Emergency Preparedness
Natural and man-made disasters can happen suddenly and at anytime. Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety and losses that accompany disasters. Communities, families and individuals should know what to do in the event of a fire and where to seek shelter during a tornado. They should be ready to evacuate their homes and take refuge in public shelters and know how to care for their basic medical needs.
The need to prepare is real. Disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Each disaster has lasting effects, both to people and property. If a disaster occurs in our community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you, but you need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere. You should be ready to be self-sufficient for at least three days. This may mean providing for your own shelter, first aid, food, water and sanitation.
Family Emergency Plans
The Oklahoma State Department of Health provides an easy-to-use template for creating your own family emergency plan. Start protecting your family today by downloading, printing, and completing this valuable tool. Be sure to discuss your Family Emergency Preparedness Plan with all of your loved ones to ensure that everyone knows what to do when disaster strikes.
Are You Ready?
FEMA has also developed a user friendly guide to preparedness planning entitled "Are You Ready?" The guide has been designed to help the citizens learn how to protect themselves and their families against all types of hazards. It can be used as a reference source or as a step-by-step manual. The focus of the content is on how to develop, practice, and maintain emergency plans that reflect what must be done before, during and after a disaster to protect people and their property. Also included is information on how to assemble a disaster supplies kit that contains the food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity for individuals and their families to survive following a disaster in the event they must rely on their own resources.
National Readiness Campaign
The Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign seeks to help America be better prepared for all types of hazards, even unlikely emergency scenarios. Information on how the public can be ready in case of a national emergency – including a possible terrorism attack involving biological, chemical, or radiological weapons – can be found by logging on to the Department of Homeland Security’s readiness web site, www.ready.gov, or by calling 1-800-BE-READY for printed information.
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