Take the First Steps to Get Prepared: Having enough supplies ready in your home will make surviving a disaster much easier, and may even save your life! Take these first easy steps to get your home and your family prepared.

Make an emergency survival kit

Store enough supplies for 14 days for each person and pet:

Also gather the following items with your survival kit:

• first aid items for your home and vehicle: band-aids, tweezers, scissors, thermometer, safety pins, rubbing alcohol or antiseptic wipes, disposable gloves, sunscreen, soap or hand sanitizer
• Prescription Medications
• extra clothing and bedding to keep warm
• important documents
• games and books to help pass the time

Download detailed checklists for your home, your car and work/school.

Make a family disaster plan

• create meeting, communication and evacuation plans with your family in case of a disaster
• establish an out-of-area contact that each person can check in with
• keep emergency phone numbers handy and teach children how and when to call for help
• practice your plan every 6 months

Download a detailed family disaster plan.

Did you know?

Text messaging is the best way to communicate during a widespread emergency. Phone calls require
a direct connection while text messages travel in “bursts” that can be transmitted as bandwidth is available.