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The American Red Cross

1.  Get a Kit:

What you have on hand when a disaster happens can make a big difference.
Plan to store enough supplies for everyone in your household for at least three days.
 

  • Water:  Have at least one gallon per person per day.

  • Food:  Pack non-perishable, high-protein items, including energy bars, ready-to-eat soup, peanut butter, etc.  Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water.

  • Flashlight:  Hand-crank and alternative energy options are available.  Include extra batteries, if applicable.

  • First Aid Kit:  Include a first aid reference guide.

  • Medications:  Don't forget prescription and non-prescription items.

  • Battery-Operated Radio:  Include extra batteries, or use a hand-crank radio.

  • Tools:  Gather a wrench to turn off gas if necessary, a manual can opener, screwdriver, hammer, pliers, knife, duct tape, plastic sheeting, garbage bags and ties.

  • Clothing:  Provide a change of clothes for everyone, including sturdy shoes and gloves.

  • Personal Items:  Remember eyeglasses or contact lenses and solution; copies of important papers, including identification cards, insurance policies, birth certificates, passports, etc.; and comfort items such as toys and books.

  • Sanitary Supplies:  You will want toilet paper, towelettes, feminine supplies, personal hygiene items, bleach, etc.

  • Money:  Have cash.  (ATMs and credit cards won't work if the power is out.)

  • Contact Information:  Carry a current list of family phone numbers and email addresses, including someone out of the area who may be easier to reach if local phone lines are out of service or overloaded.

  • Pet Supplies:  For each pet, include food, water, leash, litter box or plastic bags, tags, any medications and vaccination information.

  • Map:  Consider marking an evacuation route on it from your local area.

 

2.  Make a Plan:

Planning ahead is a major step to a calmer and more assured disaster response.

  • Talk:  Discuss with your family the disasters that can happen where you live.  Establish responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team.  Designate alternates in case someone is absent.

  • Plan:  Choose two places to meet after a disaster:
       1.  Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency such as a fire, and
       2.  Outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate your neighborhood.

  • Learn:  Each adult in your household should learn how and when to turn off utilities such as electricity, water and gas.  Ask someone at the fire department to show you how to use the fire extinguisher in your home.

  • Check Supplies:  Review your disaster supplies and replace water and food every six months.

  • Tell:  Let everyone in the household know where emergency contact information is kept.  Make copies for everyone to carry with them.  Be sure to include an out-of-town contact.  It may be easier to call out of the area if local phone lines are out of service or overloaded.  Keep the information updated.

  • Practice:  Practice evacuating your home twice a year.  Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassable or gridlocked.  Practice earthquake, tornado and fire drills at home, school and work.

  • Include Your Pets:  If you must evacuate, take your animals with you.  If it is not safe for you to remain, it is not safe for them.

  • Support Your Community:  Support your community by volunteering and by giving blood.  Many, many vital services are made possible by people like you!

 

3.  Be Informed:

  • Learn what disaster or emergencies may occur where you live, work and play.  These events can vary from those affecting only you and your family, like a home fire or medical emergency, to those affecting your entire community, like a tornado or flood.
  • Identify how local authorities will notify you during a disaster and how you will get important information, whether through local radio, TV or NOAA weather radio stations or channels.
  • Learn what you can do to prepare for disasters by contacting the Midland/Gladwin Chapter of the American Red Cross at (989) 631-3262 to ask about first aid techniques, CPR and disaster training.  Learning simple first aid techniques can give you the skills and confidence to help when someone in your home, your neighborhood or workplace is injured.
  • Share what you have learned with your family, household and neighbors, and encourage them to be informed, too.

 

Download an Emergency Contact Card - Print one for each member of your family.
You will need Adobe Reader.  If you don't already have it, get it here for free.

 

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