Collect Details

Detailed information is a very important factor in emergency preparation. It’s important to understand what threats and hazards can affect your environment. Some areas are more exposed to fires, while other areas may be more susceptible to water and flood damage.

Danger and Risk

Understanding the most common danger and risks in your area will allow you to better plan for emergencies and to educate your family members. Contact your local emergency management office or local American Red Cross Chapter to gather the information required to create your emergency plan. Ask about specific dangers like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and fires that threaten your neighborhood and request information on how to prepare for these common hazards. To obtain additional information about local danger and risks, get a copy of your Community Disaster Plans and read it carefully.

Emergency Warning Systems

Obtain information on how your local authorities will warn you and your family of an imminent disaster and how they will provide information during and after a disaster. Contact the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at www.noaa.gov to obtain additional information on alerting capabilities.

Public Response and Emergency Evacuation Plans

To learn how the public prepares for a disaster find information about community response plans, including who is in charge and what emergency phone numbers you should have on hand. Read and learn the evacuation plans and drills, and put some time aside to visit designated emergency shelters locations so that you and your family know where to go should the need arise. In the case that you do not own a vehicle, find out in advance what the emergency evacuation plans are for those without private transportation such as locations of pick up stations for public transportation evacuations.

It is also very important, in addition to your community’s response and evacuation plans, to learn about the emergency plans and procedures that exist in places where you and your family spend time such as places of employment, schools, and child care centers.