Having an emergency supply kit is essential to making it through a disaster safely. At the minimum, make sure to fill your kit with enough of these essential items to last each person at least three days.

• Food that does not need electricity for storage or for preparation
• Manual can opener for food
• At least three gallons of water per person
• Battery-powered/hand-crank radio with weather band and extra batteries
• Written family emergency plan

Because emergency can strike at any time, it is important to decide ahead of time how you and your family will react if and when a disaster comes. Emergency plans should include:

• Discussing with your family the types of disaster that are most likely to happen and what to do in each case
• Deciding where your family will meet in case you can't return home
• Asking an out-of-town friend or relative to be your emergency contact, making sure all familly members know to call this person in an emergency to check in
• Making a visual or written record of your possessions to help you claim losses in the event of damage
• Making additional plans for pets, and for elderly or disabled neighbors who might need extra assistance

During a disaster, its critical that you listen for information from emergency officials, so make sure a battery-powered radio is in your emergency kit. Also consider signing up your local alert program. Local media will convey instructions from the government such as:

• Orders to evacuate
• Details about evacuation routes and shelter
• Weather warnings and watches
• How to safely stay where you are
• Where to find assistance