Here are helpful tools to help you prepare for and recover from an emergency.
- Printable Family Disaster Plan by the American Red Cross
- Complete with your family and keep in easily accessible location
- Includes plan of action, evacuation site, special needs plan, family members responsibilities
- Printable Family Emergency Communication Plan by FEMA
- Complete with your family and make copy for each member and home
- Includes important contact information, emergency meeting places, how to practice plan
- Printable Disaster Supplies checklist for food, water, clothing, tools and supplies, and First Aid Kit
Food and Water Safety Information
- Printable information from the FDA on food and water safety
- ‘Emergency Financial First Aid Kit’ (EFFAK) created by nonprofit organization Operation HOPE and FEMA
- Toolkit assists with financial, medical and household contact information
- Award-winning ‘Family Financial Toolkit’ and video series
- Post-disaster financial strategies and tools for families
- Kids - online games and emergency kits to prepare for disasters
- Teens – how to show leadership within family and community
- Families – preparedness roles for whole family
- Educators and Organizations – educational, planning and recovery tools
Pets
- Create list of hotels/kennels/shelters that allow pets in an emergency and include locations outside of your local area (close to relatives or close contacts)
- Keep pets’ identification and Rabies vaccination tags up to date and securely attached to their collar and/or microchip them
- Pet go-kit:
- Food in tight, waterproof container (several days’ supply)
- Water (several days’ supply)
- Travel bowls (for food and water)
- Medication in tight waterproof container
- Leashes/harnesses
- Carriers/cages
- Familiar items (favorite toys, treats, bedding)
- Grooming items (brush, shampoo, towel)
- Phone numbers of emergency vet clinics, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435 - possible fee for this call, animal control office)
- Vaccination records
- Photo of pet (in case of separation and assistance is needed to find it)
- First Aid Kit:
- Gauze, nonstick bandages, towels or clean strips of cloth
- Tape for bandages (DO NOT use band-aids meant for humans)
- Milk of magnesia and activated charcoal to absorb poison **Contact vet before using**
- Digital thermometer
- Eye dropper (or needleless syringe) for giving oral treatments or cleaning wounds
- Muzzle (do not muzzle if pet is vomiting)
- Stretcher (can be made from nearby materials)
Large animals
- Ensure all animals have identification
- Evacuate animals ASAP and know primary AND secondary routes
- Use experienced drivers and handlers with vehicles/trailers available for transporting each animal
- Have animals accustomed to traveling in a vehicle/trailer so they are less frightened
- Ensure destination is equipped with food, water, vet care and handling equipment
- For cold weather conditions, make sure animals have proper shelter, dry bedding, windbreaks, food and water
- Establish whether you want to move animals to a barn/shelter or turn them loose if evacuation is not an option