Call our Emergency Preparedness 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 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 telephones.
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 affected area).
Teach children how to make long distance telephone calls.
Choose two meeting places.
   1) A place near your home in case of a 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 waterproof/fireproof container.

PREPARE A DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT
Assemble supplies you might need in an evacuation. Store them in an easy-to-carry container; such as... 
     - A large, covered trash container, 
      - a camping backpack 
      - or a duffle 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 nonperishable packaged or canned food and a non-electric can opener.
A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes. o Blankets or sleeping bags.
A First Aid kit and prescription medications.
An extra pair of glasses.
A battery operated radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.
Credit cards and cash.
An extra set of car keys.
A list of family physicians.
Special items for infants, elderly and disabled.

SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT
Keep the following items in one place so you can get to them easily:
A battery-operated radio (with extra batteries)
Blankets or sleeping bags
A flashlight (with extra batteries)
Paper plates and utensils, including a bottle and can opener
Candles and matches (in a waterproof container) or an oil or kerosene lantern
Toilet articles and sanitary needs.

If the Electricity Goes off...
First, use perishable food and foods from the refrigerator.

Then, use foods from the freezer. To minimize the number of times you open the freezer door, post a list of the freezer contents on it. In a well-filled, well-insulated freezer, foods will usually still have ice crystals in their centers (meaning the foods are safe to eat) for at least three days.

Finally, begin to use nonperishable foods and staples.

Family Disaster Supply Kit
Pack at least a three-day supply of food and water and store it in a handy place. Choose foods that are easy to carry, nutritious and ready-to-eat.
In addition, pack these emergency items:
Medical supplies and First Aid manual
Hygiene supplies
Portable radio, flashlights and extra batteries
Shovel and other useful tools
Money and matches in a water proof container
Fire extinguisher
Blanket and extra clothing
Infant and small children's needs (if appropriate)

PREPARE A DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT
There are six basics you should stock in your home: water, food, First Aid, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies and special items. Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container. Suggested items are marked with an *. Possible containers include a large covered trash container, camping backpack or a duffle bag.

FIRST AID KIT
You should have two First Aid kits - one for your home, the other for your car. An emergency First Aid kit should include:
Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes*
2-inch sterile gauze pads (8-12)*
3-inch sterile gauze pads (8-12)*
Hypoallergenic adhesive tape*
Triangular bandages (3)*
2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)*
3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)*
Scissors*
Tweezers*
Needle*
Safety razor blade*
Bar of soap*
Moistened towelettes (8-10 packages)*
Antiseptic spray*
Thermometer
Tongue blades and wooden applicator sticks
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Assorted sizes of safety pins
Cleansing agent - soap
Latex Gloves
Non-Prescription Drugs
Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
Anti-diarrhea medication
Antacid (for stomach upset)
Emetic (use to induce vomiting)
Laxative
Eye wash
Rubbing alcohol
Antiseptic or hydrogen peroxide
Activated charcoal (use if advised by Poison Control Center)
CPR disposable mask

Suggested items are marked with an *.