Homeland Security
Emergency Preparedness



Prepare Family Documents for Emergencies

 

Emergency Supply List

 

Lista Esencial De Emergencia

Links to Helpful Emergency Preparedness Web sites




EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST

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 American Red Cross chapter.

Download

FEMA's Citizen Preparedness Guide, Are You Ready?

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EMERGENCY CHECKLIST

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Click here to download as a PDF file (138KB)
(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - free download)
 En Espanol

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 phones.
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 effected area).
Teach children how to make long distance telephone calls.

Pick two meeting places.

  1. A place near your home in case of 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 duffel 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 eye 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.