Enroll in a Community Emergency Response Course to learn important Personal Emergency Preparedness Skills!

Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning. What would you do if basic services were unavailable? Planning what to do before an emergency is just as important as how you respond to the event. Follow the steps listed to be prepared:

1. Identify Hazards
2. Create a Plan
3. Make a Kit
4. Practice

Know what to do in an emergency is not only your best protection, but your responsibility.

Step 1: Identify Hazards

Learn how your community plans to respond to an emergency. Every community has a Local Emergency Operations Plan which you can review. By discussing this information with your Emergency Management Director, you will learn important information about your community's plan for response, such as evacuation routes and emergency shelters.

Find out how your community will notify you of an impending threat, and how they will communicate information to you during and after the emergency.

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Step 2: Create a Plan

Communication Plan - Your plan should include contact information for family members, work and school.

• Make a List of everyone's full name, date of birth, contact numbers and important medical information.
• Have an Out-Of-Town Contact that every member of your family will call after a disaster.
• Teach all family members when and how to call emergency responders.
• Post all important contacts, including 911, the National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222), all family member numbers and your out-of-town contact near your phone.
• Carry a reference card with you with these numbers on it in the event of an emergency (a sample form or blank wallet cards can be found at www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org/contactcard).
• Keep a copy of important contact information, such as family doctor(s), pharmacy/pharmacist, medical insurance, homeowners/rental insurance, bank accounts, veterinarian/kennel for pets in a waterproof container in your emergency kit; List names, telephone numbers and account and policy numbers.

Evacuation Plan - In an emergency, you may need to leave on a moment's notice. Be ready to get out fast by preparing ahead of time.

• Identify at least Two Evacuation Routes out of each room in your home, and from your home, school and workplace.
• Choose a Family Meeting Place; have a location nearby your house, and one outside your neighborhood.
• Keep at least a Half Tank of gas in your car at all times.
• Keep a map of the area in your car with possible evacuation routes marked out.
• If you do not have a car, Plan How You Will Leave if you must evacuate.
• Learn how to shut off water, gas and electricity at the main switches.
• When Evacuating
• • Take your emergency kit with you.
  • Lock the door behind you and leave a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
  • If you are a member of a support network for a disabled individual, be sure to follow your plan to assist them.
  • If there is time and space in your car, check with neighbors who may need a ride, especially those who are elderly or disabled.

Sheltering Plan - In some emergencies, there may not be time to evacuate. In this case, you may have to stay at your home, or evacuate to a nearby shelter. By planning ahead of time, you can prepare for the obstacle that may challenge you even in the best of times.

• Designate a room in your house to be your shelter-in-place room; it should be an interior room where you can seal all doors, windows and vents.
• With the exception of service animals, pets are not allowed in public shelters for health reasons. Plan for the evacaution of your pet ahead of time (for more pet tips, see Pet Preparedness).

Build a Support Network - A support network is a group of individuals who have agreed to be a part of your preparedness plan and assist you in the event of an emergency. Your support network should know your needs and capabilities and should be able to assist you promptly.

• Ask friends, family, neighbors, roommates, coworkers to be a part of your support network; you should have at least 3 people in your network. Explain why you need help and how they can assist.
• Exchange contact information and plan for an alternative communication system in the event phones are not working.
• Arrange for more than one person in your network to check on your in the event of an emergency.

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Step 3: Make a Kit

An emergency kit is a collection of basic items a family would probably need to stay safe and comfortable both during and after an emergency.Think about your basic survival needs first: water, food, clean air, warmth, then add to it. Store your kit in a portable container in an easily assessible place and rotate your food and water items every 6-12 months. Below are items listed for a basic emergency kit. Start with these items, then add to it over time. Your emergency kit should be able to sustain your family for 7-10 days. See our Resource page for examples of more emergency kits.

• Water (1 gallon per day per person)
• Nonperishable food, such as canned foods, cereals, and crackers
• First Aid kit
• Radio and extra batteries
• Flashlights and extra batters
• Change of clothing and sturdy shoes
• Small amount of cash
• Medication (including prescription medication)
• Eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other essential items
• Blanket/Sleeping Bag
• Copies of important documents such as: family doctor(s), pharmacy/pharmacist, medical insurance, homeowners/rental insurance, bank accounts, veterinarian/kennel for pets
• Baby formula, diapers, toys, if needed
• Pet food, leash, liter, crate, if needed

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Step 4: Practice

Through planning, your family will be more prepared in the event of an emergency. By practising these plans, your family will know how to act. Hold regular emergency drills with your family. The more you practise, the more quickly you will be able to act in the event of an emergency!

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