Preparedness and Planning for Family, Pets

Storm Preparedness Guides, Information

Monterey County Health Department – Preparedness Program

Creating a Community of Preparedness
Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency
Preparing Your Family for an Emergency  Part 1
Preparing Your Family for an Emergency  Part 2 
Preparing Your Pets for an Emergency
Preparing an Emergency Kit for your car

Your Guide to Flood and Debris Flow Preparedness  

Weathering the Storms,  from AT&T  

  How to make a Family Disaster Plan.

Winter Storm Citizen Corps Presentation

Winter Storm Preparedness for Pets

Storm Preparedness Activities And Storm Monitoring Efforts 2008

Family Disaster Plan Template

National Weather Service Forecast Definitions

Outlook

An outlook is used to indicate that a hazardous weather or hydrologic event may develop. It is intended to provide information to those who need considerable lead time to prepare for the event.

Hazardous Weather Outlook
A narrative statement produced by the National Weather Service, frequently issued on a routine basis, to provide information regarding the potential of significant weather expected during the next 1 to 5 days.

Advisory
(Abbrev. ADVY)- Highlights special weather conditions that are less serious than a warning. They are for events that may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.

Watch
A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so.

Warning
A warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property.

Weather Conditions Data Centers:

Check river depth and flood stages of rivers in Monterey County

Check National Weather Service rain gauges in Monterey County

National Weather Service data page.  Check rainfall, wind speed and humidity at this location.

USGS Streamflow Conditions.
Real-Time Water Data for locations throughout the State, including many sites in Monterey County.  Hover over a gauging point to get the latest information or click on a point to get to an individual station plot.

Ready.gov (Department of Homeland Security)
Ready.gov is a common sense framework designed to launch a process of learning about citizen preparedness. One of the primary mandates of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is to educate the public, on a continuing basis, about how to be prepared in case of a national emergency - including a possible terrorist attack.

Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)
The Federal Emergency Management Agency - a former independent agency that is now part of the new Department of Homeland Security - is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disasters. Site also contains comprehensive information on preparing for disasters and ongoing disasters.
 

   DisasterHelp.gov  (Department of Homeland Security)
This web site is part of the President's Disaster Management Egov Initiative - a larger initiative aimed at greatly enhancing Disaster Management on an interagency and intergovernmental basis.  On this site you can easily access disaster information and services provided by government agencies and non-governmental organizations.

   PandemicFlu.gov
The official U.S. government Web site for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

  National Weather Service
A service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this site provides up-to-date weather information, forecasts, and information on weather safety.

  Centers for Disease Control
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people—at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships.

  Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Part of the US Department of Labor the OSHA site provides information for employers on preparedness as well as general information on workplace safety.

  Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
HRSA administers programs that ready hospitals and supporting health care systems to deliver coordinated and effective care to victims of terrorism and other public health emergencies:

  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA provides tips and suggestions to help individuals cope with their own loss as a result of going through a traumatic event, such as a hurricane or other disaster, and guidelines to aid relief workers who are assisting disaster survivors.  This site also contains tips, information, and resources to help primary caregivers, educators, mentors and other adults working with children to care for children's mental health needs during times of disaster and crisis. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The federal agency tasked with protecting human health and the environment.  Website provides information on environmental threats.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Publications available on helping children and adolescents deal with traumatic experiences.

  US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Information on general health as well as links to information about pandemic and avian flu.

American Red Cross
National website with information on preparedness at home, school and work. 

Prepare.org (Red Cross)
A website hosted by the American Red Cross and other community-based organizations to help you and your family prepare for natural and human-caused disasters. One of the key goals is to serve the vulnerable population: seniors, children, people with disabilities and animal and pet owners. Contains very specific preparedness information for special populations, including individuals with mobility, communication and mental illness. Preparedness materials are available in English and multiple foreign languages.

Project Safeside
A weather safety and preparedness project of the Weather Channel.

National School Safety Center
This website provides school communities and their school safety partners with quality information, resources, consultation, and training services. The National School Safety Center identifies and promotes strategies, promising practices and programs that support safe schools for all students as part of the total academic mission

Interested in Learning More?

The following sites have self-paced, free online courses.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Distance Learning
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) offers self-paced courses designed for people who have emergency management responsibilities and the general public. All are offered free-of-charge. 

CA TRAIN (TrainingFinder Real-time Affiliate Integrated Network)
This site has a comprehensive database of nationwide public health training as well as opportunities specifically in California.   It is possible to search by topic, credit type, format as well as other criteria.

Center for Public Health Preparedness, University of Albany, State University of New York
This site provides you with access to online offerings whenever you need to learn. It keeps track of the courses in which you are registered and where you are in each course. You can even take a break and when you return, the course will let you know where you left off.

Currently three courses are being offered: Preparedness and Community Response to Pandemics, Terrorism, Preparedness, and Public Health: An Introduction and Microbiology: An Introduction.

More opportunities are available at the following sites.

California Distance Learning Health Network
California Distance Learning Health Network (CDLHN), a non-profit organization under the Graduate School of Public Health at San Diego State University, utilizes satellite broadcasts, webcasts, video and CD-ROM presentations, as well as “live” on-site training through the Skills Training Institute (a division of the California Distance Learning Health Network).