Preparedness Training

Preparedness centers on being able to care for yourself and help others for at least the first 3 days of an emergency, when responders and essential services may be delayed.

Core household readiness

• Emergency supplies: Build a low-cost kit with water (1 gallon per      person per day), nonperishable food, first aid supplies, medications,      flashlights, a radio, batteries, sanitation items, and copies of key      records. Check expiry dates at least every 6 months.
• Communication: Maintain a household contact plan, including an out-of-town      contact, meeting locations, wallet cards, and text-message options if      calls fail.
• Support networks: Identify at least three people at each regular      location who can check in or assist. Share contact details, access needs,      medical information, keys where appropriate, and non-phone signaling      methods.
• Evacuation and sheltering: Plan destinations, routes, transportation, pet      arrangements, and accessibility needs. Identify safe indoor locations for      hazards such as tornadoes, hurricanes, winter storms, heat waves, and      lightning; always follow official evacuation orders.
• Practice: Rehearse plans, test equipment, refresh supplies, and use drills to      find gaps before an emergency occurs.

Reducing risks at home

• Home hazards: Look for and address chemical, electrical, fire, flood, structural,      and trip-and-fall risks. Secure heavy furniture and appliances, clear      exits, maintain drainage, and store hazardous materials safely.
• Fire safety: Install and test smoke alarms, reduce ignition sources, create and      practice two escape routes from each room, and establish an outdoor      meeting point. Use an extinguisher only on a small, contained fire when      there are safe exits and the correct extinguisher is available.
• Documents and valuables: Inventory valuables; protect vital, financial,      insurance, medical, and identification records through      waterproof/fire-resistant storage and secure off-site or digital backups.

Needs requiring additional planning

• Health: Keep a week’s supply of medicines, medical information, first aid      materials, and backup supplies for assistive or medical devices. Include      hygiene measures to limit disease spread.
• Pets and service animals: Prepare food, water, carriers, leashes,      medicines, veterinary records, identification, shelter options, and an      evacuation practice routine.
• Utility outages: Prepare to manage without electricity, gas, water, or phone service      for at least 3 days. Know utility shutoffs, keep flashlights rather than      candles, protect food and water, and plan backups for power-dependent      medical equipment.

Recovery and community readiness

• Returning home: Reenter only when authorities say it is safe. Check for structural,      gas, electrical, floodwater, and contamination hazards; document damage      and use qualified professionals for major repairs and utility restoration.
• Whole-community preparedness: Preparedness is shared among households,      neighbors, government, businesses, and nonprofits. Households strengthen      community resilience by monitoring alerts, learning response skills,      practicing plans, assisting neighbors, and participating in trained volunteer      programs.

The guide’s central message is that practical, low-cost planning, risk reduction, and regular practice make households and communities safer and more resilient.