Disasters and hazards can occur anywhere at any time and result in significant disruption to lives and communities.
Being prepared means being responsible to take care of you and your family’s personal needs (food, water, medical, clothing, shelter) for a period of at least three days after the event.
- Build a Kit – supplies for all family members, including pets
- Make a Plan – what to do and staying connected
- Be Informed – what kind of disasters can affect your community
Recovery after a disaster is a long-term commitment that involves knowing what resources are available and how to access these resources.
Resources
Preparedness and response
- Be Red Cross Ready | American Red Cross
- Citizen Corps Program | U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Citizen Preparedness Corps | New York State Government
- Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) | DHS
- Emergency Preparedness and Response | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- National Center for Disaster Preparedness | Columbia University
- National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) | DHS
- Prepare for Emergencies | U.S. Small Business Administration
- Ready.gov | DHS
Relief and recovery
- DisasterAssistance.gov | HDS
- Disaster Relief & Recovery Services | American Red Cross
- The Disaster Handbook (PDF) | UF/IFAS Extension Disaster Handbook
