Emergency Preparedness for a Disaster
In the event of a disaster, prepare to be self-sufficient. During the first few hours or days following a disaster, essential services may not be available. Minimally, you should have a 72-hour preparedness kit at home, at work and even a few items in your car.
- Identify the most severe threats likely to affect you (e.g. earthquake, tornado, flood, etc.) and prepare accordingly
- Make a disaster plan with your family. Have a fire escape procedure and practice it.
- Establish a designated meeting place and/or a phone number to call for family members to reunite after a disaster. Assign duties to each family member. Provide instructions for first aid and for turning off utilities
- Specifically, each member of the family should have a personal survival kit. This can be accomplished by preparing a backpack for every member
- Inspect your home for damage to electrical, water and gas lines. Use your telephone only in case of emergency
- Use your Neighborhood Watch program network to check on and help each other