How to Prepare

Where do I Start?

Getting started and being Ready is Easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Prepare an emergency supply kit;
2. Make a family emergency plan; and
3. Be informed about the kinds of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses.

The Details…

1. Get a Kit. When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.

2. Make a Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.

3. Be Informed. Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency.

However, there are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Learn more about the potential emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them.

In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government.

Emergency preparedness is no longer the sole concern of earthquake prone Californians and those who live in the part of the country known as "Tornado Alley." For Americans, preparedness must now account for man-made disasters as well as natural ones. Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.

The common element to a natural disaster or an act of terrorism is advance preparation! It's your best defense.

The extent of preparation will depend on your personal situation, but at a minimum should include the making of a supply kit along with a family communication plan. The preparation advice found on this site and the many sites that we are linked with will help you meet the challenges and demands of a natural disaster or an act of terror.

Here at PEMA we are constantly in a state of readiness to respond to a disaster and assist in the recovery, but your advance preparation will be invaluable in the event of a disaster.