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Family Preparedness

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:

1. Learn about the hazards in your community and how to prepare for them.
2. Meet with your family to create a plan.
3. Put your plan into action.
4. 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 (1484kb)
• Are You Ready? (21581kb)
• Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (367kb)
• Emergency Food and Water (617kb)
• Emergency Preparedness Checklist (110kb)
• Emergency Preparedness Guide (596kb)
• Family Communications Plan (576kb)
• Family Disaster Plan - brochure (280kb)
• Family Disaster Plan - pamphlet (155kb)
• Family Disaster Supplies Kit - brochure (166kb)
• Family Disaster Supplies Kit - pamphlet (111kb)
• Ready.gov Supplies Checklist (375kb)
• Helping Children Cope with Disaster (488kb)
• Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide (282kb)
• Shelter-in-Place (86kb)
• Short-Term Power Outages or "Rolling Blackouts" (14kb)
• Prepare.org - Disaster Preparedness Information
• Emergency Preparedness Plan for Women

Check out these documents and links for people with disabilities.

• A Checklist for People with Mobility Problems (122kb)
• Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities (1379kb)
• Emergency Evacuation Prepareness, a guide for people with disabilities (372kb)
• Guide to Emergency Preparedness for Seniors and People with Disabilities (605kb)
• Prepare Yourself: Disaster Readiness Tips for People With Disabilities (3104kb)
• Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and Other Special Needs (742kb)
• Pets and Service Animals (461kb)
• Emergency Preparedness Initiative (EPI)
• Special Needs & Vulnerable Population Preparedness
• Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities

The following links provide additional resources for family and community preparedness.

• Weather Channel Disaster Planning Guide