Emergency Planning and Checklists

 Emergencies usually happen without warning. Immediately after an emergency, it is possible that essential services will be disrupted and disaster relief organizations and your local government may not be able to reach you right away. You will be able to respond to emergencies if you are prepared.

Begin by developing an emergency plan for your household. Use the following information as your guide. Then, contact your local emergency office and American Red Cross chapter for more information.

Get Information

1. Find out what types of natural 'disasters are most likely to happen in your community from your local emergency management or the Monterey County or Carmel Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. Start with the website and find out what steps you should take to prepare for each emergency and how to respond. Also, learn how you would be warned in an emergency

2. Talk with employers and school officials about their emergency response plans.

Create an Emergency Plan

1. Meet with the other members of your household and discuss the need to prepare for emergencies. Explain how to prepare for and respond to different disasters. Talk about what to do if you were advised to evacuate the area.

2. Plan how your family would stay in contact if you were separated. Begin by identifying two meeting places outside of your home where your family would meet. The first should be a spot a safe distance from your home such as under a tree or at a neighbor's house in case of a fire. The second place should be outside of your neighborhood such as a park or building in case you cannot return home.

3. Pick a friend or relative out of the area that family members can call if separated. The friend or relative should be a far enough distance away from where you live so they most likely would not be affected by the emergency.

4. Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes from each room.

5. Post emergency telephone numbers such as fire, police and ambulance by the telephones. Teach children how and when to call 911 for help.

6. Show responsible persons in your household how and when to shut‑off water, gas and electricity at the main switches.

7. Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class.

8. Consider how you would help your neighbors who may need special assistance, such as infants, the elderly or people with disabilities, in times of emergency.

9. Make arrangements for your pets. Animals may not be allowed into shelters following an emergency.

Emergency Planning for People With a Disability

1. Find out about any special assistance that may be available in your community. Call your fire department and ask if you can register for assistance, so needed help can be provided quickly in an emergency.

2. Create a network of neighbors, relatives, friends and co-workers to aid you in an emergency. Discuss with them your needs and make sure they know how to operate any necessary equipment.

3. If you live in an apartment building, ask the management to clearly mark accessible exits and to make arrangements to help you evacuate the building.

4. Keep extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen, catheters, medication, food for guide or hearing-ear dogs, or other items you might need. Also, keep a list of the type and serial numbers of medical devices.

Emergency Supplies

Emergency supplies listed on this page may help you and your family prepare for evacuation and stays in public shelters. You also need to be prepared if utilities are temporarily cut off or if hazardous conditions prevent you from leaving your house.

During most serious, non‑nuclear emergencies, families may need to be self‑reliant for about three days. Using the checklists that follow as guidelines, put together containers or "emergency kits" for each member of your family. The container kit should be small enough for an individual member of your family to carry easily. Try using buckets, backpacks or duffel bags.

Water: The Absolute Necessity

1. Stocking water reserves should be among your top priorities in preparing for an emergency. Store at least a two‑week supply of water for each member of your family.

2. Never ration water. Drink the amount you need today, and try to find more for tomorrow. You can minimize the amount of water your body needs by reducing activity and staying cool.

3. Store water in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiberglass or enamel‑lined metal containers. Never use a container that has held toxic substances. Sound plastic containers, such as soft drink bottles, are best. You can also purchase food‑grade plastic buckets or drums.

4. Before storing your water, treat it with a disinfectant, such as chlorine bleach, to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Use liquid bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite and no soap. Some containers warn, "Not For Personal Use." You can disregard these warnings if the label states sodium hypochlorite as the only active ingredient and if you use only the small quantities in these instructions.

	Add four drops of bleach per quart of water (or two scant teaspoons per 10 gallons), and stir.
	Seal your water containers tightly, label them and store them in a cool, dark place.

Food: Preparing an Emergency Stockpile

1. If activity is reduced, healthy people can survive on half their usual food intake for an extended period and without any food for many days. Food, unlike water, may be rationed safely, except for children and pregnant women.

2. You don't need to go out and buy unfamiliar foods to prepare an emergency food supply. You can use the canned foods, dry mixes and other staples on your cupboard shelves. Canned foods do not require cooking, water or special preparation.

3. Though it is unlikely that an emergency would cut off your food supply for two weeks, you should prepare a supply that will last that long. A two‑week supply can relieve a great deal of inconvenience and uncertainty until services are restored.

4. Keep canned foods in a dry place where the temperature is fairly cool ‑ not above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and not below freezing. To protect boxed foods from pests and extend their shelf life, store the boxes in tightly closed cans or metal containers

5. Rotate your food supply. Use foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies, dated with ink or marker. Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in front.

Personal Items

	Washcloth and small towel
	Reading and writing materials
	Sewing kit
	Soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant
	Small toys for children
	Hair care items Insect repellant and insecticide
	Mirror
	Contact lens solution
	Dentures
	Shaving kit
	Sanitary napkins and tampons

Baby supplies, if needed

	Clothes
	Diapers
	Milk or formula
	Powders, creams or ointments
	Bottles and nipples
	Food
	Small toys
	Sheets, blankets, rubber pads
	Portable crib

First aid supplies

Keep contents of first aid kit in a waterproof metal or plastic box. Keep medicines tightly capped. Check periodically and replace any medication which has passed its expiration date.

Papers and valuables

	Social Security cards
	Birth certificates
	Marriage and death records
	Driver's license
	Cash and credit cards
	Wills
	Insurance policies
	Deeds Stocks and bonds
	Savings and checking account books
	Inventory of household goods (photos preferred)
	Small valuables: cameras, watches, jewelry, etc.

Library

	Newspaper or emergency public information articles
	Plans for expedient shelters
	Medical self-help books
	Survival books
	Other reading materials

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