Prepare for an Emergency

Planning ahead can keep you and your family safe if a flood, fire, flu pandemic (pandemic means a global outbreak), terrorist attack, or other public health emergency strikes. Take steps today to make sure you and your family are prepared.

Here’s what you can do:

• Get an emergency supply kit.
• Make a family emergency plan.
• Be informed.

Are you ready? Take this quiz to find out.

Don't wait – make a plan for your family today.

Make an emergency supply kit.
Gather supplies like water, medicines, and blankets. Keep your emergency supplies together in a backpack, bag, or easy–to–carry container. Use a waterproof container if possible.

Print out this emergency supply kit checklist [PDF – 208 KB] to get started. Make sure your kit includes:

• At least 3 gallons of water for each person.
• Food for at least 3 days. Choose foods that don’t need a refrigerator, like canned fruit, energy bars, peanut butter, and crackers. Get tips for keeping food safe during an emergency.
• Prescription medicine that you take every day, like heart or diabetes medicine.
• A first aid kit to treat cuts, burns, and other injuries. Find out what you should have in your family’s first aid kit.

Make a plan.
It’s important to make a plan in case your family is not together when disaster strikes. Consider a plan where each family member calls the same friend or relative if there is an emergency.

Print out this Family Emergency Plan [PDF – 645 KB]. Sit down together and fill it out.

Be informed.
Learn about the disasters that might happen in your area and decide how you will take action.

• First, decide if you will stay where you are or move to a community shelter. It's important to have a plan for both.
• Learn how to shelter in place. Shelter in place means that you take shelter wherever you are – at home, work, school, or in between.
• Understand quarantine (kwar–en–teen) and isolation. This means keeping sick people (or people who might be sick) away from other people to prevent the spread of disease.
• Find out if your community has an emergency response plan. Get more information on government organizations and resources in your area.
• Learn about resources for:
• Seniors
• People with disabilities
• Pets

What do you want to do today?

Sit down with your family tonight and make a family emergency plan [PDF – 645 KB].

Find emergency preparedness resources in your area.

Start to gather supplies for an emergency supply kit [PDF – 208 KB].

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