The first step in preparing for an emergency is to make a Family Communications Plan. If you are separated or cannot get in touch with your family during an emergency, it will be important to have pre-designated contacts and meeting places. This will let you know that where your family is and that they are safe.

What to Do:

• Identify local as well as out-of-state emergency contacts.
• Identify a place to meet right outside your home, as well as outside your neighborhood.
• Choose a location to leave a note for a family member if you evacuate.
• Children:
  • Teach children how and when to call 911.
  • Choose a code word to use with children if you must send someone else to pick them up.
  • Verify with schools and day cares that appropriate people are listed to pick them up, if you cannot.
  • Talk with your children.

Strategies

• Write down all of your contact names, phone numbers and meeting places. Keep copies in your wallet, grab bag, and in children's back packs. Print and fill out this card and give copies to all family members to keep with them.
  • Click here to download a Family Communications Plan Template
• Make sure your contacts know what is expected of them. Give your contacts a copy of your emergency information list.
• Give each family member a calling card.

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You may need to leave your home quickly in an emergency. Events that may cause you to evacuate your home include fire, chemical spill near your home, flood, hurricane, dam breach, or long-term power outage.

What to Do:

• Identify the best exits out of your home. Make a floor plan of your home including primary escape routes.
• Know the location of your grab bag, fire extinguisher and first-aid kit.
• Identify a neighborhood meeting place.
• Know your local radio station to tune into information.
• Contact your town to see where the shelter is for your area.
• Plan for your pets.
  

Some people have barriers that require special attention or make responding to an emergency more difficult. Because of the chaotic nature of emergencies, it is especially important that advance planning and coordination of resources be conducted for people with physical, mental, emotional, ethnic, social, economic, cultural, or language-based barriers.

There is a four-page Emergency Preparedness Planning Form that serves as an information and planning tool for people with functional needs.

Download and Print
the Form

What to Do:

• Identify your needs in an emergency
• Notify your local fire department and 911 of your needs (Click here to download the emergency assistance survey)
• If you currently use an agency for assistance, find out if they have special provisions for emergencies and include their contact information in the Individual Medical Information Template
• Complete the Individual Medical Information Template and indicate on the form if you use any special equipment or supplies such as wheelchair, ostomy supplies, eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc.
  

In an emergency, a well thought-out and practiced plan for your pets will not only reduce your stress, but also save precious time and lives. It has been repeatedly shown that in an emergency people often resist official evacuation instructions out of concern for their pets. Failure to plan for animals puts both animals and owners at a significantly higher risk of injury or death.

Remember that only service animals are allowed into emergency shelters.

What to Do:

• Be sure that all animals have an identification tag, collar, or halter that is worn at all times. Phone numbers can be written directly on collars and halters.
• Keep a list of local hotels and motels that allow pets and local pet boarding facilities. Include some that are out of your area, in case the local ones have been closed or evacuated.
• Keep your pet's vaccinations up to date, and keep records with you if you must evacuate.
• Keep a current photo of your pet with you, in case you get separated.
• Make sure you have a secure pet carrier for each pet. Pets will need to be restrained during a tense situation.
• Talk to your friends or neighbors to see if they will be willing to take your pet if you are unable to care for it.
• Contact your town office to see if there is an identified pet shelter in your area.

Assemble a disaster kit for your pet. Include:

• 3-day supply of food, water, and medications
• Feeding and care information
• Written description of behavioral problems and helpful hints
• Copy of Veterinary records
• Bedding, or rug
• Litter box and litter, or newspaper for caged animals
• Can opener, food dish
• Pet first aid kit
• Plastic bags for clean up
• Treats or toys if space permits

You may need to leave your home quickly in an emergency. Having a Grab Bag ready will let you simply pick up and GO!

What You Will Need:

• One day's clothing and shoes for each family member
• Personal care products (i.e.: toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, diapers, contact lens solution, etc.)
• Prescription medications
• Towel and blanket
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Snacks such as granola bars or trail mix
• Extra set of car and house keys
• Cash
• Prepaid phone card
• Copies of important documents:
  • Medical: medical conditions, medications, physician contact information
  • Identification: passports, birth certificates, driver's license, social security cards
  • Financial documents: bank account information, credit cards, insurance information

Strategies:

• Use items that are already around your house for your Grab Bag
  • Store items in a trash bag or an old backpack/tote bag
  • Use travel size toiletries or hotel shampoos and lotions
  • Use old blankets, towels, and clothes
• Documents: Keep your important documents in an airtight plastic bag to ensure that they stay dry
• Flashlight: Find flashlights that do not need batteries.
• Clothing: Several light layers are better than heavy or bulky items.
• Shoes: Use comfortable shoes you have already worn, with good treads and waterproofing.
• Prescription medications: Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can get an extra supply of your regular prescription

Having supplies in your car will make it much easier to handle emergencies that may result when driving. Common road emergencies include flat tire, dead battery, breakdown, getting stuck, or an accident.

What you will need:

• Bottled Water
• Food (granola/energy bars)
• First Aid Kit
• White distress flag
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Flares/lightsticks
• Blanket or sleeping bag
• Emergency reflective blanket
• Jumper cables
• Tire jack and spare tire
• Fix-a-flat
• Shovel
• Maps

Strategies:

• Keep your gas tank filled above halfway; in an emergency you may not be able to get fuel.
  
• Keep your Grab Bag in your car. This will cut down on some duplicate items from your Grab Bag, plus you'll have everything you need if you get stuck on the road.
  
• First-aid kits come in a wide variety of sizes and prices. Choose what is right for you, considering how many people it should serve, medical needs, and where you are keeping the kit.
  
• Emergency reflective blankets (Mylar blankets) are fairly inexpensive, effective at retaining warmth, and very compact and lightweight. They are ideal for disaster supplies.
  
• Update your supplies with the seasons.

If you need to stay in your home for an extended period of time it will be important to have food, water, and supplies on hand. You should also be prepared for a power outage. The basic level of preparedness suggests preparing a supply of food and water to last three days. A higher level of preparedness suggests preparing a 7-10 day supply of food and water.

What you will need:

• Large box or container to store food
• Can opener (non-electric)
• Battery powered radio
• ABC-type fire extinguisher
• Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
• Prescription medications
• Wired telephone (not cordless)
• First Aid Kit
• Flashlight and/or battery powered lantern
• Extra batteries

Food and Water:
A basic level of preparedness suggests a three-day supply of food and water. To be more prepared store a 7-10 day supply of food and water.

• Water: 1 gallon per person per day
• Food:
  • Canned or dried fruits, vegetables, and soups
  • Canned or dried meats and seafood
  • Rice, pasta, cereal and crackers
  • Beverages: instant coffee, canned or powdered juice
  • Milk: powdered or canned
  • Comfort foods: snacks and sweets
  • High energy foods: peanut butter, nuts, trail mix, etc.
  • Baby food and formula
  • Pet food and needs

Strategies:

• Water: Several smaller packets are better than one large container.
  • Ordinary plastic bottles should be replaced every six months.
• Food: Note the shelf life of the food you select; eat it and replace it before it expires.
  • Buy foods that need no refrigeration and little or no cooking.
  • If you lose power, eat the food in your refrigerator first. Without power, a refrigerator should keep food at a safe temperature for about four hours. If the power is off longer than that, use your emergency food supply.
• Storage: Store supplies in a cool, dry place (basement, under bed, above cupboards).
  • Use supplies before they expire and replace what you use.
    
• Purchasing: Buy a few extra supplies each month until you have enough
  • If you cannot afford to buy extra food, visit your local food pantry for assistance.
• Cooking: Never use items such as grills, camp stoves, or generators indoors. They create carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that cannot be seen or smelled.