WEEK 2: DON’T WAIT. COMMUNICATE.
It took six months for the last child to be reunited with her family following Hurricane Katrina.

It may seem scary to talk to your children about emergencies, or maybe it just never seems like the right time. That’s normal. But thinking and talking through worst-case scenarios can help prevent them from becoming worst-case realities. Ultimately, children will feel safer knowing what to do and understanding that adults are equipped to protect them.

Create a Family Communication Plan:

Provide a copy to each of your family members
Place one in your emergency kit
Put important numbers in your cell phone(s)

Scary Simple: Text during a crisis

Know your neighbors:

Getting to know your neighbors can be helpful in a crisis because, after a disaster occurs, the people in closest proximity to you – and the people who will be able to help you most immediately – are your neighbors.

Emergency alerts:

Purchase a NOAA radio and extra batteries to make sure you receive emergency alerts. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting weather service warnings as well as other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Also, tune to 1660 AM for information/updates about local emergencies.

OTSD Crisis Communications:

During a disaster OTSD will attempt to communicate with families through our typical communications channels, depending on power and/or internet access. Channels could include: ParentSquare app/text/email, phone, website, Facebook, Twitter, and FlashAlert. If typical communication channels are down, we will post information at each school and other key community sites.

WEEK 3: START BUILDING YOUR STAY KIT

Red Cross: How to Create an Emergency Preparedness Kit

It won’t happen here: We like to think we live in safe neighborhoods, but the reality is that disasters pose a threat to everyone. While an emergency plan/kit cannot prevent the emergency, it can mitigate its effects, especially its harm to children who are dependent on parents/caregivers for their safety.

Stay-Kit items

A Stay-Kit is a kit you keep at home with items to get you through a disaster. This kit should consist of at least 72-hours worth of supplies, but preferably 2 weeks worth. Consider what you would want if you could not shop at a store in the aftermath of a disaster.

WEEK 4: KNOW THE EVACUATION LEVELS

When the fire starts

WEEK 5: HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND ON THE ROAD?
Go-Kit items:

A Go-Kit is a kit of items you can take with you if you need to quickly evacuate. Many people store a Go-Kit in their vehicle as well as in their house. The kit can come in useful if you are stuck somewhere with your vehicle.

This week make sure you have the following items stored in your vehicle or in a place that you can easily grab should you need to evacuate:

• Extra change of clothing and shoes
• Hygiene supplies, such as hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
• 1st aid kit
• Whistle
• Flashlight
• Body warmers; thermal emergency blankets
• Water; protein bars

Commuter Emergency Plan: Make sure you have a plan for traveling between work and home, and other commonly visited locations, in case of an emergency. Before an emergency happens, list your normal and some alternative routes you can use to get to your destinations. Keep a copy of this plan in your wallet or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster.

Next week you’ll learn about creating a Go-Kit for your child.

WEEK 6: WHAT SUPPLIES WOULD HELP YOUR CHILD FEEL COMFORTABLE?

This week, build your child’s Go-Kit:

• Child ID Kit
• Family photo
• Protein bar/snack
• Water
• Small toy/activity
• Glow stick
• Hygiene supplies
• Socks, gloves
• Medicine

WEEK 7: WE CAN ONLY SURVIVE A FEW DAYS WITHOUT WATER

How to store your own emergency supply of water

This is the most important item in your emergency kit!
Store at least one gallon of water per person per day, and add an extra gallon per pet.

Also this week – continue to build up at least a 72-hour supply of food for family members, or be even better prepared with a two week supply. Think about canned food that you would be willing to eat cold. Some good canned food options are tuna, chicken, and baked beans.

WEEK 8: PROTECT YOUR CRITICAL DOCUMENTS

KEEPING FAMILIES SAFE: Your Family Needs an Emergency Binder

Being ready for a disaster is more than storing water and supplies. You also need to safeguard your finances and important papers.

Important Papers:

This week scan the following documents and save them to a flash drive to keep in your go-kit:

• Proof of insurance (home, health, and vehicle)
• Birth certificates
• Marriage records
• Wills or powers-of-attorney
• Savings and checking information
• Credit Card customer service information (if you need to cancel a card but do not have the card it is good to keep in a safe place)

What do you know about your insurance?

• Ask your insurance provider: What types of disasters are covered in your plan?
  • Do you have coverage for fires, earthquakes, floods?
• Create a list of your valuables along with photos for documentation. Focus your energy on high-value items and continue working on your list as you find the time.

Emergency Financial First Aid Kit

WEEK 9: TAKE CARE OF YOUR FURRY FAMILY MEMBERS DURING A DISASTER

How to Prepare a Pet for Disaster

Yes, your best furry friend also needs an emergency supply kit! (Unless you plan on feeding him your canned tuna.)

If you are like millions of animal owners nationwide, your pet is an important member of your household. Whether you decide to stay put in an emergency or evacuate to a safer location, you will need to make plans in advance for your pets.

What’s the most important emergency item for your pet? A collar with identification!

Other important items to prepare this week: 

• A picture of you and your pet together
• Pet sanitation supplies (litter, plastic bags)
• Any medicines your pet takes regularly
• A pet crate and bedding

Information for pet owners

WEEK 10: DISASTERS DON’T JUST HAPPEN IN THE MOVIES

When the Earth Shakes

Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing items: Earthquake shaking can move almost anything, even large or heavy items. Imagine your home being picked up and shaken sideways – what would be thrown around? How can you prevent it?

Get ShakeAlert^® notifications! ShakeAlert is an earthquake early warning (EEW) system that detects significant earthquakes so quickly that alerts can reach many people before shaking arrives. ShakeAlert is not earthquake prediction, rather a ShakeAlert Message indicates that an earthquake has begun and shaking is imminent.