Be Red Cross Ready
Preparedness Essentials
Preparedness Checklist
Disasters disrupt our lives. Some disasters, like floods and home fires, can occur
anywhere. Other disasters, like wildfires and hurricanes, are more common in
certain areas. Climate change is causing more frequent and extreme weather
events. This increases our risk of death, injury, property loss and disruption. But
we can take action to prepare. Prepare now to protect yourself, your loved ones
and your home.
Be Prepared
Being prepared means that you:
•Know what hazards, like tornadoes
or floods, are likely to happen in your
community.
•Have plans in place so that you and your
loved ones know how to respond.
• Have a way to monitor emergency
conditions in your area.
• Have emergency skills, such as CPR
and first aid.
• Have emergency supplies, like food,
water and medicine, so that you can
meet your basic needs.
Understand Your Risks
Some hazards, such as floods and home
fires, can happen anywhere. Others,
including earthquakes and hurricanes,
are more common in certain areas.
Reach out to your state or local office of
emergency management agency to learn
more about your local risks.
Plan to Stay Connected
In a disaster, it is important to stay
connected and informed.
•Sign up for free emergency alerts from
your local government.
• Have a backup battery or a way to
charge your cell phone.
Utilities may be offline. Be ready to live
without power, gas and water. Plan for
your needs, including cell phones and
medical equipment. Talk to your doctor.
Plan for backup power.
• Have a battery-powered radio.
• Plan to monitor weather conditions
near you.
Learn Emergency Skills
Prepare now so that you have critical skills
and can meet your basic needs.
• Learn first aid and CPR.
• Utilities may be offline. Be ready to live
without power, gas and water. Plan for
your needs, including cell phones and
medical equipment. Talk to your doctor.
Plan for backup power.
Gather Emergency Supplies
Gather food, water and medicine.
Organize supplies into a Go-Kit and a
Stay-at-Home Kit.
• Go-Kit: at least three days of supplies that
you can carry with you. Include backup
batteries and chargers for your devices
(cell phone, CPAP, wheelchair, etc.)
• Stay-at-Home Kit: at least two weeks
of supplies. Stores and pharmacies might
be closed.
• Have a 1-month supply of medication
in a child-proof container and medical
supplies or equipment.
Preparedness Essentials Checklist
Gather Emergency Supplies
• Keep personal, financial and medical
records safe and easy to access (hard
copies or securely backed up). Consider
keeping a list of your medications and
dosages on a small card to carry with you.
• Customize your kits to meet your
household’s needs and the season.
Basic supplies include:
- Water: 1 gallon per person, per day
- Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare
items
- Can opener
- Medications and medical items
- Flashlight or battery-powered lanterns
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
(NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Multi-purpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Cell phone with chargers
- Family and emergency contact
information
- Extra cash
- Emergency blanket
- Hats, gloves, boots, coats, etc.
(cold weather)
- Sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug
spray, etc. (warm weather)
- Change of clothes
- Map(s) of the area
- Keep personal, financial and medical
records safe and easy to access (hard
copies or securely backed up).
Make Plans to Stay Safe
Stay or go? Depending on the emergency,
you may need to stay where you are or
evacuate to stay safe.
If you need to go somewhere else, think
through these questions:
• Where will I go?
• How will I get there?
• Where will I stay?
• What will I bring with me?
Plan to Reconnect With Loved Ones
• If separated, or if the phone or internet is
down, have a plan to communicate with
loved ones.
• Complete a contact card for each
member of your household. Ensure that
they carry it with them.
• Text is best. A text message may go
through when a phone call will not.
• Designate an out-of-town contact who
can help your household reconnect. It
may be easier to reach people outside the
affected area.
• Agree to meet in a specific place to help
you reconnect with loved ones when it
is safe.
- If you need to leave your home, choose
a specific location nearby.
- If you need to leave your community,
choose a specific location outside
your community.
Plan to Take Care of Yourself
• It’s normal to have bad feelings, stress or
anxiety after a disaster or other emergency.
•Plan to eat healthy food and get enough
sleep to help you deal with stress.
• Know that you can contact the Disaster
Distress Helpline for free if you need to talk
to someone. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
For more information, visit redcross.org/prepare Download the Emergency App
Copyright © 2021 by the American National Red Cross. Version 1. Published January 1, 2022.
Hazard and Protective Actions Icons are used courtesy of FEMA and are available at community.fema.gov/ProtectiveActions/s/protective-actions-icons
