thermometer
- Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers.
   You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates.
- Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies.

Things good to have:
- Cell Phone and solar or hand operated charger
- Emergency Radio and Batteries
- Scissors and Tweezers
- Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant

Non-prescription drugs:
- Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
- Anti-diarrhea medication (Sugar and Salt)
- Antacid (for upset stomach)
- Laxative

Unique Family Needs:
Remember the unique needs of your family members when making your emergency supply kit and family emergency plan.
For Baby:
- Formula
- Diapers
- Bottles
- Powdered milk
- Medications
- Moist wipes
- Diaper rash ointment

For Seniors and Adults with Special Needs:
- Ask your doctor about storing prescription medications such as heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin and other prescription drugs.
- Denture needs
- Contact lenses and supplies. Extra eye glasses.
- If you take medicine or use a medical treatment on a daily basis, be sure you have what you need to make it on your own for at least a week, maybe longer.
- Make a list of prescription medicines including dosage, treatment and allergy information.
- Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what else you need to prepare.
- If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or hospital or if you receive regular services such as home health care, treatment or transportation, talk to your service provider about their emergency plans. Work with them to identify backup service providers and incorporate them into your personal support network.
- Consider other personal needs such as hearing aids and hearing aid batteries, wheelchair batteries, and oxygen.

Emergency Documents: Include copies of important documents in your emergency supply kits such as family records, medical records, wills, deeds.
- Have copies of your medical insurance and Medicare cards readily available.
- Keep a list of the style and serial number of medical devices or other life-sustaining devices. Include operating information and instructions.
- Make sure that a friend or family member has copies of these documents.
- Include the names and contact information of your support network, as well as your medical providers.
- If you have a communication disability, make sure your emergency information notes the best way to communicate with you.
- Keep these documents in a water proof container for quick and easy access.

Documents and Keys:
- Personal identification
- Cash and coins
- Credit cards
- Extra set of house keys and car keys
- Copies of the following:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Driver's license
- Social Security cards
- Passports
- Wills
- Deeds
- Inventory of household goods
- Insurance papers
- Immunization records
- Bank and credit card account numbers
- Stocks and bonds
- Emergency contact list and phone numbers
- Map of the area and phone numbers of places you could go