September not only marks the 5-year anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, but is also the official month of national disaster preparedness.
This nationwide effort to increase awareness encourages Americans to prepare for emergencies of all kinds in their homes, businesses, schools and communities. This year, there is a particular focus on families, reminding individuals to make themselves and their loved ones better prepared.

COUNTY PLANS
Taking into consideration 9/11, the county wildfires in 2003 and Hurricane Katrina last year, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors recently sent out Family Disaster Plan and Personal Survival Guides to every household in San Diego County.
Part of this plan, which contains life-saving information that can help prepare for the next major disaster, includes knowing how and where to shut off utilities, establishing an evacuation route and designating reunion locations where families can meet following an emergency.
While most of the disaster plan focuses on earthquake emergencies, thinking ahead can benefit families during any type of unforeseen disaster.
Residents are encouraged to learn how to protect themselves from falling objects, smoke, fire and toxic fumes, and learn first aid and CPR.
The county also recommends storing cash, credit cards and other important documents, such as Social Security cards, driver’s license, passport, medical records and insurance information, in an accessible location that is easy to find in an emergency.
A list of home emergency supplies, such as water, food, blankets, flashlights and medication, as well as sanitation supplies such as trash bags, shampoo and toilet paper, is included in the guide. These supplies should be stored in quantities sufficient to sustain the entire family for a minimum of 72 hours.
Citizens can also become involved in San Diego’s community emergency response team (CERT), which is a group of community members trained in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an emergency when professional responders are not immediately available.
For more about CERT San Diego, e-mail [email protected] or call (619) 533-3075.

AIRPORT PLANS
Five years after 9/11, the San Diego International Airport (SDIA) has completely transformed its safety protocol.
The airport has a security plan, airport emergency plan and business continuity and recovery plan.
“When we think of the post-9/11 era, the word ‘safety’ is not the preeminent word – it’s security,” said Mark Denari, SDIA director of aviation security public safety, “We really have two programs that balance security and safety.”
The most noticeable change for passengers has been increased property screening, which travelers experience passing through the security checkpoint, Denari said.
Prior to 9/11, a portion of the bags were screened; however, congress has since mandated that every bag aboard a U.S. aircraft must be screened by government-certified equipment.
Denari said he anticipates continued restrictions on carrying liquids onboard, resulting from a foiled terrorist plot in London last month.
“The Transportation and Security Administration still wants to maintain a high security posture and concentrate on that particular threat,” Denari said, “I think we’ll see that probably as a measure that will be institutionalized and permanent.”
The Sab Diego County Regional Airport Authority recently hired George Condon as manager of public safety and emergency preparedness to assist Denari in strengthening and improving its preparedness plans.
“We have a number of different plans for natural disasters and earthquake is certainly one,” Denari said. “Another one we’re working on to a lesser extent because of its probability and potential to happen is a tsunami.”
According to Jeffrey Woodson, vice president of administration for the airport authority, SDIA has a business continuity and disaster recovery plan, which would be implemented during power or electrical shortages.
The airport also has an aircraft rescue and firefighting team, which does not leave the airport property.
“We have a lot of different things in place to make sure that once there is an interruption of service we can recover and keep on conducting business as usual,” Woodson said.

PORT PLANS
While the Port of San Diego has the harbor police, who are fully qualified and also trained firefighters, it relies heavily on the support of first responders from the local area, such as San Diego and Chula Vista fire departments, during disaster emergencies.
“We don’t necessarily have a disaster preparedness plan for the port singularly,” said John MacIntyre, the port’s homeland security program manager. “We do planning, but we rely heavily on mutual aid agreements to do work collaboratively with each other.”
According to MacIntyre, the port conducts exercises with the Red Cross, Coast Guard and a number of local fire departments and medical organizations to work the coordination of various plans.
“We’re trying to consolidate many plans, the best practices and planning processes all under one roof,” MacIntyre said. “We’re refining and improving them, but that’s an ongoing process.”
The port focuses on general notification and evacuation plans throughout the harbor in an overarching sense, he said.
“An evacuation is an evacuation, notification is notification, whether it’s a storm, tidal wave, fire or chemical spill,” MacIntyre said. “The initial processes are going to be the same.”
The port hopes to have a basic master plan completed early next year.
“We are far more secure and prepared than we were five years ago,” MacIntyre said. “But like all evolving ideas, as you make progress you see you can make progress in other areas too.”