Have a Plan

  • Contact your local National Weather Service office or Emergency Management office to learn what types of disasters could occur and how you should respond.
  • Learn the warning signals and evacuation plans of your community.
  • Know your community’s sheltering plans.
  • Know the Emergency Alert System radio and television stations in your area that will carry official information. Also, monitor NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts, if possible.
  • Discuss with family members what they should do in the event of a disaster, such as a hurricane or severe storm. Pick two places to meet: a spot outside your home for an emergency, such as a fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you cannot return home.
  • Designate an out-of-area friend or relative whom separated family members should call to report their whereabouts. Make certain all family members have the phone number.
  • Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
  • Check your home and property for potential hazards to see what actions need to be taken to ensure your safety and to protect your belongings.
  • Check your insurance coverage. Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance. Inventory household items with photographs.
  • Install safety features in your residence such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
  • Know how and when to turn off water, gas and electricity in your home.
  • Determine if your family has any special needs and develop a plan for meeting those needs. For example: If you have a family member on a life-support system, does your electric utility know about it?
  • Post emergency telephone numbers by phones.
  • Teach all family members, including children, how and when to call 911 or your local EMS phone number.