Preparing Your Home 

The plan can include emergency supplies, meeting locations, and additional essentials to assist the special needs of household members.

Plan Together

• In an emergency, certain types of communication may be unavailable. Provide each member of your household with a contact information card listing alternative ways you and your family members can contact each other. This should include an out-of-town contact. This card should be carried in a wallet or purse at all times.
• Keep important family information and documents (such as copies of insurance, identification, and medical records) in a secure location, or on a protected flash drive. Also consider keeping a list of valuables and personal possessions.
• Establish several possible escape routes from your home.
• Be sure everyone in the household understands how to shut off utilities (natural gas, water, electricity) safely.
• Learn CPR and how to use a fire extinguisher.
• Make a Family Emergency Plan
• Subscribe to emergency text alerts such as Stay Alert, Henderson! Powered By Everbridge.

 You should also keep a kit of emergency supplies, with at least three days of:

• Water (one gallon per day per person)
• Non-perishable food
• Battery or hand crank powered radio
• Prescription medicines
• First aid kit
• Personal hygiene supplies (toothpaste, soap, contact lens solution)
• Also consider keeping an emergency supply kit at your work, and in your vehicle.
• Build an Emergency Supply Kit

To help you get ready for an emergency, view a Disaster Preparedness presentation created by Emergency Management.

Preparing Your Business

To protect their employees, their services, and to ensure a positive future, developing and establishing an emergency is a must for any business.

• Analyze the risks associated with your business and its location. Identify ways to reduce risk and minimize potential hazards.
• Be sure to address the goals and objectives of your preparedness plan. It may be helpful to appoint a program coordinator.
• Include funds for emergency exercises, training, and supplies in your annual budget. It may also be helpful to annually review these expenses in order to improve their effectiveness.
• Testing your emergency plan is vital to its success. Doing test runs will reveal weaknesses in your plan and help employees to fully understand their duties in the situation.
• Address issues such as resource management, crisis communications, and employee support. Developing a plan to manage these areas will help to prevent panic and increase efficiency in an emergency.

For additional emergency preparedness tips, visit www.ready.gov!