Prepare for an Emergency

Take Action! Make a family emergency plan. Don’t wait – make a plan with your family today.Make an emergency supply kit. Gather supplies like water, medicines, and blankets. You won’t have time to search or shop for these supplies during an emergency, so put together your kit now. Make sure your kit includes:<ul ><li>Water for at least 3 days. You’ll need at least 1 gallon of water a day for each person and pet.</li><li>Food for at least 3 days. Choose foods that don’t need to be kept cold, like energy bars, peanut butter, crackers, and canned fruit (don’t forget a can opener). <a href="http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/keeping_food_Safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp" >Find out how to keep food safe during an emergency</a>.</li><li>Prescription medicine that you take every day, like heart or diabetes medicine.</li><li>A first aid kit to treat cuts, burns, and other basic injuries. <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-kits/FA00067/METHOD=print" >Find out what to put in your family’s first aid kit</a>. (You can also buy first aid kits at many stores.)</li><li>A battery-powered radio with extra batteries or a hand crank radio.</li><li>A flashlight and extra batteries.</li><li>A whistle to call for help.</li></ul>Keep your emergency supplies together in a backpack, bag, or easy-to-carry container. Use a waterproof container if possible. Store your supplies in a place that’s easy to reach.For more help putting together your kit, <a href="http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/checklist_1.pdf" >print out this emergency supply kit checklist [PDF - 163 KB]</a>.Make a plan. It’s important to make a plan in case your family members aren’t in the same place when disaster strikes. Consider a plan where each family member calls the same friend or relative if there’s an emergency.<a href="http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Family_Emegency_Plan.pdf" >Print this Family Emergency Plan [PDF - 520 KB]</a>. Sit down and fill it out together so that everyone in your family knows what to do.Find out about plans at school and work. Places where you and your family spend the most time, like school and work, likely have their own emergency plans. Ask your employer and your child’s school for a copy of their emergency plans.<a href="http://www.ready.gov/school-and-workplace" >Get questions to ask school or work about their emergency plan</a>.Know what to do during different types of emergencies. <a href="http://www.fema.gov/regional-operations/state-offices-and-agencies-emergency-management" >Contact your state’s emergency management office</a> to find out about the different kinds of disasters that might happen in your area. Decide how you will take action.<ul ><li><a href="http://www.fema.gov/regional-operations/state-offices-and-agencies-emergency-management" >First, decide if you will stay where you are or move to a community shelter. It’s important to have a plan for both.</a></li><li><a href="http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/shelter/" >Learn how to shelter in place</a>. Shelter in place means that you take shelter wherever you are – like at home, work, school, or in your car.</li><li>Find out if your community has an emergency response plan. <a href="http://www.fema.gov/regional-operations/state-offices-and-agencies-emergency-management" >Get more information about programs and resources in your state</a>.</li><li><a href="http://www.bt.cdc.gov/preparedness/quarantine/" >Understand quarantine (“KWAHR-en-teen”) and isolation</a>. This means keeping sick people (or people who might be sick) away from other people to prevent the spread of disease.</li><li>Find out about resources for:<ul><li><a href="http://www.ready.gov/seniors" >Older adults</a></li><li><a href="http://www.ready.gov/individuals-access-functional-needs" >People with disabilities</a></li><li><a href="http://www.ready.gov/caring-animals" >People with pets</a></li></ul></li></ul>