Basic preparation can help keep your family safe in any type of emergency. Make a plan and gather essentials now to avoid a truly disastrous situation. You never know when a disaster will strike. Be prepared. for more information on how to prepare or visit www.texasprepares.org or read below-
1. Get a Kit
You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days. In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer.
Emergency Supply List (click here for a printable version)
– Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
– Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
– Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
– Flashlight and extra batteries
– First aid kit, including any medications needed by family members or pets
– Whistle to signal for help
– Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
– Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
– Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
– Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
– Local maps
– Cell phone with chargers
– Supplies for pets
If you have functional or access needs, please consider the checklist below to include in your emergency kit:
- Medical equipment and assistive devices (glasses, hearing aid, catheters, augmentative communication devices, cane, wheelchair, scooter, walker, dressing aids, oxygen, tubing, feeding supplies, drinking straws, etc.)
- Label each with your name and contact information. Be sure to have extra batteries and chargers.
- List of model numbers or serial numbers of medical devices and equipment.
- Medical alert tags or bracelets and written description of your disability related or health care conditions.
- Medications and copies of all prescriptions, including a list of the prescription name, dosage, frequency, doctor and pharmacist. Also consider if medications need to be refrigerated and if so, bring a cooler with an ice pack or other coolant system. It might also be beneficial to have an extra prescription filled.
- Hygiene supplies, including absorbent pads and urinals as needed; personal grooming items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, towel, washcloth, comb and brush.
- Phone numbers and names of your physicians or other health care providers, health insurance information, emergency contact information including your support network members.
- Supplies for a service animal including food, identification tags, proof of up-to-date vaccinations and veterinarian contact.
- If you own a car, now would be a good time to fill it up with gas.
2. Make a Plan.
Make plans with your family and friends in case you’re not together during an emergency. Discuss how you’ll contact each other, where you’ll meet, and what you’ll do in different situations.
If you think you may need assistance during an emergency visit www.enablefortbend.com.
Other tips for creating an emergency plan from Ready.gov:
- Identify an out-of town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
- Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
- Teach family members how to use text messaging (also knows as SMS or Short Message Service). Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
- You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance.
3. Be Informed.
Check all types of media – Web sites, newspapers, radio, TV – for global, national and local information.
Places for information:
- Visit www.fortbendcountyhhs.com. Check often for updates and health alerts.
- Find Fort Bend County Health & Human Services on Facebook & Twitter.
- Visit www.fbcoem.org and sign up to receive alerts.
- Check out www.texasprepares.org and www.ready.gov for more information and resources.
- Fort Bend County has its own emergency radio station: 1670 AM