Disasters are costly, but preparing for them doesn’t have to be. In fact, taking time to prepare now can help save you thousands of dollars and give you invaluable peace of mind when the next disaster or emergency occurs.
Take these simple steps now to be better prepared for any disaster or emergency at little to no cost:
- Know what kind of disasters and emergencies are most common for where you live.
- Create your emergency communications plan. Use the free template available at ready.gov/plan-form to conveniently record important contact and medical information about your family, which you then can share with others, and store copies both digitally and on paper.
- Make sure you store important phone numbers somewhere besides just on your cellphone.
- Sign up for emergency alerts at ready.gov/alerts in your area to receive life-saving information from your state and local municipality.
- Download the FEMA app (available in English and Spanish) to receive weather alerts, safety tips, and reminders, and be ready for the unexpected.
- Build your emergency supply kit over time. Start with items you may already have in your home, like a flashlight, extra batteries, copies of important documents, water, and nonperishable food. Community food banks are a potential resource for food-insecure families to stock their emergency supply kits. Learn more on the Kit page.
- Talk with family or members of your household about where you will go if told to evacuate. Having a plan before disaster strikes can help you save precious time and money. #450912
- Store important documents and items like passports, birth certificates, maps, and electronics in a flood-safe place like a high shelf or upper floor in resealable water-tight plastic bags to help waterproof them.
- Contact your local fire department, which may have programs that provide fire or carbon monoxide detectors.
- Download free preparedness resources from the Be Informed page.