Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 13 The Interdisciplinary Treatment Team 267
Disaster Prep Scenario Contingency Cards
After approximately 5 to 10 minutes of role-playing have elapsed and the
participants have become familiar with their characters, the facilitator
asks one participant team member to pick a contingency card at random.
The team member reads the contingency card aloud to the group while
each member stays in character. The participants use the contingency
in their discussion. After approximately 5 minutes, another contingency
card is introduced into the role-playing in the same manner. The process
continues until all the contingency cards are used or until the facilitator
instructs the group to conclude the Disaster Prep Scenario.
Contingency Card #1
The Darling children have been frantically trying to reach their parents by
phone and e-mail with no luck. They call each other every 2 hours to learn
if anyone has gotten through. None of the children know the numbers of
any neighbors or friends. Dan Darling, living closest to his parents, decides
to drive to Los Angeles to find out what is going on.
Contingency Card #2
Temple Sinai sends a team of volunteers headed by Simon Pure to the
building complex to see if they can help in any way. Simon trips over debris
and breaks a leg.
Contingency Card #3
The fire department arrives to evacuate the buildings. Charley, confused,
frightened, and angry, refuses to leave without the dogs. He then punches
Fireman Bledd in the face. Doris is hysterical and seems confused as
well. She locks herself in the bedroom with the two dogs. Fireman Good
is overcome by smoke in the hallway.
Contingency Card #4
The local hospital sends a team to help. Marcella Bella tries to call the
Darlings’s children. Terry Berry is hit by a flying shutter but nevertheless
tries to get information about the Darlings’s health records. Dan Darling
is stuck in traffic 1 hour away from Los Angeles.