Preparedness

Preparedness: “a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination during incident response.” 

Organizations, communities, households, and individuals should all be prepared for disasters.

 
"But there are so many disasters? Where to begin?" It’s true that different disasters may pose different dangers, but you can still plan for them.
 

An “all hazard approach” means considering all potential threats and dangers. Evaluate how likely they are to happen. Prepare accordingly.

Here are some examples of disasters that may impact certain regions of the country. 

Wildfire, tornado, earthquake, hurricane, blizzard/snowstorm

No matter where you are, you should:

  • Stay informed. Sign up for any early warning systems (EWS).
  • Create emergency plans.
  • Gather appropriate supplies in an emergency kit.
  • Be prepared with enough supplies to last at least 72 hours.
  • Practice and drill. Regularly review and practice emergency plans.
  • Emergency kits should be checked and maintained every 6 months.
 

Written by Dennis Ren

Last updated: 5/30/2025

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