BE PREPARED: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed



Do you know what to do to help keep your family safe in an emergency? Would you know what supplies you need in case the power goes out or what documents you should have on hand if you need to evacuate your home? From flooding to tornados, emergency preparedness begins with three simple actions: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed. Take the interactive Be Red Cross Ready online presentation and learn how. Get started now. The information below is from the Red Cross.

Gather the necessary resources you need to act on your plan in the event of a disaster. Have at least three– days of supplies in an easy–-to-–carry evacuation kit with additional supplies at home in case you cannot leave.

You can also contact your local Red Cross or go online to www.redcross.org to order an emergency preparedness kit today. Store it where it is easily accessible.

Remember to check your kit and replace the stock every six months.

Whether you purchase a kit or choose to build your own, check that your kit contains supplies so you can provide first aid and comfort for everyday scrapes. Be sure you include personal supplies for life– threatening emergencies or a disaster that may impact the entire community. Encourage your neighbors, work place and community groups to gather supplies so they can be prepared, as well.

Decide what you and your family will do when your daily routines are disrupted by an emergency. Plan together what each person is expected to do, where everyone will go, and how to get there. Write down your plan, share it with each other and then practice it at least twice a year.

Support your local community plans by volunteering in the community and by giving blood. If you plan to help your community recover from a disaster by volunteering with the Red Cross or another organization, make certain your plan includes how you will assist your neighbors while taking care of yourself and your family. If a family member is in the military, also plan for how you would respond if they are deployed and include the local military base resources that may be available.

Here are three key parts of being informed: 
1. Get Info: Learn the ways you would get information during a disaster or emergency.
2. Know your Region: Learn about the disaster that my occur in your area.
3. Action Steps: Learn First Aid from your local Red Cross chapter.

Get more details on how to be prepared in case of disaster or emergency.