Preparedness Tips
United Way doesn't just step up after a disaster; we're working to help the communities we serve be better prepared for any disaster.
These tips are a colleciton of experts' advice, curated from the nation's best emergency guides. Taking action now will give you peace of mind and may save you recovery time, energy, and money when disaster strikes.
Identify Your Support Network
Add their numbers to your mobile device, smartphone, or tablet (categorized as an emergency contact) and make sure they have yours. After you have your support network and key emergency contacts in your phone, call them. Make sure they have your information.
Get Connected
Make sure your phone is enabled to get local alerts and warnings. When emergencies strike, public safety officials use these systems to alert you. Back when you set up your phone, you may not have been thinking about emergency alerts. But think about it now! It's easy to make sure your phone is enabled to receive local alerts and get warnings. And it matters: when emergencies strike, public safety officials use wireless emergency alerts to "ping" all enabled mobile devices in that community.
Set up Emergency Alerts
• Go to “Settings” to start. Depending on your phone, you may need to navigate to “Government Alerts,” or “Emergency Alert Messages.”
• Older phones may not have the ability to receive wireless emergency alerts, so be sure to have a small transistor radio (with extra batteries) in your go bag and emergency essential kits and know where to find your local news-oriented radio station.
Download a Disaster Preparedness App
• Follow social media pages for your city or county, local first responders, and your local emergency management agency.
• Social media is often the first thing people check during an emerging crisis!
• Our partner, The Red Cross, has a free Emergency App.
• You can also check out FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) app.
Assess Your Needs
This includes the needs of your family and friends. Take action to meet those needs now. Add your medical information to your phone (this article tells you how). Build an emergency kit for your home and a "go bag" for your car. Keep a (charged) power bank in each. It can be hard to think about what you may need during a crisis, so think about it now. Ask yourself questions about your medical needs, animal care, shelter, food, water, clothing, and more.
Ask Yourself the Following Questions:
• Do I have any medical conditions, mobility challenges, or dietary requirements that require specific care or medication? Do I have instructions logged in the emergency settings in my mobile device?
• How will I ensure the safety and well-being of my pet or service animal?
• Have I established communication strategies with neighbors and local emergency services?
• What specific accommodations or assistive devices do I need during an emergency? Download assistive technology services on your mobile device in advance.
• Have I identified an accessible evacuation route and shelter? In North America, can call 211, the 24/7 resource hotline in 99% of the U.S., to find out what disaster officials are recommending, if it’s not on the local government website or app.
• Is my support network aware of my emergency plans and needs? Have I identified a buddy to assist me in an emergency – and way to contact them?
• Do I have all my (and my family’s) important medical information in my phone? (Check out this article).
Building an Emergency Kit
• Non-perishable or “shelf stable” food that will last, and requires no cooking (e.g., canned food, peanut butter, and trail mix).
• A can opener
• Enough water for three days, which is one gallon per person per day
• First-aid kit, medications (take pictures of the prescription labels) and medical devices
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Phone/electronics charger and cords, and at least one charged power bank
• Emergency tools: battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra (new) batteries
• Personal items like toiletries and toilet paper
• One change of clothing for each person
• Sweatshirt or rain poncho for each person
• Pair of sneakers for each person
• Hand sanitizer and sunscreen
• For young children and infants: diapers, wipes, baby formula, sippy cup & some nonperishable food in pouches
• Plastic resealable baggies and garbage bags
• Pet food and medication, leashes
• Copies of key documents
Safeguard Key Records and Document Valuables
Use your phone to take photos of key documents and document valuables. Keep electronic copies of these important documents in a password-protected format on a removable flash or external hard drive in your fireproof and waterproof box or safe — or consider using a secure cloud-based service. Once a year, walk around your house with your camera to record (and narrate) a visual list of your valuables to give value estimates, for insurance purposes. Save this where you save your other important digital records.
Key Documents Can Include:
• Vital records (birth, marriage, divorce certificate, adoption, child custody papers)
• Passport, driver’s license, state government-issued ID, Social Security card, green card, military service identification, others
• Pet ownership papers, identification tags
• Housing: lease or rental agreement, mortgage, home equity line of credit, deed
• List of medications, immunizations, allergies, prescriptions, medical equipment and devices, pharmacy information
• Other financial obligations: utility bills, credit cards, student loans, alimony, child support, elder care, automatic payments such as gym memberships
• Financial accounts: checking, savings, debit cards, retirement, investment
• Insurance policies: home, health, flood, fire, and others
• Check out Ready.gov’s steps for more on key documents
Find Resources
Visit our Resources page for federal, state, and local resources to find assistance before, during, and after a disaster.