Inquisitive Minds Want To Know...

What are the basics of emergency preparedness

in a retirement apartment building?

Here's a poster that boils it all down:

source 

In some 'independent living' retirement apartments, 

many residents lack ready access to the following:

Information

1) Important facts regarding likely local disaster scenarios 

2) Easily understandable instructions ("infographics") regarding what is expected of them as individuals in a building-wide emergency

3) Who of their neighbors will be most able to help as well as who will need the most assistance on a floor-by-floor basis

source

A Plan

1) What plans already exist in the broader neighborhood and community?

2) What minimum emergency response team structure* is appropriate for our building?

3) What is the most expeditious way to recruit and train those interested in participating on each floor?

A Grab-n-Go-Kit

Priority one: 

Put together a 72-hour kit in case there is a need to evacuate the building.

Priority two: 

Lay in personal supplies in the delightful event that we actually get to "shelter in place".

Priority three:

Coordinate with neighbors on our floor regarding pooled resources ('stone soup').

source

*A sampling of campus housing and student evacuation plans:

Floor Captain Safety Liaison (UT, SanAntonio, TX)

Floor Evacuation Coordinator (CSU, Chico, CA) 

Emergency Preparedness (OSU, Corvallis, OR)

Emergency Procedures (UO, Eugene, OR)

Plus:
A nifty little PowerPoint presentation called Emergency Evacuation by the State of North Dakota...

Oh yes,

and they all lived happily ever after...