Disaster Preparation: Prepare

• Meet with your family members and discuss the dangers of possible emergency events including fire, severe weather, hazardous spills, and terrorism.
• Discuss how you and your family will respond to each possible emergency. Know how to contact all family members at all times. Think 24/7 and 365 (or 366 during a leap-year).
• Discuss what to do in case of power outages or personal injuries
• Draw a floor plan of your home. If possible, mark two escape routes from each room.
• Select two places to meet: a spot outside your home for an emergency such as fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you cannot return home (a real possibility during the day when most adults are at work and children are at school).
• Identify an out-of-town friend or relative as your "emergency family check-in contact" for everyone to call if the family gets separated. Make sure all family members have the correct phone number. It is often easier to call out-of-town during an emergency than within the affected area.
• Post emergency contact numbers near all telephones. Include local police, fire and health departments, poison control, your children's schools, doctors, child/senior care providers and insurance agents.
• Make sure everyone knows how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency medical services phone number.
• Install safety features in your home such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Inspect your home for potential hazards - and correct them.
• Have your family learn basic safety and first aid measures.
• Keep family records in a waterproof and fireproof safe.
• Have emergency supplies on hand.
• Teach adults how to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at main switches. If for any reason you do turn off natural gas service to your home, call your natural gas utility to restore service. DO NOT attempt to restore gas service yourself.
• Make arrangements for your pets. Most shelters do not allow pets. Prior to an emergency, contact your county or local emergency management office and ask them where you could leave your pet. Have ID, collar, leash, and proof of vaccination for all pets. Have current photos of your pets in case they get lost.
• PRACTICE the plan!

Often during an emergency, electricity, water, heat, air conditioning, or telephone service may not work. All New Yorkers should have some basic supplies on hand in order for a family to survive if an emergency occurs. The emergency supply kit should be robust and contain enough food, water, medications, and other consumables to last seven to ten days. Following is a list of basic items (based on a family of four to survive for seven to ten days) that every emergency supply kit should include.

Food and Water

• Bottled water - one gallon per person per day, collapsible, sterile water container.
• Ready-to-eat canned foods - vegetables, fruits, beans, meat, fish, poultry, pasta, soup, juice.
• Milk - powdered, canned, or shelf-stable brick pack.
• High energy foods - peanut butter, jelly, nuts, dried meat (for example, jerky), granola, trail mix, energy bars.
• Staples - sugar, salt, pepper, instant coffee, tea bags, cocoa.
• Candy - chocolate bars, hard candy.
• Infant and small children's needs - baby food, formula, disposable diapers.
• Specialty food - for elderly or people on special diets.
• Pet food (if needed).

Health and Hygiene Supplies

• Prescription medication - at least one week's supply.
• Toilet paper.
• Pre-moistened hand wipes - pre-moistened baby wipes.
• Hand sanitizer
• Toiletries - toothpaste, deodorant.
• Feminine hygiene supplies.
• A list of family physicians, important medical information, and the style and serial number of medical devices such as pacemakers.

Personal Supplies

• A change of clothing, rain gear, and sturdy shoes for each family member. Sleeping bags, bedding, or blankets for each family member.
• An extra pair of glasses or contact lenses and solution (be sure to check expiration dates).
• Document Holder with identification, credit cards/traveler's checks/cash, and photocopies of important family documents including home insurance information.

Household Supplies and Equipment

• One gallon liquid chlorine bleach.
• Battery-powered radio or TV.
• Flashlights - one for each room of the house.
• Lantern LED
• Glow sticks
• Extra fresh batteries for radio, TV, lantern, and flashlights.
• Whistle
• Gasoline (if you plan to use a generator outdoors).
• Propane fuel (if you plan to use a grill or camp stove outdoors).
• Charcoal (if you plan to use a barbecue grill outdoors).
• Disposable tableware, including paper towels and napkins.
• Manual can opener.
• Plastic bags - zip sealing, garbage.
• Fire extinguisher (small canister A-B-C type).
• Food thermometer - able to measure temperature from 0 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tools

• Rope (for rescue, tow, tying down property)
• Shovel
• Hammer and nails
• Multi-Tool with pliers
• 4 in 1 Emergency Tool (with gas and water shut off)
• Reflective Vests
• Work gloves
• Eye Goggles
• Utility Tape
• Electrical tape
• Clean-up supplies
• Broom
• Buckets (5 gal min, with lids)
• N-95 particulate masks
• Disinfecting spray
• Mop
• Paper towels
• Rags (to clean with)
• Rubber gloves
• Scrub brush
• Sponges
• Garbage bags with ties

Emergency First Aid Kit

Have these supplies on hand: First aid manual, assortment of sterile gauze pads, and adhesive bandages, medical tape, ace bandage, CPR mask, Quik Clot, over-the-counter drugs (aspirin, antidiarrheal medications, and activated charcoal), antiseptic ointment, soap, nitrile gloves, SAM splint, oropharyngeal airways set, thermometer, tweezers and needles, and tongue depressors.

It is important to be aware of what hazards may impact your community. New Yorkers have many ways to be aware and stay informed of what is happening in their community. Knowing what to do before, during, and after an emergency is a critical part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.

In addition to getting emergency information and updates through radio and television news, you can sign up for NY-ALERT to receive emergency information via the web, cell phone, email, and other technologies.

Many of the tips on the Aware Prepare page are designed to help you and your household. Here's what you can do to help your community recover from all kinds of emergencies.

Become A Volunteer

• It is best to affiliate with a recognized disaster volunteer organization such as the American Red Cross, New York Cares or The Salvation Army or join CERT before a disaster happens. Getting involved with a disaster volunteer organization before an emergency will increase your ability to help when help is needed.
• After a disaster, before going directly to volunteer at a relief organization, hospital or a disaster site, wait for instructions from local officials, or check with specific organizations.
• Be patient. In the immediate disaster response period there are often many people waiting to volunteer. There may be a greater need for volunteers during the recovery period, weeks and months after disaster strikes.
• To learn about additional disaster preparedness volunteer opportunities, see the Citizen Corps information page.

Be sure to visit the New Yorkers Volunteer website to find volunteer opportunities near you!