Preparation Tips

 

“The climate crisis is causing more frequent and intense disasters”, The American Red Cross

 

Spring

Tornadoes

Severe Thunderstorms

Flooding

 

Summer

Tropical Cyclones

Extreme Heat

Wildfires

Severe Weather

Fall

Tropical Cyclones

Flooding

Wildfires

Severe Thunderstorms

Winter

Winter Storms

Severe Thunderstorms

 

 

 

The severe weather threat continues for millions of people across the U.S. as the latest storms could bring tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds, frequent lightning, higher storm surges due to stronger hurricane winds and higher sea levels (during hurricane season), intense winter precipitation (like blizzards and ice storms), increased lake effect snow to the midwestern states, more freezing rain, flash flooding and heavy rain to multiple states, more frequent and intense fire weather in the western half of the nation, heatwaves and excessive summer heat spanning from the northeastern states to the southwest.

If an emergency threatens your neighborhood, planning is the key to being ready. Being prepared is easy - just three short steps away:

1. Get a kit. Get your emergency preparedness kit ready. You should include:

  • Take a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water — one gallon per person, per day for drinking and hygiene purposes.
  • Consider including a water testing or water filter kit in your survival bag/backpack.
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
  • Flashlight and extra batteries. SOS flashlights are even better - also available on LostOffGrid.store
  • Take plenty of charging cables for your phone and mobile devices.
  • Make sure to carry a first aid kit, medications, and medical items, tourniquets and splints.
  • Copies of all important documents (proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies). Keep personal, financial, and medical records safe. Use waterproof or fireproof folders to seal and protect your documents from damage.
  • Be ready to live without power, water, gas, phone, internet for a long time. Consider taking a solar power bank as a self-sufficient means for energy.
  • Consider keeping a list of your medications and dosages in a protected cover as well as using waterproof containers, e.g. waterproof pill bottles to preserve your medicine.
  • Extra cash – You may need to consider using a waterproof folder or fanny pack to keep it dry.
  • Acquire maps of the topography, roadways and rivers that are local to your area – within a 5 to 10 square mile area. Use waterproof map covers to seal and protect your maps from damage. You can get topography maps for your local area by downloading free digital maps from the USGS website and printing them yourself, or by purchasing printed maps from the USGS Store, a local print shop, or other retailers like REI. Digital options include using online tools like The National Map Downloader or TopoView to find and download maps, or using online services like CalTopo.

 

2. Make a plan. Talk with household members about what you would do during emergencies. Plan what to do in case you are separated — choose two places to meet — one right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency such as a fire, and another outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate.

  • Choose a contact person from out of the area and make sure all household members have this person’s phone number and email address. It may be easier to call long distance or text if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service.
  • Tell everyone in the household where emergency information and supplies are kept.
  • 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.
  • Don’t forget your pets. If you must evacuate, make arrangements for your animals. Keep a phone list of “pet friendly” motels/hotels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes.

 

3. Be informed. Know the risks where you live, work, learn and play.

  • Arm yourself with information about what to do in case an emergency occurs. Remember that emergencies like fires and blackouts can happen anywhere, so everyone should be prepared for them.
  • Find out how you would receive information from local officials in the event of an emergency.
  • Learn first aid and CPR/AED so that you have the skills to respond in an emergency before help arrives, especially during a disaster when emergency responders may not be as available. A variety of online, in-classroom and blended (part online and part in the classroom) training courses are available at redcross.org/takeaclass.