Prepare

Preparedness is vitally important for all sectors of society:  businesses, civic groups, communities, individuals, families, and neighborhoods.

It's likely one or more of these sectors will be first at the site of a disaster or an emergency, even before the first responders arrive. 

And in catastrophic disasters, such as devastating earthquakes, essential services may not be available or it may be days before responders can access an impacted area. 

In either of these cases, individuals must be prepared to act on their own and to survive until help arrives.

There are myriad resources, from emergency kit checklists to family emergency management plans and to local emergency management contacts, available in the links on the left of this page. 

These resources can help you, your family, and  your community prepare now before the next disaster strikes.