Disasters can create chaos and confusion. If you aren’t prepared when an emergency happens, you may make decisions that could further compromise your safety.
It doesn’t matter if it’s extreme heat, flooding, or wildfires; the more prepared you are the better. Creating a disaster plan can protect you and your loved ones. Both FEMA and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) have resources to help you prepare for the unexpected.
Download an Emergency Plan form and complete it. You can get the form at: Make a Plan Form | Ready.gov. After that, rehearse the strategy you develop.
Here are some other things we can also do to prepare for the unexpected:
- Keep a supply of bottled water.
- Have enough non-perishable food for two weeks.
- Know how to shut off the gas, power, and water in your home.
- Charge your extra flashlight batteries and power banks to make certain they will work when you need them.
- Keep emergency cash readily available.
- Never have less than half a tank of gas in your car. If you must evacuate, gas pumps may not be working.
The next step is to put together emergency kits. You can go to Build A Kit | Ready.gov for examples of what to put in these kits. You should also discuss these four questions with your family, friends, and even neighbors:
- How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
- What is my shelter-in-place plan?
- What is my evacuation route?
- What is my family/household emergency plan?
For additional resources, visit www.Ready.gov or visit the Cal OES page for family preparedness: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/individuals-families. There, you’ll find emergency safety tips, more information on building a kit, how to decide on an emergency meeting place, and even how to teach a preparedness curriculum in your school.
Sign up for emergency alerts at calalerts.org.