Emergency Preparedness Essentials

If catastrophe struck today, would your family be ready?

If it’s been a while since you’ve asked yourself this important question, now is a great time to revisit it. Not only is Atlantic hurricane season at its peak this month, but September is also National Preparedness Month. Whether it’s a hurricane, power outage, fire or flood, it’s a good reminder that emergencies and natural disasters can happen at any time.

Fortunately, a little bit of emergency planning can go a long way – and there are steps you can take today that may help your family get out of harm’s way swiftly and safely if a crisis does occur. Ready to take the first step? Read on to explore the essentials of emergency preparedness.  

Make a Family Plan

Make sure your loved ones are on the same page about how they’d react in an emergency. Talk together about where you would go, how you would contact one another and what you would do if you were separated.  

Discuss the safest places in your home to shelter if faced with a hurricane, tornado or other situation that requires sheltering in place. Decide where you’d meet up if your home isn’t an option, or if you lose cell service or contact with one another. Pick a primary emergency meeting spot close to home and a secondary meeting spot farther away in case your neighborhood or primary meeting point is inaccessible.

Consider the needs of everyone in your household, including young children, older adults, people with disabilities and family members who may need medications or medical equipment. And if you have pets, be sure to include them in your plans, too.

Build an Emergency Kit

An emergency kit or “go-bag” is a great resource to have on hand. You don't need to buy everything at once, and you don’t need to build one for each family member (though it can’t hurt if you want to). Start with the essentials and add to your supplies over time. Keep it somewhere easy to access and check your supplies periodically, replacing expired food, medications and batteries as needed.

A basic emergency kit should include:

• Water and nonperishable food for several days
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• A first-aid kit
• Necessary medications and medical supplies
• Phone chargers and backup power banks
• Copies of important documents and emergency contact information
• Personal hygiene items
• Supplies for infants, older adults, pets or anyone with specific needs

Know How You'll Get Information

During an emergency, reliable information can help you make informed decisions. Sign up for local emergency alerts and keep a list of trusted sources for weather and safety updates. Make sure family members know where to find official information and be cautious about sharing unverified posts or messages on social media.

If you live in an area that could be impacted by severe weather, learn about evacuation routes and emergency shelters before you need them. Knowing your options ahead of time can make it easier to act quickly.

Don't Forget Everyday Safety

Being prepared doesn’t just make major disasters easier to navigate – it comes in handy during everyday emergencies, too. Make sure everyone in your household knows where fire extinguishers are located and that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working properly. Test alarms regularly and replace batteries when needed.

It’s also a good idea to review your family's emergency contacts, know where important medical information is kept and make sure children understand basic safety rules, including how to call 911 and how to identify trusted adults they can turn to for help.

Stay Ready. Stay Together. Stay Safe.

It’s not fun to think about, but disaster can strike any of us at any time. The good news is that you don’t have to prepare for every possible scenario. A little planning can go a long way toward helping you act quickly, stay calm and keep your loved ones safe. That’s the beauty of emergency preparedness: it can help you and your family stay “good in a storm,” no matter what that storm might look like.