Help Desk → Disaster Relief & Emergency Preparedness → Emergency Preparedness Facts & Tips → Emergency Preparedness Facts & Tips
1.1. Emergency Preparedness Facts & Tips
Emergency preparedness is the science and strategy of being ready for a potential or impending disaster or emergency situation. Be it a hurricane, flood, fire or any devastating event, being prepared will save lives and decrease hardship. Much of the advice includes things that you and your family can do on your own to increase safety during an emergency.
General Emergency Preparedness Facts & Tips
Ready to Roll
A United Spinal Association resource designed to assist in preserving the health and safety of individuals with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) in times of uncertainty and upheaval due to natural or human-caused disasters through advanced planning, along with the preparation of professionals and local agencies.
https://unitedspinal.org/ready-to-roll/
Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities
Ready is a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters.
https://www.ready.gov/disability
Emergency Preparedness: Including People With Disabilities
Information for people with disabilities, their family members, and first responders to help prepare and plan for special needs during a disaster including safe evacuation. From the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/emergencypreparedness.html
Emergency Evacuation Preparedness Guide for People With Disabilities (PDF)
This guide focuses on developing emergency evacuation preparedness plans that take into account the needs of people with disabilities and their activity limitations.
https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Public-Education/By-topic/Disabilities/EvacuationGuidePDF.ashx
Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults
Information, tools, and resources for older adults and their caregivers to help prepare for and respond to different types of emergencies. https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/older-adult-emergency.html
Emergency Planning for People Who Use Electrical Assistive Technology or Medical Equipment
This emergency power planning checklist is for people who use electricity and battery dependent assistive technology and medical devices, including breathing machines (respirators, ventilators), power wheelchairs and scooters, oxygen, suction or home dialysis equipment.
https://adata.org/sites/adata.org/files/files/ADANN_Emergency_Power_planning-2016%20_%20final(1).pdf
Emergency Preparedness for Children and Their Caregivers
Learn more about the unique needs of children during and after disasters and how disasters can affect children differently than they do adults.
https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/
Emergency Preparedness for People With Chronic Illnesses
Disaster information for people with chronic conditions and disabilities including recommendations and resources on deafness and hearing impairment, diabetes, dialysis care, and more.
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/chronic.html
Emergency Preparedness for Expecting and New Parents
Information to help expecting and new parents better prepare for a disaster or evacuation.
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/features/disaster-planning-parents/index.html
Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet
Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe. The best thing you can do for your pet is being prepared. This guide from the ASPCA offers simple steps you can take before a disaster to make sure that your pet stays safe.
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/disaster-preparedness
The Preparedness Wizard
A tool to help you and your family develop a preparedness plan from the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University.
http://ncdp.columbia.edu/library/preparedness-tools/preparedness-wizard/
Ready New York: Emergency Planning for People With Disabilities
NYC Emergency Management offers a workbook designed to assist New Yorkers with disabilities or access and functional needs create an emergency plan. "My Emergency Plan" walks users through establishing a support network, capturing important health information, planning for evacuation, and gathering emergency supplies. First responders or caregivers can also use the workbook to help people during an emergency.
http://www1.nyc.gov/site/em/ready/disabilities-access-functional-needs.page
Winter Weather
With winter weather occurring nationwide, make sure you’re prepared in the event of weather-related emergencies. Pay attention to weather reports in your area and be on the lookout for winter weather and freezing temperatures. Always listen for emergency information and alerts. Sign up for your community’s warning system and additional apps for emergency alerts such as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and The American Red Cross Emergency Alert System (EAS). Winter storms can last from a few hours to a few days and may bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds along with them. Storms can often lead to loss of power, heat, and communication services. Be prepared for winter weather at home, at work, and in your car. https://www.fema.gov/blog/get-ready-winter-weather
https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather
Hurricanes
The Atlantic Hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year. Stay informed and sign up for weather alerts and information in your area. Contact your emergency management office for evacuation routes and local alerts. You may need to evacuate with short notice. Know who to call and where to go. Before a storm make sure to review available resources in your community and prepared at least up to 3 days of supplies. https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
Wildfires
You may need to evacuate with short notice. Know your zone ahead of time and actively watch notices to know if and when you have to leave. Plan ahead and know who to call and where to go. Sign up for your community’s warning system and additional apps for emergency alerts such as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and The American Red Cross Emergency Alert System (EAS). In addition, track air quality in your area. https://www.ready.gov/wildfires
