Protect Your Home or Business

Plan for Emergencies

You can begin this process by gathering family members and making sure each person is well-informed on potential hazards and community plans (Getting Informed ). Discuss with them what you would do if family members are not home when a warning is issued. Additionally, your family plan should address the following:

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit

You may need to survive on your own after a disaster. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days.
Basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer. Or, you may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. You probably will not have the opportunity to shop or search for the supplies you need.
A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items that members of a household may need in the event of a disaster.

Basic Disaster Supplies – Build a Kit

What if you have to evacuate with your pets?

The most important thing a person can do is to plan ahead. If you are asked to evacuate, you need to bring your pets with you. You need to start thinking today about where you will take your pets — ask a dependable friend or relative who lives some distance from the evacuation area if you and/or your pets can stay with them until the all clear is given. An alternative is to find a pet-friendly motel. There a number of them listed on the web:

You should have a portable pet carrier for each animal and identification with each animal. Bring copies of the pet’s licenses, leashes, water and food bowls, pet foods, bottled water, special medications and instructions for their administration, any special needs for your pet, blankets, handy wipes, paper towels and litter or bedding.

Listen for public safety announcements and if you are called to evacuate — DO NOT leave your pets behind!

Information on recognizing and escaping rip currents

Protect your Property

Learn how to protect your home or business

Plan Ahead

Protect Your Business
View the “How-To” resources to learn how to prepare for various natural disasters.

Emergency Management Guide for Business & Industry
A step-by-step approach to emergency planning, response, and recovery for companies of all sizes.

Protect Your Property, Home or Business from Disaster

If you aren’t sure whether your property or business is at risk from disasters caused by natural hazards, check with your local building official, city engineer, or planning and zoning administrator. They can tell you whether you are in an area where hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, or tornadoes are likely to occur. Also, they usually can tell you how to protect yourself, your house, business, and property from the different hazards.

Protect Your Business from All Natural Hazards