As families across the country cope with increasingly extreme weather due to the climate crisis, preparing for the next disaster in your community is more important than ever.
One of the nation’s leaders in disaster relief, the American Red Cross, now responds to nearly twice as many large disasters across the country as it did a decade ago. How prepared are you and your family for the next disaster? Now is the time to get ready. Here are a few easy ways to start.
Gather critical supplies
Two of the most important items you can keep in your home are your “go kit” and your stay-at-home kit. Each kit should have the essentials like food, water, and medicine. However, keep in mind that every kit will be unique to you and your family’s needs.
Imagine being told you must evacuate with only a few moments’ notice. Your go kit should include three days of supplies that you can carry with you. You will want to make sure to include backup batteries and chargers for your devices, like your cell phone, CPAP equipment, or a wheelchair. If you have pets, include leashes, carriers, food, water, bowls, litter, litterbox, and photos of you with your pet in case you are separated.
During a disaster, you may need to shelter in place for several days. The Red Cross recommends your stay-at-home kit has two weeks of food and water, and a one-month supply of medication and medical supplies. You’ll want to keep personal, financial, and medical records safe and easy to access (whether it be hard copies or digital backups).
Make a plan
Some disasters, like floods and fires, can happen anywhere, while others are more common in certain areas. Contact your local office of emergency management to learn what hazards may affect your community.
If you need to evacuate, think about where you will go, how you will get there, where you will stay, and what you will take with you. Plan well in advance if you need help leaving or have to use public transportation.
Have a plan for what you should do if you get separated from loved ones or if the phone and internet lines are down. Write important phone numbers on a contact card and carry it with you.
Plan to stay informed by monitoring local weather and news reports even if the power goes out. Have a backup battery or another way to charge your cell phone, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
The Red Cross is ready
Just like you, the Red Cross has a plan in place and is always ready to respond, because emergencies are more common than you might think. In fact, the Red Cross responds to a disaster every eight minutes.
Long before disasters happen, the Red Cross works with local organizations to identify potential shelter locations such as churches, schools, and recreation centers that can be opened within a few hours of a disaster if needed. Responding to disasters is a team effort. To help provide the comfort and care the Red Cross is known for, thousands of responders — more than 90% of whom are volunteers — are trained to help disaster victims during their time of need.
If you are just getting started on your preparedness journey, download the free Red Cross Emergency app for real-time weather alerts, open shelter locations, and expert advice in both English and Spanish.
