The Disaster Preparedness Program is a nationwide effort to help Americans respond quickly and effectively in times of disaster. The program was launched by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to encourage people to prepare for disaster because the government and voluntary emergency response agencies can’t be everywhere helping everyone immediately following a disaster. In a major disaster communities or individuals may be isolated for 72 hours or more before they can be reached by emergency responders. By taking a few simple steps people can significantly increase their chances of survival and ability to cope with disaster.
The Program’s core message is the Family Disaster Plan, a four step approach to family disaster preparedness:
- Learn about the hazards in your community and how to prepare for them.
- Meet with your family to create a plan.
- Put your plan into action.
- Practice and maintain your plan.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has developed some very popular preparedness pamphlets. Other organizations have also created useful preparedness documents. They may be downloaded by selecting the links below.
Ada County Emergency Preparedness Guide- Are You Ready?
- Be Red Cross Ready
- Coping with Shelter-in-Place Emergencies
- Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (download form-fillable version)
- Emergency Food and Water
- Emergency Preparedness Checklist
- Emergency Preparedness Guide
- Emergency Sanitation
- Emergency Water Treatment
- Family Communications Plan
- Family Disaster Plan – brochure
- Family Disaster Plan – pamphlet
- Family Disaster Supplies Kit – brochure
- Family Disaster Supplies Kit – pamphlet
- Helping Children Cope with Disaster
- Idaho State Independent Living Council Preparedness Guide for Access and Functional Needs
- Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide (download form-fillable version)
- Picking Up The Pieces After A Disaster
- Power Outage Checklist
- Preparing Makes Sense For Older Americans
- Ready.gov Supplies Checklist
- Shelter-in-Place
- Short-Term Power Outages or “Rolling Blackouts”
- Taking Care of Your Emotional Health after a Disaster
- ACEM Brochure can be easily translated into a wide variety of languages
- Disaster Recovery Centers
- Natural Disasters – Be Informed
Check out these documents and links for people with disabilities.
- A Checklist for People with Mobility Problems
- Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities
- The Take & Go Emergency Book
- Emergency Evacuation Preparedness, a guide for people with disabilities
- Guide to Emergency Preparedness for Seniors and People with Disabilities
- Prepare Yourself: Disaster Readiness Tips for People With Disabilities
- Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and Other Special Needs
- Pets and Service Animals
- Accessible Emergency Information (for deaf, blind, and limited sight populations)
- National Organization on Disability
All videos courtesy of Ready.gov
Preparing Makes Sense
Preparing Makes Sense for Older Americans
Preparing Makes Sense for People with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs
Preparing Makes Sense for Pet Owners