Search Site / Web*

Link to Flotilla 23-1 Homepage

Are You Prepared If Disaster Strikes

Contact Us*
Kinds of Disasters   |    Are You Prepared Quiz   |    Disaster Information & Resources   |    Quiz Answers

Disasters  -  Manmade & Natural

The coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001  -  The 2,998 men and women whose lives were lost (2,750 at World Trade Center including 340 Emergency Response and 60 Law Enforcement Officers from "Team Coast Guard," NY / NJ Port Authority Police and NYC Police & Fire Depts.) as well as the brave men and women who put their lives on-the-line without a moments hesitation as part of the rescue and recovery efforts remain in our thoughts. 

Remembering 9/11/2001 - World Trade Center, NY Hurricane Symbol - Remembering Hurricane Katrina - August 23, 2005

The destruction from Hurricane Katrina on August 28, 2005  -  The costliest hurricane in U.S. history and one of the five deadliest in the history of the United States.  At least 1,836 lives were lost making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane.  Katrina, which stretched from central Florida to Texas, is estimated to have been responsible for $81.2 billion (2005 U.S. dollars) in damage.

May the survivors, families, friends and any other individuals impacted by Manmade and Natural Disasters find the strength, resources and support to get their lives on a path to recovery and healing.

Kinds of Disasters   |    Are You Prepared Quiz   |    Disaster Information & Resources   |    Quiz Answers

America Prepared Quiz (Quiz copyright © 2004 by The America Prepared Campaign)

Jot down your answers to the following questions on a piece of paper so you can check them against the answers provided below:

  1. Which item is NOT crucial to being prepared to deal with natural or manmade disasters?

    1. Having a family emergency communications plan

    2. Stockpiling antibiotics

    3. Becoming knowledgeable about types of potential attacks and responses

    4. Creating and maintaining an emergency preparedness kit

  2. Which item should NOT be included in an emergency communications plan?

    1. A list of important phone numbers, including doctors and emergency services

    2. An out of town contact that all family members know and can call

    3. Provisions for each family member to be at a specific land line telephone at a specific time

    4. Information on each child’s school Emergency Response Plan and point-of-contact

  3. Do you have or are you part of an emergency communications plan that includes a safe and secure meeting place that is NOT your home, workplace or the schools your children attend; a reliable contact person outside of your local area, a readily accessible list of important phone numbers that includes reminders on what to do in an emergency that each person in your circle understands, carries with them or can readily retrieve?

    1. Yes

    2. No

  4. If a situation associated with a disease could become an epidemic, then it is always contagious.

    1. True

    2. False

  5. If you are in the vicinity of an explosion, dust clouds or heavy concentration of particles in the air, it is a good idea to cover your nose and mouth with a cotton t-shirt or dust mask as soon as possible.

    1. True

    2. False

  6. A "dirty bomb" is especially dangerous, because in addition to killing people within the immediate vicinity of the explosion, it makes the buildings in the area radioactive so that they will be uninhabitable for years to come.

    1. True

    2. False

  7. What is the FIRST thing you should do if you are outside and see people suddenly getting violently ill, choking or passing out?

    1. Leave the area as fast as possible

    2. Stop, look wherever you can to find a dust mask

    3. Use cotton fabric to cover your mouth and nose and then run away as fast as possible

    4. Run into the basement of the closest building and seal all the doors and windows

    5. Put a cotton fabric or dust mask over your nose and mouth and wait for emergency personnel to arrive so that you don’t spread the contaminate

  8. In the event you become trapped under debris, which of the following should only be used as a LAST RESORT to alert rescuers of your presence?

    1. Tap on a pipe or wall

    2. Blow a whistle

    3. Shout

    4. Use a flashlight

  9. Which item is NOT a way to find or create water that is safe for drinking?

    1. Boiling water for 3-5 minutes

    2. Adding 16 drops of bleach to each gallon of water

    3. Draining water from your radiator

    4. Draining water from the hot water heater, if the hot water heater has not been damaged

  10. Which statement is NOT true about shelters during an emergency

    1. You may be required to create your own shelter in your home or workplace

    2. Shelters are bound by law to accept household pets as long as the pets are not a disturbance

    3. When evacuating to a community shelter, you should bring your disaster supply kit

    4. You may be instructed to shelter-in-place during a chemical attack even if you are in the area of  the chemical release

    Based on the typical characteristics associated with different types of emergencies, for some you should take shelter in a protected and safe area as high up as possible (top floor of a building) and for others as low as possible (basement of a building)

  11. Should you shelter HIGH or LOW during a TORANADO or sustained Hurricane Level Winds?

    1. High

    2. Low

  12. Should you shelter HIGH or LOW during FLOODING associated with natural and manmade disasters?

    1. High

    2. Low

  13. Should you shelter HIGH or LOW during a RADIOLOGICAL incident?

    1. High

    2. Low

  14. Should you shelter HIGH or LOW during a CHEMICAL or BIOLOGICAL incident?

    1. High

    2. Low

  15. Which of the following is an accurate description of a "dirty bomb"?

    1. A miniature nuclear device

    2. An explosive device that disseminates chemicals

    3. An explosive device that releases a biological agent

    4. An explosive device that spreads radioactive materials over a targeted area

  16. Which of the following is NOT true of a biological attack?

    1. A biological attack may not be immediately obvious

    2. A biological attack is the deliberate release of germs or substances that can make you sick

    3. A biological agent can make you sick by being inhaled, by being eaten or through contact with the skin or mucus membranes

    4. All biological attacks create contagious diseases

  17. Do you have an emergency response kit that includes in one place a supply of food and water, manual can opener, matches, a first aid kit, battery powered radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, blankets and/or protective clothing, prescription medications and other items that are essential to your families health and well being (including pets) as well as these items stored in a manner such that they can be easily moved to other locations if necessary?

    1. Yes

    2. No


Kinds of Disasters   |    Are You Prepared Quiz   |    Disaster Information & Resources   |    Quiz Answers

Information & Resources to Help You Prepare for Any Type of Disaster

FEMA “Are You Ready?”  -  An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
DHS / Citizen Corps Ready America  -  Prepare, Plan & Stay Informed
DHS  -  Emergency Preparedness & Response


Don't forget to check your Insurance Policies for provisions that apply during Hurricane Season such as increased deductibles, mandatory vessel haul-out and tie down requirements, etc..

BoatUS guide to preparing Marinas & Boats for Hurricanes


Hurricane & Disaster Related  Information, Preparation & Response

FEMA - Are You Ready
Kinds of Disasters   |    Are You Prepared Quiz   |    Disaster Information & Resources   |    Quiz Answers

Answers to America Prepared Quiz (Quiz copyright © 2004 by The America Prepared Campaign)

  1. Which item is NOT crucial to being prepared to deal with natural or manmade disasters?

    The answer is B.   Stockpiling antibiotics is not recommended because it is impossible to predict the exact nature of a disaster and there is not one antibiotic that effectively treats all related sicknesses. In addition, inappropriate use of antibiotics can potentially lead to dangerous side effects and also exacerbate the problem of antibiotic resistant strains of many organisms.

  2. Which item should NOT be included in a family emergency communications plan?

    The answer is C.   A family communication plan should be flexible enough to accommodate the unforeseen conditions resulting from a disaster. Each family member should have a readily available list of important numbers to use in an emergency.

  3. Every individual should have or be included in an emergency communications plan.

    So hopefully your answer was A. Yes.   It is important that your emergency communications plan include a safe, secure, well known and accessible primary meeting place plus a backup location that is NOT your home, workplace or the school your children attend, since these locations may be disaster sites.  A reliable point-of-contact outside your local area that knows and is well known to all family members can be a major asset in helping to reunite family members if local communication capability is not available.  Each family member should have access to a list of important phone numbers that also contains a brief reminder on what they should do in case of an emergency and a list of the pre-established meeting places including addresses and phone numbers, if available. For more information and an easy-to-use family communications plan template, visit www.ready.gov.

  4. If a situation associated with a disease could become an epidemic, then it is always contagious.

    The answer is False.   Anthrax, Botulism and Salmonella are all examples of biological agents that could create a non-contagious epidemic (i.e. not transmitted from infected person to healthy person).

  5. If you are in the vicinity of an explosion, dust clouds or heavy concentration of particles in the air, it is a good idea to cover your nose and mouth with a cotton t-shirt or dust mask as soon as possible.

    The answer is True.   In an explosion of an unknown cause, dust clouds or concentration of particles in the air, a dust mask or t-shirt would help to avoid exposing your lungs to unhealthy particles such as asbestos, radioactive dust, etc..  Exposure to such particles may not always be lethal, but they may be cancerous; therefore, it is best to limit exposure to your respiratory system.

  6. A "dirty bomb" is especially dangerous, because in addition to killing people within the immediate vicinity of the explosion, it makes the buildings in the area radioactive so that they will be uninhabitable for years to come.

    The answer is False.   A "dirty bomb" can needlessly increase fear and panic if too much is assumed based on its name. People may be killed by the initial blast as they would with any bomb. A “dirty bomb,” is designed to disperse radioactive dust, thereby resulting in monitors on the scene showing an increased level of radiation. This dust may contaminate the surrounding area and cause radiological sickness in some of the people, but the area may be only contaminated for a short period of time. Depending on the amount of radiological material released, people exposed to the blast and/or radioactive material may be subject to an increased risk of cancer over the course of their lifetime, but it is highly unlikely that all of the exposed individuals will die or even get cancer.

  7. What is the FIRST thing you should do if you are outside and see people suddenly getting violently ill, choking or passing out?

    The answer is C.   Immediately  tie any available cotton fabric such as a t-shirt tightly over the nose and mouth to help filter out particles from entering the lungs.  Since cotton fabric or dust masks offer little protection from chemicals or biological agents and they are usually fast-acting, you should leave the area as quickly as possible avoiding low lying places until you know what is causing the problem.  On the chance you may have been exposed to a chemical or biological agent, you should decontaminate by thoroughly showering with plenty of clean water and soap as soon as possible.  After you decontaminate, you might consider sheltering on an upper floor inside a building to prevent further exposure.  Be sure to close and seal the doors and windows as well as shutting off any type of ventilation systems, especially if the wind is blowing toward you.

  8. What method should only be used as a LAST RESORT to alert rescuers of your presence in the event you become trapped under debris?

    The answer is C. If you are trapped under debris, shout only as a last resort.  Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.  A dense-weave cotton material can act as a good filter, so if available try to breathe through it.  You should cover your nose and mouth with anything you have on hand.  Avoid unnecessary movement to minimize kicking up dust.  To signal your location to rescuers, tap on a pipe or wall or, if available, use a whistle and flashlight

  9. Which item is NOT a way to find or create water that is safe for drinking?

    The answer is C.   Radiators are NEVER a safe source of drinking water.  Boiling water at a rolling boil for a minimum of one (1) minute kills harmful bacteria and parasites and is the best method for treating water.  You can also use regular household liquid bleach that contains no soap or scent to kill harmful bacteria, but it will not kill parasitic organisms.  For each gallon of water, add sixteen drops (1/8 teaspoon) of bleach, stir and let stand for 30 minutes.  If the water does not have a slight taste or smell of chlorine, add another dose and let stand for another 15 minutes.

  10. Which statement is NOT true about shelters during an emergency?

    The answer is B.   With the exception of service animals (such as guide dogs), pets are not typically permitted in emergency shelters for health reasons.  If you have pets, 1) identify which local hotels and motels allow pets and where pet boarding facilities are located (include some outside your local area); 2) have records to prove your pets vaccinations are current (required by most boarding facilities); 3) ensure proper identification tags are securely fastened to their collar; 4) keep a current photo of your pets in your family emergency supply kit; 5) make sure you have a secure pet carrier or leash to restrain them and keep them secure; and 6) assemble a pet disaster kit containing all the things needed for them to survive with you for three days including food, water and medicines.

  11. Based on the typical characteristics associated with a TORANADO or sustained Hurricane Level Winds:

    the answer is B. Low.  You should shelter in a sturdy and well protected area away from exterior windows and doors below ground level (basement), if  possible, or in a bathtub or under a strong door frame on the ground floor.  If there is sufficient time to prepare, you should bring all small objects indoors and secure (tie down) and items that cannot be easily moved indoors to reduce the chance of them becoming deadly flying projectiles.  As a minimum, you should have medications, water, a portable radio and extra batteries with you so that you can monitor weather and emergency broadcasts. 

  12. Based on the typical characteristics associated with FLOODING:

    the answer is A. High.  For flooding associated with natural disasters, you should seek shelter on the highest available ground around or the highest floor possible (potentially the attic), if no other option exists.  If an exit from the attic onto the roof does not exist, be sure to bring something that can be used to create an access hole through the roof.  .

  13. Based on the typical characteristics associated with a RADIOLOGICAL incident:

    the answer is B. Low.  For a radiological or nuclear incident, you can reduce the exposure through shielding (such a thick wall) and increasing the distance from the contaminant.  Sheltering below ground can offer an increased level of protection.  However, the best shelter is one that is convenient to get to quickly, can be easily sealed off and is large enough to provide air to breathe for several hours.

  14. Based on the typical characteristics associated with a CHEMICAL or BIOLOGICAL incident:

    the answer is A. High.  In a biological incident, the biological substance will usually settle on the ground; in a chemical attack, the contaminants would typically be distributed in aerosol form that is heavier than air so it will settle to the ground; and for chemical spills, you need to avoid direct contact and quickly get as far away from the incident as possible without risking potential exposure to fumes (keep incident down wind), since depending on the specific chemical, the fumes could either settle to the ground or rise into the air.  Thus, although in most cases it would be best to shelter on the highest indoor level that is secure, can be easily sealed off from outside air and provides sufficient air to breath for several hours, the best shelter is one that is convenient to get to quickly, can be easily sealed off and is large enough to provide air to breathe for several hours.

  15. Which of the following is an accurate description of a "dirty bomb"?

    The answer is D.  The term "dirty bomb" is used to denote an explosive device that is designed to spread radioactive materials over a targeted area.

  16. Which of the following is NOT true of a biological attack?

    The answer is D.  As discussed in question 3, there are several biological agents (such as Anthrax) that are not contagious.

  17. Every family or individual should have an emergency kit.

    So hopefully your answer was A. Yes.   It is important to have an emergency kit which includes all of the following in one place and staged so that the contents can be easily moved to another location if required: supply of food and water, manual can opener, matches, a first aid kit, battery powered radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, blankets and/or protective clothing, prescription medications and other items that are essential to everyones health and well being (including pets - see answer to question 9).  For more information and easy-to-use guidelines or template for creating and maintaining an emergency kit, visit www.ready.gov.

Kinds of Disasters   |    Are You Prepared Quiz   |    Disaster Information & Resources   |    Quiz Answers

A Lifejacket Floats, You Don't - Wear It, We Do!

Find out more about Flotilla 23-1 & CG Auxiliary

Boating Safety - Doing Your Part

Good Boating Practices & Tips

Return to Previous Page
Site Map

Questions or Clarifications*

Contact Flotilla 23-1

Privacy Policy
Disclaimers & Notices

Site created & maintained by:
W.V. Discenza, Flotilla 23-1
5th District Southern Region
USCG Auxiliary

Report Problems or Submit Comments*

Contact Webmaster

Last Updated:  February 04, 2010 12:25

*Use of Masters.com Services does not constitute an endorsement of the sponsor, site, products or services they offer - See "Disclaimers & Notices"