Be Prepared

The Importance of Preparedness

Being prepared offers significant advantages. It can alleviate fear, anxiety, and the losses that often accompany disasters. Communities, families, and individuals need to understand how to respond in the event of a fire or where to find shelter during a tornado. It’s crucial to be ready to evacuate and seek refuge in public shelters, as well as to manage basic medical needs.

 

The Reality of Disasters

Disasters impact hundreds of thousands of lives each year, leaving lasting effects on both people and property. While local governments and disaster-relief organizations will work to assist you during a crisis, it’s essential to be prepared. Local responders may not reach you immediately or may need to focus their efforts elsewhere.

Familiarize yourself with how to react to severe weather or other potential disasters in your area, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme cold, flooding, or terrorism. Additionally, be self-sufficient for at least three days, which includes having your own shelter, first aid supplies, food, water, and sanitation.

 

 

 

Why Prepare?

Go Kits

A disaster supplies kit is a collection of essential items your household may need during an emergency. Assemble your kit well in advance, as you may need to evacuate quickly and won’t have time to gather supplies. You should be able to sustain yourself for at least 72 hours, as local officials and relief workers may not reach everyone right away. Basic services like electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telecommunication may be unavailable for days or longer, so your kit should include items to help you cope with these outages.

For a recommended supplies list, visit: Ready.gov Family Supply List.

 

Family Plan

When a disaster strikes, your family may not be together, so it’s important to plan ahead: determine how to reach a safe location, how to contact each other, how to reunite, and what to do in various scenarios. Learn about emergency plans at places where your family spends time, such as work, daycare, school, faith organizations, and sports events. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Collaborate with community leaders, neighbors, and members of civic organizations to enhance your preparedness for emergencies.

 

Stay Informed

Emergency preparedness is crucial for everyone, not just those living in high-risk areas. Most communities can face various hazards in a lifetime, and as Americans travel more than ever, understanding what to do during an emergency is vital. Knowing the basic protective actions for multiple hazards can make a significant difference in critical moments.

Before a disaster, learn how to identify impending hazards. Familiarize yourself with local alerts and warnings, as well as emergency shelter and evacuation plans. Tailoring your response plans to the specific risks in your area and the needs of your household, including pets, can minimize the impact of disasters and improve safety.

 

Get Involved

In times of disaster, Americans unite with courage and compassion, asking, “How can I help?” There are numerous ways to get involved, particularly before a disaster strikes. Community participation in safety programs and activities can significantly enhance preparedness. Effective disaster response relies on volunteers, informed citizens, and strong support for emergency response agencies.

 

Here are a few ways to get involved:

  • Volunteer with local disaster response efforts, such as Community Emergency Response Teams or Medical Reserve Corps units.
  • Initiate or join a preparedness project. Identify local resources, form a team, set goals, and improve the preparedness of your community.
  • Support disaster relief efforts by donating money or goods to meet community needs during crises.

 

These are just a few ways individuals and organizations can contribute to disaster preparedness and recovery. If you have additional suggestions or success stories, share them with us or post them at FEMA Community.

  • Special Preparedness Instructions
  • Assisting Others During a Crisis
  • Coping with Disasters

 

For assistance in creating a plan, visit Ready.gov/Plan.

 

STAY SAFE

What to do during the following:

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