How do I prepare for a disaster?
Preparing For A Disaster
Its not always easy, or possible, to prevent something from happening: Sometimes the best you can do is be prepared. Follow these simple guidelines to be as prepared as possible for the disasters that may befall your community.
To Get Started
Contact your local emergency management or civil defense office and your local American Red Cross chapter.
- Find out which disasters are most likely to happen in your community.
- Ask how you would be warned.
- Find out how to prepare for each type of potential disaster.
Complete These Steps
- Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone.
- Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas and electricity at main switches.
- Install a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms; test monthly and change the batteries two times each year.
- Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards.
- Learn first aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for information and training.
Meet With Your Neighbors
Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster. Know your neighbor's skills (medical, technical). Consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans for child care in case parents can't get home.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross