Emergency Preparedness Information
From "Emergency Preparedness Checklist." developed by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross.
The next time disaster strikes, you may not have much time to act. Prepare now for a sudden emergency. Learn how
to protect yourself and cope with disaster by planning ahead. This checklist will help you get started. Discuss
these ideas with your family, then prepare an emergency plan. Post the plan where everyone will see it--on the
refrigerator or bulletin board. For additional information about how to prepare for hazards in your community,
contact your local emergency management or civil defense office and your American Red Cross chapter.
Emergency Checklist
Call Your Emergency Management Office or American Red Cross Chapter.
Find out which disasters could occur in your area.
Ask how to prepare for each disaster.
Ask how you would be warned of an emergency. Learn your community's evacuation routes.
Ask about special assistance for elderly or disabled persons.
Also...
Ask your workplace about emergency plans. Learn about emergency plans for your children's
school or day care center.
Create an Emergency Plan
Meet with household members. Discuss with children the dangers of fire, severe weather,
earthquakes, and other emergencies.
Discuss how to respond to each disaster that could occur.
Discuss what to do about power outages and personal injuries.
Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes from each room.
Learn how to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at main switches.
Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones.
Teach children how and when to call 911, police, and fire.
Instruct household members to turn on the radio for emergency information.
Pick one out-of-state and one local friend or relative for family members to call if separated by
disaster (it is often easier to call out-of-state than within the affected area).
Teach children how to make long distance telephone calls.
Pick two meeting places.
1.A place near your home in case of a fire.
2.A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.
Take a Basic First Aid and CPR Class
Keep family records in a water-and fire-proof container.
Prepare a Disaster
Supply Kit
Assemble supplies you might need in an evacuation.
Store them in an easy-to-carry container, such as a backpack or duffle bag.
Include:
A supply of water (one gallon per person per day).
Store water in sealed, unbreakable containers. Identify the storage date and replace every six
months.
A supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food and a non-electric can opener.
A change of clothing, rain gear, and sturdy shoes.
Blankets or sleeping bags.
A first aid kit and prescription medications.
An extra pair of glasses.
A battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries.
Credit cards and cash.
An extra set of car keys.
A list of family physicians.
A list of important family information; the style and serial number of medical devices, such as
pacemakers.
Special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family
members.
Escape Plan
In a fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate
your house, apartment, or mobile home on a moment's
notice. You should be ready to get out fast.
Develop an escape plan by drawing a floor plan of your residence. Using a black or blue pen, show the location of
doors, windows, stairways, and large furniture. Indicate
the location of emergency supplies (Disaster Supplies Kit),
fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, collapsible ladders,
first aid kits, and utility shut off points. Next, use a colored
pen to draw a broken line charting at least two escape routes from each room. Finally, mark a place outside of
the home where household members should meet in case
of fire. Be sure to include important points outside, such as
garages, patios, stairways, elevators, driveways, and
porches. If your home has more than two floors, use an
additional sheet of paper. Practice emergency evacuation
drills with all household members at least two times each
year.
Home Hazard Hunt
In a disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause
injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall,
break, or cause a fire is a potential hazard.
Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas
connections.
Fasten shelves securely.
Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves.
Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds.
Brace overhead light fixtures.
Secure water heater. Strap to wall studs.
Repair cracks in ceilings or foundations.
Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products away from heat sources.
Place oily polishing rags or waste in covered metal cans.
Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors, and gas vents.
If You Need to Evacuate. . .
Listen to a battery-powered radio for the location of emergency shelters.
Follow instructions of local officials.
Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
Take your Disaster Supplies Kit.
Lock your home.
Use travel routes specified by local officials.
If you are sure you have time ...
Shut off water, gas, and electricity, if instructed to
do so.
Let others know when you left and where you are going.
Make arrangements for pets. Animals are not be allowed in public shelters.
Prepare an Emergency Car Kit
Include:
Battery powered radio and extra batteries
Flashlight and extra batteries
Blanket
Booster cables
Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
First aid kit and manual
Bottled water and non-perishable high energy foods, such as granola bars, raisins and peanut
butter.
Maps
Shovel
Tire repair kit and pump
Flares
Fire Safety
Plan two escape routes out of each room.
Teach family members to stay low to the ground
when escaping from a fire.
Teach family members never to open doors that are
hot. In a fire, feel the bottom of the door with the
palm of your hand. If it is hot, do not open the door.
Find another way out.
Install smoke detectors. Clean and test smoke detectors once a month.
Change batteries at least once a year.
Keep a whistle in each bedroom to awaken household members in case of fire.
Check electrical outlets. Do not overload outlets.
Purchase a fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type).
Have a collapsible ladder on each upper floor of your house.
Consider installing home sprinklers.
General Disaster Preparedness Information
General Disaster Preparedness Materials for Children
"Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book" (ARC 2200, English, or ARC 2200S, Spanish) for use by
children 3-10.
"Adventures of the Disaster Dudes" (ARC 5024) video and Presenter's Guide for use by an adult with
children in grades 4-6.
To get copies of American Red Cross Community Disaster Education materials, contact your local Red
Cross chapter.
Disaster Supply Kit
Disasters happen anytime and anywhere. And when
disaster strikes, you may not have much time to
respond. A highway spill or hazardous material could
mean evacuation. A winter storm could confine your
family at home. An earthquake, flood, tornado, or
any other disaster could cut water, electricity, and
telephones-for days.
After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on
the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately.
You could get help in hours, or it may take days. Would
your family be prepared to cope with the emergency until
help arrives?
Your family will cope best by preparing for disaster before
it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster
Supplies Kit. Once disaster hits, you won't have time to
shop or search for supplies. But if you've gathered supplies
in advance, your family can endure an evacuation or home
confinement.
Prepare Your Kit
Review the checklist below.
Gather the supplies that are listed. You may need
them if your family is confined at home.
Place the supplies you'd most likely need for an
evacuation in an easy-to-carry container. These
supplies are listed with an asterisk (*).
There are six basics you should stock for your home: water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and
bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special
items. Keep the items that you would most likely
need during an evacuation in an easy-to carry
container--suggested items are marked with an
asterisk(*).
Possible Containers Include-
A large, covered trash container,
A camping backpack,
A duffel bag.
Water
Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink
bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose
or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. A
normally active person needs to drink at least two
quarts of water each day. Hot environments and
intense physical activity can double that amount.
Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need
more.
Store one gallon of water per person per day.
Keep at least a three-day supply of water per
person (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for each
person in your household for food
preparation/sanitation).*
Food
Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable
food. Select foods that require no refrigeration,
preparation or cooking, and little or no water. If you
must heat food, pack a can of Sterno. Select food
items that are compact and lightweight.
*Include a
selection of thee following foods in your Disaster
Supplies Kit:
Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
First Aid Kit
Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each
car. A first aid kit* should include:
Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
Assorted sizes of safety pins
Cleansing agent/soap
Latex gloves (2 pairs)
Sunscreen
2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
Triangular bandages (3)
Non-prescription drugs
2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
Scissors
Tweezers
Needle
Moistened towelettes
Antiseptic
Thermometer
Tongue blades (2)
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Non-Prescription Drugs
Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
Anti-diarrhea medication
Antacid (for stomach upset)
Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
Laxative
Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison
Control Center)
Tools and Supplies
Mess kits, or paper cups, plates, and plastic
utensils*
Emergency preparedness manual*
Battery-operated radio and extra batteries*
Flashlight and extra batteries*
Cash or traveler's checks, change*
Non-electric can opener, utility knife*
Fire extinguisher: small canister ABC type
Tube tent
Pliers
Tape
Compass
Matches in a waterproof container
Aluminum foil
Plastic storage containers
Signal flare
Paper, pencil
Needles, thread
Medicine dropper
Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and
water
Whistle
Plastic sheeting
Map of the area (for locating shelters)
Sanitation
Toilet paper, towelettes*
Soap, liquid detergent*
Feminine supplies*
Personal hygiene items*
Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation
uses)
Plastic bucket with tight lid
Disinfectant
Household chlorine bleach
Clothing and Bedding
*Include at least one complete change of clothing
and footwear per person.
Sturdy shoes or work boots*
Rain gear*
Blankets or sleeping bags*
Hat and gloves
Thermal underwear
Sunglasses
Special Items
Remember family members with special
requirements, such as infants and elderly or disabled
persons
For Baby*
Formula
Diapers
Bottles
Powdered milk
Medications
For Adults*
Heart and high blood pressure medication
Insulin
Prescription drugs
Denture needs
Contact lenses and supplies
Extra eye glasses
Entertainment
Games and books
Important Family Documents
Keep these records in a waterproof, portable
container:
Will, insurance policies, contracts deeds,
stocks and bonds
Passports, social security cards, immunization
records
Bank account numbers
Credit card account numbers and companies
Inventory of valuable household goods, important
telephone numbers
Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
Store your kit in a convenient place known to all
family members. Keep a smaller version of the
Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk of your car.
Keep items in airtight plastic bags. Change your
stored water supply every six months so it stays
fresh. Replace your stored food every six months.
Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a
year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.
Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing
prescription medications.