Tips for Emergency Preparedness
1. Know what types of disasters you may encounter in your location. These may include tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, blizzards, volcano eruptions, or any other natural disasters.
2. Be informed of the locations of the emergency shelter sites.
3. Build a emergency kit.
- Have at least 7 days of medications and copies of your prescriptions.
- Have extra batteries and chargers for hearing aids, mobility scooters or CPAP machines.
- Label all mobility aids such as canes, walkers or spare wheelchair with your name.
- Include extra eyeglasses, denture supplies, incontinence and hygiene products.
- Have a blanket, sweater and slip-resistant shoes.
- Have an emergency information sheet with a list of medications, allergies, doctors, insurance and emergency contacts.
- Review these items and and test equipment every 6 months.
4. Plan for medical needs. Ask your health care provider how to manage your condition if you lose power and need medications refrigerated or if pharmacies are not available. If you require oxygen or dialysis, register with your local utility companies and local emergency services. If you have a medical alert system ask the provider what they recommend in the emergency situation.
5. Keep your emergency kit where it is easily accessible. Have flashlights and extra batteries in the house and remove tripping hazards, Have battery powered lanterns to reduce the risk of falls during power outages. Keep your cell phone fully charged, have a back up power charger. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers.
6. Have a communication plan that is shared with your designated family members or friends or neighbors. Arrange for a trusted person to have a key to your home to check on you.
7. Be ready to evacuate quickly if needed. Have a small, lightweight bag with essentials. Know where your local shelter is and how you will get there. If you have pets or service animals, know which shelters are animal friendly. And if leaving your home is not possible due to imminent threat, have a home emergency plan in place, such as sheltering in an interior room or basement.
8. Keep informed of the situation by signing up for local emergency notifications, having alerts on your mobile phone and a NOAA battery powered emergency radio.
You can find additional information online from the Red Cross and other sites on emergency preparedness.