Be Prepared

Assemble an Emergency Kit/Bag

Supply Checklist (Provided by FEMA) -

    Water: 1 gallon/person/day for a minimum of three days

    Food: A three-day supply of non-perishables such as canned vegetables, canned or dried meats, dried fruits, nuts, dehydrated meals and/or ingredients, and can opener.

    Battery powered or hand crank radio, plus extra batteries

    Flashlight and extra batteries

    First Aid Supplies: (suggested) Assorted gauze, band-aids, and bandages, antibiotic ointment, surgical scissors, hydrogen peroxide, burn treatment, splint materials, over-the-counter medications.

    Whistle to signal for help

    Dust mask or bandana

    Proofing home/shelter: Plastic Sheeting, Duct tape, boards, nails

    Sanitation: Wipes, Garbage bags, Bucket for emergency toilet, shovel, bleach

    Utilities wrench

    Blankets

    Consider the specific needs of other members of your family such as pets, elderly, and children when assembling your emergency supply kit: baby formula, diapers, pet food, water bowl, prescription medications and glasses.

    FEMA also recommends consideration of the following items to include in your kit:

    Cash or traveler's checks

    Copies of important documents

    Identification

    Fire extinguisher

    Matches and other fire starters

    Personal hygiene supplies

    Extra clothes

    Printed reference materials on surviving emergency situations

    Down-time items such as books and games

Here is a list of other helpful website:

• www.ready.gov
• www.fema.gov
• www.redcross.org/prepare
• Emergency Preparedness Handbook
• Citizen Alert Notification System of Jackson & Josephine Counties

Establish a Plan - Discuss with your family what you will do in the event of a disaster. Where will you meet up if you and your spouse, children, or relatives are in different locales when a disaster strikes? How will you communicate? Do practice drills in your home and at your workplaces for fire, earthquake, and storm events. Tweak your plan for each kind of disaster your area is at risk for.

Utility Shut-off & Safety

Natural gas leaks and explosions are responsible for a significant number of fires following disasters. It is vital that all household members know how to shut off natural gas.

Because there are different gas shut-off procedures for different gas meter configurations, it is important to contact your local gas company for any guidance on preparations and response regarding gas appliances and gas service to your home.

When you learn the proper shut-off procedure for your meter, share the information with everyone in your household. Be sure not to actually turn off the gas when practicing the proper gas shut-off procedures.

If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out quickly. Turn off the gas, using the outside main valve, if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home.

Caution: If you turn off the gas for any reason, a qualified professional must turn it back on. NEVER attempt to turn the gas back on yourself.

For more information on utility shut off procedures and basic safety skills please visit https://www.ready.gov/safety-skills

Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) - A program created by Washington State Emergency Management and adopted by other emergency agencies that guides you into knowing what's in your neighborhood, getting to know your neighbors and their needs, and creating a plan of action for when an emergency occurs. Visit the provided link to their pdf overview, and follow the steps provided.

Become Firewise - The Firewise program is designed as a preventative measure to fire danger within a residential community. It's goal is to help homeowners clear up fire dangers around their homes and connecting buildings. By reducing the amount of flammable plants, debris, and materials around a home, and creating a defendable space over which fire can't jump, the Firewise program aims to limit the start and progress of residential fires. This program is especially important to the Jackson County region because of our dry climate.

Visit the FIREWISE website here to learn more about the national program, or see Jackson County's Firewise page here.

Get information about wildfires - Visit https://wildfire.oregon.gov/ for more information regarding wildfires in the state of Oregon.

Learn Invaluable Disaster and Emergency Survival Skills - Attend courses, seminars, and trainings in useful readiness skills such as CPR and First Aid, Wilderness Survival (offered through the Parks and Recreation Dept. in some cities), CERT Basic training, and the assortment of free trainings and instructional videos offered by your local and national emergency agencies.

Earthquakes, floods, storms, forest fires, and eruptions are a handfull of the major natural disasters our county faces. Knowing what to do in the event of these disasters may save you and your family's life. Get informed by learning how these types of disasters effect infrastructure, communities, emergency services, businesses, road access, utilities, and access to supplies.

Also visit https://getready.govt.nz/prepared/school/whats-the-plan-stan for information compiled for kids to learn about different types of natural disasters.

Test Your Preparedness Quizzes

Earthquake Knowledge

Red Cross' Disaster Preparedness Quiz