Emergency preparedness means planning ahead, and knowing what to do and how to do it.

How to prepare for an emergency:

Plan Together and Neighborhood Plan

You’ve met your neighbors. Now it’s time to put together an emergency plan. Working together to be prepared will help create a better plan.

Organize and announce a neighborhood meeting.

• If possible, add your emergency planning activities to an existing community or neighborhood meeting

• Use community news websites and newsletters, pass out flyers, and post in public places

• Use existing tools to create a neighborhood emergency plan (http://www.bereadyla.org/plan-together.html)

• Emphasize the need for everyone to work together

• Have follow-up meetings

Create a neighborhood map.

Create a map that shows the following details:

• Point out key community services and resources that can provide support

• Identify community members that have training or skills that can provide support before, during or after an emergency

• Identify the location of community members who may have additional needs including families with small children, people with pets, the elderly or those who need help to walk or move

• Choose a neighborhood gathering or evacuation site

• Create a neighborhood contact list with addresses, phone numbers and emails

For more information including downloadable Emergency Planning Tools visit:   http://www.bereadyla.org/plan-together.html

Household Plan

In addition to a neighborhood plan, each household needs its own plan. This lets everyone in the household get involved and know what to do in an emergency.

• Prepare an Emergency Kit that meets the needs of your family including additional needs of children, the elderly, and any pets

• Know the location of your kit and include a plan with important information such as a neighborhood map, emergency contacts, evacuation routes/emergency exits, the location of the gas shut-off valve, water main shut-off valve and electrical circuit breaker box

• Practice your plan and keep your Emergency supplies updated           

For more information including downloadable Emergency Planning Tools, visit:  http://www.bereadyla.org/plan-together.html

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Additional Links:

• Recipes for Disaster: An Emergency Preparedness Cookbook