Be Informed
Download Be Informed Information
Establish an Out-of-State 24-hour Telephone Contact
- Outgoing calls do not overload phone lines, as do incoming calls to a disaster area
- Inform all relatives how to call the phone contact before a disaster occurs. Individual location and status should be requested.
- Take color pictures of every room plus pictures of valuables. Send one copy of legal picture and one copy of pictures to an out-of-state contact.
Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by disaster
- Choose a minimum of 2 meeting places:
- A location a safe distance (at least 75 feet) from your home in case of fires.
- A place outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home.
- An alternate place outside our neighbor hood in case access to the first one is blocked.
Other Considerations
- Stock supplies to last up to a week for each family member and pet
- Be prepared to relocate to a shelter during prolonged power outage
- Have extra cash on hand in case electronic transactions (ATM card, credit card, etc.) cannot be processed
- Discuss with your family the steps to take during a disaster
Meet with Neighbors
- Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster. Know your neighbors' skills (medical, technical)
- Consider how to help neighbors with special needs, such as elderly or disabled persons
- Make plans for children whose parents can't get home
Contact your local emergency management office
- Find out which disasters are most likely to happen in your community
- Ask how you would be notified
Evacuation Routes
- When community evacuations are deemed necessary, local officials may notify you using one or more of the following:
- the Emergency Notification System
- the National Weather Radio network
- outdoor warning sirens
- the Emergency Alert System
Note: Local media may also provide valuable information regarding the evacuation process.
Be prepared to leave at a moment's notice in an emergency
Planning for Evacuation
- Have enough water, food, clothing, and emergency supplies to last 3 to 5 days.
- Many disasters allow no time for people to gather even the most basic necessities. By taking the time now to prepare, you will be better off during an actual evacuation.
- Assemble a disaster/evacuation kit. Include basic survival items such as a radio, flashlight, extra batteries, food, water, clothing, and all medications.
- Communicate with everyone in your household and plan where you would go if you were told to evacuate.
- If everyone in your household is not at home when an evacuation is announced, make sure everyone knows where to meet outside of the evacuation area.
- Have an alternate evacuation route. During certain types of emergencies, some roads might be impassable.
- Know another way to get to safety from your house.
- Make arrangements ahead of time with relatives and friends you may be able to stay with during an evacuation.
Where to Go During an Evacuation
- If an evacuation is necessary, put your evacuation plan into action. Make sure everyone in your household is accounted for, gather your evacuation kit, and secure your property.
- In some instances, shelters are made available. Pay attention to local authorities and news media to see if such a shelter is available. If you have other options for shelter available to you, make use of them instead of a mass care shelter.