Emergency Preparedness Checklist

The next time disaster strikes, you may not have much time to act. Prepare now for a sudden emergency.  Learn how to protect yourself and cope with disaster by planning ahead. This checklist will help you get started. Discuss these ideas with your family, then prepare an emergency plan. Post the plan where everyone will see it -- on the refrigerator or bulletin board. For additional information about how to prepare for hazards in your community, contact your local emergency management or civil defense office and American Red Cross chapter.

Emergency Check-List

• Call Your Emergency Management Office or local 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 about special assistance for elderly or disabled persons.

Also . . .

• Ask at 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.

• Pick 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 water and fire-proof 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 backpack or duffel 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 non-perishable packaged or canned food and a non-electric can opener.

• A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.

• Blankets or sleeping bags.

• A first-aid kit and prescription medications.

• An extra pair of glasses.

• A battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.

• Credit cards and cash.

• An extra set of car keys.

• A list of family physicians.

• A list of important family information; the style and serial number of medical devices, such as pacemakers.

• Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.

Escape Plan

In a fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate your house, apartment or mobile home on a moment's notice. You should be ready to get out fast.

• Develop an escape plan by drawing a floor plan of your residence. Using a black or blue pen, show the location of doors, windows, stairways, and large furniture. Indicate the location of emergency supplies (Disaster Supplies Kit), fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, collapsible ladders, first aid kits and utility shut off points. Next, use a colored pen to draw a broken line charting at least two escape routes from each room. Finally, mark a place outside of the home where household members should meet in case of fire. Be sure to include important points outside such as garages, patios, stairways, elevators, driveways and porches. If your home has more than two floors, use an additional sheet of paper. Practice emergency evacuation drills with all household members at least two times each year.

Home Hazard Hunt

In a disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall, break or cause a fire is a potential hazard.

• Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.

• Fasten shelves securely.

• Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves.

• Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds.

• Brace overhead light fixtures.

• Secure water heater. Strap to wall studs.

• Repair cracks in ceilings or foundations.

• Store weed killers, pesticides and flammable products away from heat sources.

• Place oily polishing rags or waste in covered metal cans.

• Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors and gas vents.

If You Need to Evacuate

• Listen to a battery-powered radio for the location of emergency shelters.

• Follow instructions of local officials.

• Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.

• Take your Disaster Supplies Kit.

• Lock your house.

• Use travel routes specified by local officials.

If You Are Sure You Have Time . . .

• Shut off water, gas and electricity, if instructed to do so.

• >Let others know when you left and where you are going.

• Make arrangements for pets. Animals may not be allowed in public shelters.

Prepare an Emergency Car Kit. Include:

• Battery-powered radio and extra batteries

• Flashlight and extra batteries

• Blanket

• Booster cables

• Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)

• First-aid kit and manual

• Bottled water and non-perishable high energy foods such as granola bars, raisins and peanut butter.

• Maps

• Shovel

• Tire repair kit and pump

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Fire Safety

• Plan two escape routes out of each room.

• Teach family members to stay low to the ground when escaping from a fire.

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  Teach family members never to open doors that are hot. In a fire, feel the bottom of the door with the palm of your hand. If it is hot, do not open the door. Find another way out.

• Install smoke detectors. Clean and test smoke detectors once a month.

• Change batteries at least once a year.

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  Keep a whistle in each bedroom to awaken household members in case of fire.

• Check electrical outlets. Do not overload outlets.

• Purchase a fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type).

• Have a collapsible ladder on each upper floor of your house.

• Consider installing home sprinklers.

Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit

Disasters happen anytime and anywhere. And when disaster strikes, you may not have much time to respond. A highway spill or hazardous material could mean evacuation. A winter storm could confine your family at home. An earthquake, flood, tornado or any other disaster could cut water, electricity and telephones -- for days.

After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it may take days. Would your family be prepared to cope with the emergency until help arrives?

Your family will cope best by preparing for disaster before it strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supplies Kit. Once disaster hits, you won't have time to shop or search for supplies. But if you've gathered supplies in advance, your family can endure an evacuation or home confinement.

To Prepare Your Kit

• Review the checklist in this brochure.

• Gather the supplies that are listed. You may need them if your family is confined at home.

• Place the supplies you'd most likely need for an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container.

• There are six basics you should stock for your home: water, food, first aid supplies, 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.

  • Possible containers include:

1. a large, covered trash container

2. a camping backpack

3. or a duffel bag

Water

• Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers and ill people will need more.

• Store one gallon of water per person.

• Keep at least a three-day supply of per day (two quarts for drinking, two quarts of water for each person in your household for food preparation/sanitation.)

Food

• Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.

• Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water.

• If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno.

• Select food items that are compact and lightweight.

• Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Supplies Kit: Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables

First-Aid Kit

Assemble a first-aid kit for your home and one for each car. A first-aid kit should include:

• Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes

• Assorted sizes of safety pins

• Cleansing agent/soap

• Latex gloves (2 pair)

• Sunscreen

• 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)

• 4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)

• Triangular bandages (3)

• Non-prescription drugs

• 2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)

• 3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)

• Scissors

• Tweezers

• Needle

• Moistened towelettes

• Antiseptic

• Thermometer

• Tongue blades (2)

• Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant

• Non-Prescription Drugs.

• Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever

• Anti-diarrhea medication

• Antacid (for stomach upset)

• Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)

• Laxative

• Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Tools and Supplies

• Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils

• Emergency preparedness manual

• Battery operated radio and extra batteries

• Flashlight and extra batteries

• Cash or traveler's checks, change

• Non-electric can opener, utility knife

• Fire extinguisher: small canister A-B-C type

• Tube tent

• Pliers

• Tape

• Compass

• Matches in a waterproof container

• Aluminum foil

• Plastic storage containers

• Signal flare

• Paper, pencil

• Needles, thread

• Medicine dropper

• Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water

• Whistle

• Plastic sheeting

• Map of the area (for locating shelters)

 

 

 

Sanitation

• Toilet paper, towelettes

• Soap, liquid detergent

• Feminine supplies

• Personal hygiene items

• Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)

• Plastic bucket with tight lid

• Disinfectant

• Household chlorine bleach

 

 

 

Clothing and Bedding

• At least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.

• Sturdy shoes or work boots

• Rain gear

• Blankets or sleeping bags

• Bath towels

• Hat and gloves

• Thermal underwear

• Sunglasses

Special Items

Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons

For Baby

• Formula

• Diapers

• Bottles

• Powdered milk

• Medications

For Adults

• Heart and high blood pressure medication

• Insulin

• Prescription drugs

• Denture needs

• Contact lenses and supplies

• Extra eye glasses

Entertainment

• Games and books

Important Family Documents

Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container:

• Will, insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and bonds

• Passports, social security cards, immunization records

• Bank account numbers

• Credit card account numbers and companies

• Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers

• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)

Storing Your Disaster Kit

Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members.   Keep a smaller version of the Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk of your car.

Keep items in air tight plastic bags.  Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh.  Replace your stored food every six months.  Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year.  Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.

Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.