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ResourcesDisaster Resources Disaster Preparedness

Disaster Preparedness

No one can prevent natural disasters, but you can prepare for them.  Being prepared for disasters can save lives, prevent injuries and reduce stress during emergencies.  

Review the sections below. The last item is an interactive list for your personal Emergency Supplies List. We suggest you review and update your emergency plan and emergency supplies list at least once a year.

Before a Disaster

  • Develop a family emergency plan that will work for you to get out of danger quickly and safely and review it regularly.
  • Identify safe meeting places inside and outside your home.
  • Know evacuation routes and local emergency shelters. Learn the different roads or freeways to leave your community.
  • Have a paper map. The internet and cell phone services may not be working.
  • Practice disaster drills with your family.
  • Store emergency supplies in an easily accessible location.
  • Maintain an up-to-date list of emergency contacts.
  • Ready.gov has safety information for individuals and families.
  • Join local volunteer organizations or networks before a disaster strikes. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is an excellent local program.

Connect With Your Neighbors

Neighbors need to help each other to prepare and respond to disasters. Talk to your neighbors about what they might need in an emergency, and if they can help other neighbors.

Do you know:

  • Who is at home in your neighborhood that might be available to help you during the day, at night, or on a weekend?
  • Who in your neighborhood might need help?

Think of the people you would want to talk to during an emergency? These people might be your family, neighbors, friends, or caregivers. It could also be groups you belong to or volunteer with such as volunteer programs, faith-based or church groups, local Independent Living Centers, local Area Agencies on Aging, and neighborhood groups, etc.

Before a Disaster Apps

  • Cal Alerts: Sign Up For Alerts in Your County (CA only).
  • Earthquake early warning with MyShake App (Global).
  • Identify potential hazards in your area with MyHazards (CA only).
  • Wildfire Alerts through Watch Duty App (nation-wide).

Before a Disaster for Pets

  • Plan for your pet’s care in an emergency.
  • Get your pet an identification tag for its collar. 
  • Free or discounted microchipping may be available. Ask your vet how to get your pet microchipped.
    • Make sure your pet’s microchip account is linked to your current cell phone number!
  • Pack food, water, medicine, pet first aid supplies, and proof of rabies and other shots for each of your animals. 
  • Prepare your pet by teaching them to be in a crate.
  • Make a plan for your pet if you cannot bring it with you to a shelter. Some shelters do not allow pets.
  • Check with your local County Animal Response Team (CART).
  • Review The Red Cross Pet Disaster Preparedness & Recovery site.

Evacuation & Emergency Notifications

CalOES offers the following explanations for these types of notifications.

Evacuation Warning

An evacuation warning alerts you of a potential imminent danger in your area. Individuals who receive an evacuation warning should make preparations to evacuate their dwellings and be in a position to do so on short notice. If you receive an evacuation warning, you should prepare to evacuate your dwelling unit and be in a position to do so on short notice. older adults, people with disabilities, and people who need extra time to evacuate their dwellings should leave as soon as possible.

Evacuation Order

Requires people to leave an area immediately due to extreme danger.

Shelter in Place

This is an order to remain in your dwelling due to danger posed by weather or disaster events outside of your dwelling unit. In the event a Shelter in Place order is issued, individuals should stay inside, shut and lock doors and windows, and not leave your unit until informed it is safe to do so by an emergency worker.

During a Disaster

  • Follow official instructions from local authorities.
  • Watch or listen to local news for reports on disasters. Radio and TV stations will share important information through the Emergency Alert System.
  • Use your emergency kit as needed.
  • Stay indoors or move to designated shelters if instructed.
  • Communicate with family members and check on neighbors.

After a Disaster

  • Check yourself and others for physical health and mental needs.
  • Avoid downed power lines and flooded areas.
  • Listen to emergency updates and instructions.
  • Inspect your residence for damage before re-entering.
  • Contact loved ones to let them know you are safe.
  • Use the following apps and online websites to get additional alerts and safety information.
  • Document damage for insurance claims.

Emergency Supply Kit

Congratulations, you are taking action to be prepared in the event of a future disaster. Disasters like earthquakes or wildfires happen when least expected and NOW is the best time to prepare. Review your family emergency plan, take stock of supplies and goods to ensure the safety and comfort of you and your loved ones when a disaster strikes.

How long have you waited to get prepared? Been a while I bet. Well, you are doing it today! Don’t let time delay your preparation and start taking stock of needed supplies today (or at least this week). A few tips for preparedness and ensuring your emergency kit is ready.

  • Today: Gather all the needed supplies you already have, make a list of what is needed, get what is on the needed list.
  • Gradually: When out shopping, buy an extra can or box of your favorite non-perishable food to add to your stockpile. This is a great opportunity to rotate out stock to ensure freshness when needed.
  • Twice a year: Set a convenient schedule to check everything twice a year and replace or update items as needed.
  • When there are alerts: When there are extreme weather alerts, take a moment to check your emergency supply kit.

Complete the Interactive List below by selecting if you have or need each item, then print or email the list. 

For more information on emergency supply kits, we have found a few sources for you.

Interactive List

Water: A minimum of one gallon per person per day for a period of two-weeks. A home water emergency storage system may range from cases of bottled water to multiple larger water storage barrels. 

Non-Perishable Food: Three-day supply for each person. Select foods you will actually enjoy eating. Non-Perishable food examples include canned goods, granola bars, dried fruit, etc. Don’t forget a manual can opener!

First Aid Kit: Include bandages, antiseptics, medications, and any essential prescription drugs. Consider one for home and one for each of your vehicles.

Flashlight or Headlamp: A headlamp may be easier as it frees your hands for other tasks. One per person, with extra batteries. Consider extras for each vehicle.

Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Radio: For emergency news and alerts.

Cell Phone, Mobile Device and Chargers: Consider portable power supplies that do not require plugging in. Power outages may be widespread and last for several days.

Extra Batteries: For all devices in the sizes your devices use. (flashlights, radios, etc.)

Local Maps: Consider paper maps for your local regular travel, to find your way home or navigate while electronic mapping tools are down.

Cash: After a disaster, infrastructure allowing credit card transactions may be down as well as bank ATM machines.  Having a stash of cash in smaller denominations may, after a disaster, assist in acquiring essentials you need.

Copies of Important Documents: Insurance policies, identification, medical records. This may be paper copies in a secure folder or box or a secure USB drive.

Whistle: To signal for help. The sound of a whistle carries further than the human voice and creates less stress on your body than shouting.

Dust Masks: To help filter contaminated air, smoke and ash in wildfires, dust after an earthquake. Consider certified masks with at least an N95 or P100 rating that create a tight seal around your nose and mouth. 

Wrench or Pliers: To turn off utilities if needed. Know where your gas and water main shut-off valves are and how to operate. Consider storing device next to each shut off valve so they are available during an emergency.

Blankets or Sleeping Bags: For warmth and comfort. May also aid in treating shock after a disaster.

Personal Hygiene Items: Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, feminine supplies, moist towelettes, garbage bags, and additional items you require for safety and wellbeing.

Change of Clothes: Sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate attire to store in your car or work location. Be comfortable and safe if you need to walk home after a disaster, which could take up to 24-hours.

Plastic Sheeting and Duct Tape: For shelter, insulation, or just about anything you can imagine. Duct tape and plastic sheeting may solve your needs.

Special Needs Supplies: Create your own list what your special need Items. For example; infants (formula, diapers), elderly, or pets.

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