Disaster or Emergency Preparedness Plan for Women

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• Evacuation Disaster Kit
• Survival Items
• Breastfeeding During an Emergency
• Food and Water Safety During an Emergency

When disaster strikes, you may not have much time to act. Prepare now for a sudden emergency. By taking simple steps to prepare your family, you can help protect them. You will also be able to cope better if a disaster does occur.

There are three basic steps for disaster or emergency preparedness:

1. Know what natural or other disasters could occur in your area and how to prepare for them. Know what your local evacuation routes are so that you are ready to leave the area quickly. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a lot of information on disaster preparedness. For information on pandemic flu and avian influenza, see http://www.pandemicflu.gov.

2. Make an emergency plan and give family members a copy of it. Talk to your family members about disasters or emergencies that could happen in your area. Explain how to respond to each of them. In a disaster, it might be dangerous or difficult to go home. So, just in case, pick another place for loved ones to meet. Make sure you designate an "emergency check-in" contact. Teach your children the phone number for this contact. This is important in case you get separated during a disaster! This ready made emergency preparedness list (PDF file, 137 Kb) will help you create your plan.

3. Pack emergency supplies in your home to meet your needs for three days. Always keep copies of all of your important papers together in one place. That way you can "grab and go" during an evacuation. Keep all necessary supplies in a specific place. Make sure you plan for any family members with disabilities or special needs. If you have a pet, make sure you include them in your plans. If you evacuate, do not leave your pet behind. Pets are unlikely to survive on their own. So plan to take them along. Some shelters don't allow pets. Keep a list of pet-friendly hotels or boarding facilities.

Evacuation Disaster Kit

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross recommend keeping all important family papers in a safety deposit box or other safe location. This includes items such as birth and marriage certificates, social security cards, wills, deeds, and financial and insurance information. Make copies so you’ll have the information at hand.

Identification for all members of your family:

• Copies of birth certificates
• Copies of social security cards (or numbers written on paper if you can't find the cards)
• Driver's license
• Photo identification or passports
• Welfare identification
• Green card
• Copies of pet vaccination records
• Picture of your pet

Copies of important personal papers

• Marriage certificate or divorce papers and custody orders
• Health insurance papers and medical cards
• Medical records for all family members
• Children's school records
• Investment papers, records, and account numbers
• Work permits, immigration papers
• Rental agreement, lease or house deed
• Car title, registration, and insurance information

Funds

• Cash or traveler's checks in small -- $10 or $20 – amounts that can be cashed easily
• Credit, debit, and ATM cards
• Checkbook and bankbook (with deposit slips)

Keys

• House
• Car
• Safety deposit box or post office box

A way to communicate

• Phone calling card or cell phone (if possible, always have an extra, charged cell phone battery)
• Emergency check-in number for all family members in case you get separated
• List of important phone numbers

Medications and supplies

• All medicines you and your children are taking, as well as a copy of the prescriptions (if possible)
• Extra eye glasses or contact lenses and supplies
• Tampons or sanitary pads

Things to help you cope – if you have extra room

• Pictures and small keepsakes
• Children's small toys or books

Survival Items

Below are items that are a must in any disaster kit. Your health, safety, and even survival, may depend on them. Keep these items together in one safe place that you can easily get to if you must evacuate.

Water

• Keep at least a three-day supply of water stored in plastic containers per person. Each person and pet needs one gallon of water each day. Four family members = 4x3 = 12 gallons of stored water.

Food

• Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food such as: canned meat, beans and vegetables, peanut butter or other high energy food, canned fruit and juices, unsalted crackers, etc. Be sure to include a non-electric can opener.
• Canned pet food
• Utensils and other supplies for eating

First Aid Kit

• Sterile dressing to stop bleeding
• Sports wrap for sprains or other injuries
• Safety pins to close sports wrap
• Adhesive bandages in different sizes
• Scissors and tweezers
• Over-the-counter pain medication
• Antibiotic ointment
• Burn ointment
• Eye-wash solution
• Thermometer
• Cough suppressant
• Antihistamine
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• First-aid manual

Infant Care

• Baby formula if child is not breastfed
• If you are evacuating with a baby or toddler, don't waste precious space by trying to carry a stroller. Shirts, towels, small blankets and sheets can be used to carry a baby. The Mamatoto Project has a quick video of how to make safe baby carriers out of household items or clothing.

Household Supplies

• Large, sealing plastic bags (for waterproofing important papers)
• Battery-powered flashlight and radio w/extra batteries
• Matches in a water-proof container
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each member of your family
• A complete change of clothes that includes long pants and shirts

You may need to survive on your own after a disaster. This means having enough water and food to last three days. Emergency workers will most likely be in the area after a disaster. However, they can't get to everyone right away. Even if you don't have to evacuate, you may need to "shelter in place." This means you stay in your house and don't go out. Services such as power, water, and heat or air conditioning may not be working. That's why a disaster kit is so important. You can use it on the go or in your home.

Breastfeeding During an Emergency

When an emergency occurs, breastfeeding can save lives:

• Breastfeeding protects babies from the risks of a contaminated water supply.
• It provides protection against respiratory illnesses and diarrhea. These diseases can be fatal in populations displaced by disaster.

The basics of breastfeeding during an emergency are mostly the same as in normal times. Continuing to breastfeed whenever the baby seems hungry maintains a mother's milk supply. It also provides comfort. The release of hormones while a mother is breastfeeding is calming to both mother and baby. Learn more from La Leche League, including how you can breastfeed in an emergency even if you have been giving your baby formula.

Food and Water Safety During an Emergency

Food may not be safe to eat during and after an emergency. Water may not be safe to drink, clean with, or bathe in, after some disasters. Hurricanes and floods can cause contamination with bacteria, sewage, agricultural or industrial waste, chemicals, and other dangerous substances. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information about keeping your food and water safe.

Content last updated November 24, 2008.