Emergency Action Plan for Sun City
Please take an opportunity to read and understand the following important information. RESIDENT INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
PURPOSE
All organizations are at some level of risk. Being prepared for an emergency* can make the difference between life and death. Life safety is first and foremost at Sun City Carolina Lakes (SCCL): it is the primary focus in developing this, the SCCL Emergency Action Plan (EAP), created by the SCCL Public Safety Committee and the Emergency Plan Subcommittee. This Resident Information EAP will provide residents with guidelines on how to cope with the most common emergencies..
This plan is based on industry best practices, compliance with standards and guidelines set forth by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the Occupational Safety Health Administration and local fire codes that call for the creation and implementation of such a plan or program.
To further protect our residents, staff and facilities, contributions were made by the following Lancaster County South Carolina organizations: Sheriff’s Department, Emergency Medical Services and the Emergency Coordinator.
Review and acceptance of this EAP has been made by the SCCL Management Staff and Board of Directors.
Table of Contents
Reporting an Emergency From Your Residence. 7
Reporting an Emergency from your Residence. 7
Things to do When in Your Residence. 7
Residence Severe Weather Emergency Plan. 9
FEMA and ready.gov Recommended Supplies. 9
The Difference Between Seasonal Influenza and Pandemic Influenza. 12
How Would a Pandemic Affect SCCL?. 12
Reduce the Risk of Infection. 13
What May Happen During an Influenza Pandemic?. 13
Reporting an Emergency from a SCCL Amenity or Facility. 16
Introduction
The Sun City Carolina Lakes (SCCL) Emergency Action Plan (EAP) reviews the most common emergency situations and offers guidelines on how each situation should be handled and applies primarily to events that could occur and have an impact on SCCL residents and/or their residences.
Glossary
Below are acronyms, phrases, words and guidelines that should help you better understand the terminology used in this Emergency Action Plan.
| Term | Definition |
| 911 | The United States emergency phone number |
| All Call Alert System | Used to alert the entire SCCL community regarding emergency situations via phone, text and email |
| All Clear | Given by appropriate emergency response personnel when the emergency has been declared over via the All Call Alert System |
| Amenities | SCCL buildings such as The Lake House and The Lodge |
| CDC | Center for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/index.htm |
| EAP | Emergency Action Plan |
| Emergency | A serious, unexpected and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action. For the purposes this EAP it includes weather. medical, or structural situations |
| ERT | Emergency Response Team – members of the trained Community Management Staff with designated emergency action responsibilities |
| FEMA | Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov |
| GPS | Global Positioning System – an accurate worldwide navigational and surveying facility based on the reception of signals from an array of orbiting satellites |
| Mr. Huwit | The code for “Help Us We’re In Trouble” |
| NWS | National Weather Service, a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| OSHA | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
www.osha.com |
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment |
| ready.gov | The website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Provides emergency preparedness guidance and contains lists and explanations regarding specific threats and responses for personal and residential safety www.ready.gov |
Glossary, Continued
Below are acronyms, phrases, words and guidelines that should help you better understand the terminology used in this Emergency Action Plan.
| Term | Definition |
| SCCL | Sun City Carolina Lakes |
| SCCL Amenity | SCCL buildings such as The Lake House and The Lodge |
| SCCL Facility | SCCL outdoor locations such as the tennis courts, pools, pickle ball courts, etc. |
| Severe Weather | Hazardous conditions produced by thunderstorms, including damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail, flooding and flash flooding, and winter storms associated with freezing rain, sleet, snow and strong winds |
| Shelter-In-Place (SIP) | Direction by public authorities or the ERT to stay within the location (SCCL Amenity, personal residence) where you are until the emergency situation can be accurately assessed and the All Clear signal is given |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
Reporting an Emergency From Your Residence
What is an emergency? A serious, unexpected and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action. For the purposes this EAP it includes medical, structural or vehicular situations.
Reporting an Emergency From Your Residence When you have an emergency in or around your residence, contact the public authorities by calling 911.
- Calling 911 – Don’t hang up if you are not immediately connected to the dispatcher. It may take some time for your call to be routed correctly, especially if you are on a cell phone outside of the area served by your phone’s area code. In addition, the GPS system must locate your phone.
- Keep calm, don’t panic. Listen to the dispatcher and follow their instructions. Remember that even if the dispatcher is still asking questions or giving instructions, help is on the way.
- The dispatcher is going to ask a lot of questions. Speak clearly and calmly when answering the questions.
What You Need to Know
- In general, the most important thing is why you need assistance.
- Location of the emergency: The emergency is not always located where you are calling from. Be aware of your surroundings and where you are. Try to keep a watch out for the road signs, business names and intersections whenever you may travel.
- Nature of the emergency: Do you require assistance from law enforcement, medical professionals and/or fire fighters? In some areas, the dispatcher or a computer will tell you to dial certain numbers to help them know which department to connect you with and who you should talk with.
- A detailed and concise description of the emergency: Are you alone? What happened? How many details do you know? What should have the most importance? Again, the most important thing is why you need assistance.
- The number of your phone: The dispatcher may need instructions on how to get to where you are located and may need to call back for more information. Know the phone number of the phone you are using.
- Your personal information: The dispatcher will ask for your name and address.
- Don’t hang up until instructed to do so: Anything can happen, and the emergency responders need to know your situation at all times. If the building is on fire, for example, the dispatcher will need to know if there are other people in the building and where any safe exits are located.
- When the first responders arrive: Keep out of their way. If there is a medical situation, always err on the side of caution.
Things to do When in Your Residence
- When there is an emergency in your residence, follow the above guideline for calling 911.
- Gather all relevant health care documentation, i.e., Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney.
- Gather all medicines.
- If and when you leave your residence, be sure to take your mobile phone and charger.
Residence Severe Weather Emergency Plan
It is recommended and encouraged that ALL residents have an emergency plan for their residence.
- If the ERT or public authorities announce a “Shelter-in-Place” (see below) due to severe weather, pandemic concern (see page 12) or community wide lockdown (see page 14), all residents should have a plan in place and the following FEMA and gov suggested items prepared for such an event.
FEMA and ready.gov Recommended Supplies
- Try to keep your automobile gas tank filled, an extra set of car keys and, if you have one, your golf cart battery fully charged.
- One gallon of potable water per person per day for three days for drinking and sanitation.
- Unique family needs: Personal care products, eye glasses, hearing aids with batteries, important family documents (passports/wills), cash, credit cards, travelers checks, listing of telephone numbers of family and friends.
- Prescription and non-prescription medications, such anti-diarrhea medication, hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds, Tylenol®/aspirin, etc.
- Two to five days of non-perishable food for all household members, along with a manual can opener. For example, peanut butter, canned goods, etc.
- First aid kit: Band Aids®, antibiotic ointment.
- Flashlight and extra batteries for each household member. If available, battery operated candles.
- Bathroom tissues and moist towelettes for sanitary purposes.
- Garbage bags including plastic ties. May be used for personal sanitation and trash.
- Fire extinguisher – may be needed in the event of a small house fire.
- Wrench, pliers, screwdriver. May be needed to turn off utilities, etc. Knives for cutting and plastic eating utensils.
- Pet food and supplies, if needed.
- Battery powered weather radio for updates.
- Local maps (other than SCCL maps) for evacuation purposes.
- Also suggested are:
- Sleeping bags and blankets for each member of the household.
- Powdered milk and protein bars.
- Jumper cables for car.
- Extra shoes and socks. Change of clothing.
- Pens, pencils, notepads.
- Reading materials: books, magazines, etc.
- Also suggested are:
Shelter-In-Place
There are times when personal safety depends on moving to a safer part of your residence. This is called Shelter-in-Place (SIP). SIP directions for you to stay in your home will be given by the ERT, via the All Call Alert System, or by public authorities. They will instruct you to stay within your personal residence until the emergency situation can be accurately assessed and the All Clear signal is given. Reasons for SIPs are listed above under the Severe Weather Emergency Plan and elsewhere in this EAP as appropriate.
If in the case of severe weather, like a tornado, this would mean that you should:
- Shelter using the inner rooms and hallways away from windows.
- If possible, crouch down under a table. If not possible, crouch down and cover your head with a blanket, towel or other covering.
- Remain in your home and stay calm.
- DO NOT attempt to leave your home until told to do so by public authorities.
The all clear signal will be given via the All Call Alert System.
Pandemic Concern
Many of us are fortunate to travel overseas and thus might be exposed to an infectious disease. When exposure to infectious, communicable diseases reaches more than just the seasonal influenza level of virus attacks, the World Health Organization (WHO) can declare a pandemic. If you have just returned from an area where a pandemic virus is active and are showing systems of this virus, remain in your home following the direction of medical professionals until a possible incubation period has passed.
During the last pandemic, the Spanish Flu (January, 1918 to December, 1920), 5% of the world’s population died. More people died of this influenza in a single year than in the four years of the Black Death Bubonic Plague from 1347 to 1351. Today, the United States has about 5% of the world’s population … think about everyone in the U. S. dying in a two year period. Epidemiologists tell us that sooner or later there will be another pandemic, we just don’t know what kind and when.
The Difference between Seasonal influenza and Pandemic Influenza
Normally the influenza virus is continually undergoing small changes known as genetic drifting. In the U.S., the flu season is during the winter months each year. We have some residual immunity to the flu, but never enough so we should ALWAYS GET YOUR ANNUAL FLU SHOT.
An influenza pandemic is different in that a global outbreak of a new Influenza A virus happens when new (novel) Influenza A viruses emerge that are able to infect people easily and spread from person to person in an efficient and sustained way and to which we have virtually no immunity.
How Would a Pandemic Affect SCCL?
Should a pandemic occur affecting SCCL, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with the World Health Organization (WHO), could enact a travel ban and we could find ourselves in a lockdown situation. (See page 14).
Since it is likely that a pandemic will not emerge with the same severity in all locations, it is important that the ERT be able to evaluate the local situation and in the surrounding area. This can be done using the Center for Disease Control or World Health Organization guidelines.
Reduce the Risk of Infection
- Get your influenza vaccination yearly. While this will not help in pandemic situations, it will reduce your risk of getting “the flu.”
- Have available and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as N-95 respirators or dust masks.
- Practice good personal hygiene. Frequent, thorough hand washing is the best way to not pass along a virus.
- Avoid infected persons by staying home and avoid large gatherings such as movie theaters, concert halls and restaurants, including the Lake House and Lodge.
- Consider closing the hot tub/pool and/or exercise area.
SCCL Lockdown
In situations involving external or internal emergencies such as personnel disturbances, active shooters or possibly missing or lost persons, it may be necessary for emergency responders to “lockdown” portions, including personal residences, or all of SCCL. This condition will be determined by the emergency management personnel based on the situation.
These types of emergencies almost always involve situations where a number of residences and/or management staff are in danger and will occur when emergency management personnel determine the scope of the emergency warrants locking down areas of SCCL.
The best action in lockdown situations is to stay/Shelter-in-Place, which means do not leave the Amenity/Facility/residence where you are located when lockdown is activated.
When first responders arrive at the scene requiring lockdown they will take charge of the situation and the ERT will support whatever directions are given by first responders.
Once lockdown is initiated it will remain in effect until emergency personnel determine the danger is passed and the All Clear signal is given via the All Call Alert System.
Missing or Lost Person
As sometimes happens, a resident of SCCL becomes lost or is missing. When someone in your household is lost or missing and, after the first several minutes efforts to locate the individual are unsuccessful, you should call 911 and the ERT member on duty at (803) 547-8858. The reason for calling the ERT representative is that they can help coordinate the SCCL response, working with first responders in locating the individual.
As always, when calling 911 follow the guidelines listed in the “Reporting an Emergency From Your Residence” located on page 7.
Please note: Many of the SCCL Drone Club members are FAA certified drone pilots and can be called upon during daylight hours to help provide aerial surveillance. This service should be called only if emergency personnel are in agreement that this service would be beneficial in locating the missing person. If Drone Club assistance is required, call the President of the Drone Club.
Reporting an Emergency from a SCCL Amenity or Facility
If you are in a SCCL Amenity or Facility and see an emergency, please follow the same procedures as “Reporting an Emergency from your Residence” on page 7.
Elevator Emergency
Should you become trapped or have a medical emergency in The Lake House elevator, use your cell phone to call the front desk or press the “Help” button in the elevator. The front desk phone number is posted on the wall of the elevator: (803) 547-8858 ext. 0. The front desk staff will ask you the nature of the emergency, information which will be important when they contact first responders.
The person on duty at the front desk will call 911 and the Kone Elevator Company. Both the Indian Land Fire Department and the Kone Elevator personnel will respond to the emergency.