Disaster Preparedness


Flooding Preparedness

Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters. Flooding often occurs following a hurricane, thawing snow, or several days of sustained rain. Flash floods occur suddenly, due to rapidly rising water along a stream or low-lying area. Learn what to do to keep your loved ones safe!`

Preparing for a Flood

Preparing your Family

  • Talk with your family about what to do if a flood watch or warning is issued. Discussing floods ahead of time helps reduce fear, especially for younger children.

  • Find out if you are located in a floodplain, which is considered a Special Flood Hazard Area. If so, you are still eligible for flood insurance. Check with your city or county government (start with the Building or Planning Department) to review the Flood Insurance Rate Maps, published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

  • Find out if local streams or rivers flood easily.

  • Fill plastic bottles with clean water for drinking.

  • Keep insurance policies, documents, and other valuables in a safe-deposit box. You may need quick, easy access to these documents. Keep them in a safe place less likely to be damaged during a flood. Take pictures on a phone and keep copies of important documents and files on a flashdrive that you can carry with you on your house or car keys.

  • Prepare a pet emergency kit for your companion animals.

Preparing your Home

  • If you live in a floodplain, elevate and reinforce your home to make damages less likely during a flood. 

  • Check with a professional to:

  • Raise your furnace, water heater, and electric panel to floors that are less likely to be flooded. An undamaged water heater may be your best source of fresh water after a flood.

  • Install check valves in plumbing to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home. (As a last resort, when floods threaten, use large corks or stoppers to plug showers, tubs, or basins.)

  • Construct barriers such as levees, berms, and flood walls to stop floodwater from entering the building (if permitted by local building codes).

  • Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage through cracks.

  • Use sand bags when flooding is expected:

    • It takes two people about one hour to fill and place 100 sandbags, creating a wall one foot high and 20 feet long.

    • Make sure you have enough sand, burlap or plastic bags, shovels, strong helpers, and time to place them properly.

    • If a flood is expected, some communities will offer free sandbags to residents. Be sure to watch or listen to the news so you can access these resources.


During a Flood 

How to Stay Safe Indoors

  • Turn off the power and water Wildfires affect everyone. They can spread fast and harm us. Wildfires are getting bigger and more dangerous. More people are living in areas at risk for wildfires, but we can take action to prepare. Learn how to prepare your household and community and make plans to evacuate if instructed to do so by local authorities.

  • Boil tap water until water sources have been declared safe.

  • Avoid contact with floodwater. It may be contaminated with sewage or contain dangerous insects or animals.

  • Continue listening to local area radio, NOAA radio or TV stations for the latest information and updates.

  • Don’t use gas or electrical appliances that have been flooded.

  • Dispose of any food that comes into contact with flood water.

How to Stay Safe Outdoors

  • Don't walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Just six inches of fast-flowing water can knock you over and two feet will float a car.

  • If caught on a flooded road with rapidly rising waters, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground.

  • Don't walk on beaches or riverbanks.

  • Don’t allow children to play in or near flood water.

  • Avoid contact with floodwater. It may be contaminated with sewage or contain dangerous insects or animals.

  • Stay out of areas subject to flooding. Underpasses, dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc. can become filled with water.

For additional Information on Flood Safety click here: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/flood.html 


Wildfire Preparedness

Wildfires affect everyone. They can spread fast and harm us. Wildfires are getting bigger and more dangerous. More people are living in areas at risk for wildfires, but we can take action to prepare. Learn how to prepare your household and community.


Preparing for a Wildfire

Gather Emergency Supplies

  • Gather food, water, and medicine in advance because stores and pharmacies might be closed. Organize your supplies into a Go-Kit and a Stay-at-Home Kit.

  • Go-Kit: 3 days of supplies that you can easily carry with you.

  • Stay-at-Home Kit: 2 weeks of supplies if you need to stay at home.

  • Have a 1-month supply of medication in a child-proof container.

  • Keep personal, financial, and medical records safe.

Plan to Stay Connected

  • During a wildfire, the most important information will come from your local government. Authorities will let you know when you should leave to stay safe. 

  • Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government. 

  • Have a backup battery or a way to charge your cell phone. 

  • Have a battery-powered radio. 

  • Plan to monitor weather conditions and fires near you.

Learn Emergency Skills

  • Learn First Aid and CPR.

  • Utilities may be offline. Be ready to live without power. Plan for your electrical needs, including cell phones and medical equipment.

Understand Health Impacts

  • Wildfire smoke is a mixture of air pollutants that are harmful to your health. Learn how to reduce your exposure.

 

During a Wildfire

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

  • Keep track of the weather, fires near you, and listen to instructions from local authorities.

  • Be ready to leave quickly with your Go-Kit.

  • You might not get an official notice to evacuate.

  • Be ready to leave if local authorities advise, or if you feel you are in danger.

For additional Information on Fire Safety click here: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/wildfire.html


Earthquake Preparedness

An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the earth caused by the shifting of rock beneath the earth’s surface. They strike without warning, at any time of year, day or night. Forty-five U.S. states and territories are at moderate to very high risk of earthquakes. Learn what to do to keep your loved ones safe!

Preparing for an Earthquake

Preparing your Family

  • Talk about earthquakes with your family so that everyone knows what to do in case of an earthquake. Discussing ahead of time helps reduce fear, particularly for younger children

  • Check at your workplace and your children's schools and day care centers to learn about their earthquake emergency plans.

  • Pick safe places in each room of your home, workplace and/or school. A safe place could be under a piece of furniture or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases or tall furniture that could fall on you.

  • Practice DROP, COVER and HOLD ON in each safe place.

  • Prepare a pet emergency kit for your companion animals.

Preparing your Home

  • Bolt and brace water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs. Have a professional install flexible fittings to avoid gas or water leaks.

  • Do not hang heavy items, such as pictures and mirrors, near beds, couches and anywhere people sleep or sit.

  • Install strong latches or bolts on cabinets. Large or heavy items should be closest to the floor.

  • Learn how to shut off the gas valves in your home and keep a wrench handy for that purpose.

  • Place large and heavy objects and breakable items (bottled foods, glass or china) on lower shelves.

  • Anchor overhead lighting fixtures to joists.

  • Anchor top-heavy, tall and freestanding furniture such as bookcases, china cabinets to wall studs to keep these from toppling over.

  • Ask about home repair and strengthening tips for exterior features, such as porches, decks, sliding glass doors, canopies, carports and garage doors.

  • Learn about your area’s seismic building standards and land use codes before you begin new construction.

  • Have a professional make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundation, as well as strengthening tips for exterior features, such as porches, decks, sliding glass doors, canopies, carports and garage doors.

 

During an Earthquake

How to Stay Safe Indoors

  • DROP, COVER and HOLD ON!

    • Move as little as possible - most injuries during earthquakes occur because of people moving around, falling and suffering sprains, fractures and head injuries.

    • Try to protect your head and torso.

  • If you are in bed, stay there, curl up and hold on, and cover your head.

  • Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit.

    • If you must leave a building after the shaking stops, use stairs rather than an elevator in case of aftershocks, power outages or other damage.

  • Be aware that smoke alarms and sprinkler systems frequently go off in buildings during an earthquake, even if there is no fire.

  • If you smell gas, get out of the house and move as far away as possible.

  • Before you leave any building check to make sure that there is no debris from the building that could fall on you.

How to Stay Safe Outdoors

  • Find a clear spot and drop to the ground. Stay there until the shaking stops.

  • Try to get as far away from buildings, power lines, trees, and streetlights as possible.

  • If you're in a vehicle, pull over to a clear location and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses and power lines if possible.

  • Stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops.

  • After the shaking has stopped, drive on carefully, avoiding bridges and ramps that may have been damaged.

  • If a power line falls on your vehicle, do not get out. Wait for assistance.

  • If you are in a mountainous area or near unstable slopes or cliffs, be alert for falling rocks and other debris as well as landslides.

For additional Information on Earthquake Safety click here: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/earthquake.html  

 

Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over ocean water and often move toward land. Hurricanes bring high winds, heavy rain, storm surge (rise in water level), flooding and tornadoes. These storms are dangerous and can cause damage to places far inland. Prepare now so you can stay safe.

Preparing for a Hurricane

Preparing your Family

Depending on conditions, you will be advised to either evacuate or shelter in place.

Plan to Evacuate

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately and go to a safe place.

  • Know where you will go, how you will get there, and where you will stay. 

  • Plan well in advance if you will need help leaving or use public transportation.

  • Mobile/manufactured/trailer homes and recreational vehicles (RVs) cannot provide safe shelter from tropical-storm or hurricane-force winds.

Plan to Shelter in Place

  • Be ready to live without power, water, gas, phone, and internet for a long time.

  • Practice going to a designated safe shelter for high winds. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room in a sturdy building on the lowest level that is not likely to flood.

  • If you are in an area that is likely to flood, designate a location on higher ground that you can move to before floodwaters reach you.

Gather Emergency Supplies

  • Gather food, water, and medicine.  Organize supplies into a Go-Kit and a Stay-at-Home Kit.

  • Go-Kit: 3 days of supplies that you can carry with you. Include backup batteries and chargers for your devices (cell phone, CPAP, wheelchair, etc.)

  • Stay-at-Home Kit: 2 weeks of supplies. Stores and pharmacies might be closed.

  • Have a 1-month supply of medication in a child-proof container.

  • Keep personal, financial, and medical records safe.

Plan to Stay Connected

  • Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government.

  • Have a way to charge your cell phone.

  • Have a battery-powered radio.

Learn Emergency Skills

  • Learn First Aid and CPR.

  • Be ready to live without power.

  • Learn how to use a generator safely.

  • Plan how you will use powered medical equipment.

Preparing your Home

Prepare for Wind

  • Secure items outside, such as lawn furniture and trash cans, that could be picked up by high winds and hurt someone.

  • Anchor objects that would be unsafe to bring inside, such as gas grills and propane tanks.

  • Trim or remove trees close enough to fall on your home. Review insurance policies.

  • Protect windows with permanent storm shutters or pre-cut plywood. 

Prepare for Flooding

  • Clean out drains, gutters and downspouts.

  • Stockpile protective materials such as plastic sheeting and sandbags.

  • Consider installing a sump pump with battery backup.

  • Consider elevating the heating system, water heater, and electric panel.

 

During a Hurricane

Never walk, swim, or try to drive through floodwater. 

Remember: Turn Around! Don’t Drown!

Evacuating

  • If local authorities advise you to evacuate, go right away.

  • Bring your Go Kit.

  • Follow evacuation routes and do not try to take shortcuts because they may be blocked.

  • Check with local officials for shelter locations. 

Staying at Home

  • Determine your best protection for high winds and flooding.

  • Take shelter in a designated storm shelter or an interior room for high winds.

  • Stay away from glass windows and doors.

  • Move to higher ground before flooding begins.

For additional Information on Hurricane Safety click here: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane.html 


Preparedness for Other Disasters

,Federal Government information on disasters and emergencies

Red Cross information on disaster preparedness