• Find out which disasters are most likely to affect your community
• Find out how to prepare your home and yourself for each type of disaster
• Find out how you will be warned or advised of emergency information.
• Learn CPR and First Aid

If you have children contact their school or day care

• Find out what their plans are in the event of a disaster and how to reunite with your children.

Meet with your family

• Discuss the types of disasters that could occur
• Discuss how to prepare and respond to each disaster
• Discuss how to evacuate every room in your home
• Decide where to meet if you cannot get home
• Decide on who to use as an out-of-area contact
• Discuss emergency supplies
• Practice what you have discussed

Survey your house with your family

• Post emergency contac t numbers by each phone
• Learn and practice how to shut off water, gas, and electricity at the mains
• Install smoke detectors on each floor of your house, especially in bedrooms. Check them monthly and change batteries twice a year.
• Move heavy objects to lower shelves
• Secure tall furniture and pictures to wall studs
• Strap water heater to wall studs

Buy & store emergency supplies

	Food Supplies When selecting food supplies consider the ease of preparation, ease of storage, shelf life, and personal preferences of your family what works for one family may not for another. Some tips on food selection: Foods selected should not require a large amount of water to cook. Foods should be easily stored in your kit. Foods should have a shelf life that allows them to last at least one year before needing replacement. Do not purchase salty foods, they will make you thirsty. Select foods that the whole family enjoys. Include a method of heating (sterno, camp stove) AND matches along with eating utensils (paper plates, cups, utensils, pot and pans, etc) Suggested food for your disaster supply kit Baby food Canned vegetables Instant Coffee/Tea Canned Formula Crackers Peanut Butter Canned Juices Food for your pets Ready to eat meals Canned Soup Granola Bars Sugar, salt, pepper Canned meats Hard Candy Vitamins
	Hygiene & Medical Supplies Hygiene Supplies For Hygiene include a bar of soap, liquid dish detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, tissues, toilet paper, and sanitary napkins should be included in your kit. Medical Supplies Your Medical kit needs to include a complete first aid kit. These kits may be purchased from a number or sources or put together piece-by-piece. Remember to include any prescription medications that your family takes. Also include a written list of prescriptions, allergies, and your doctors’ address and phone number. You should have a first aid kit in your home, one for each car, and in your office. The following supplies are recommended for any first aid kit you buy or assemble:
	Tool Kits, Supplies & Special Items The following supplies and tools should also be stored in your home supply kit: Aluminum Foil Paper & Pencils or pens Can Opener Personal Hygiene items Cash or Travelers Checks Pet Supplies Chlorine Bleach Plastic Sheeting Copies of financial papers Plastic bags Copies of medical records Plastic bucket with lid Disinfectant Pliers Duct Tape Portable radio with extra batteries Family records Rope Feminine Supplies Screwdriver Flashlight with extra bulbs & batteries Shovel Games and books Signal Flare Garbage bags Sleeping bags Hammer Soap Inventory of assets Space blanket Lighter or sparking tool Tarp Matches in water proof container Tent Medicine Dropper Toilet Paper Mess kits or paper plates, cups & utensils Type ABC Fire Extinguisher Needles & thread Utility Knife Old pair of glasses Whistle
	Water Supply The human body can survive about 30 days without food but less than a week without water under cool to moderate conditions. As outside temperatures rise the survivability without water drastically plummets. In order to survive you must have water. The minimum amount of water you should have stored for a disaster is: 1 GALLON PER PERSON PER DAY FOR FIVE DAYS For a family of four this translates to: 1 gallon x 4 people x 5 days = 20 gallons MINIMUM Do not forget to include pets in the equation as well. So in the above example a family of four with a dog and a cat needs: 1 gallon x 6 people/animals x 5 days = 30 gallons MINIMUM Three gallons a day minimum will require a great deal of water conservation on your part. If possible a seven day supply would be much more preferable. Water supplies should be changed once a year at a minimum. If your water supply is shut off any your stored emergency supplies have been exhausted, there are several alternative sources. 1. Water heaters tanks may be shut off and drained 2. Water from unsalted canned vegetables may be used If you are unsure of the quality of the water, purify it before drinking. You can heat water to a rolling boil for 10 minutes, use purification tablets, or use unscented 5.25% household liquid bleach to purify. To purify using bleach add bleach to the water, shake or stir the container then let it stand for 30 minutes before drinking. For amounts of bleach to add use the following guide: Water Purification Guide Water Quantity Bleach Added to water 1 quart 4 drop from a medicine dropper 1 gallon 16 drops from a medicine dropper 5 gallons 1 teaspoon
	Anatomy of a First Aid Kit (by American Red Cross)

Meet with your neighbors.

• Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster.
• Consider how you could help your neighbors who have special needs.
• Make plans for child care in case parents cannot get home.