March 2006


From U.S. Department Of Homeland Security, The USCG Auxiliary

Ten Tips For Planning For The Next Emergency

1. Have a plan and discuss it with your family.

2. Find out about your community’s emergency plan and check its Web sites for emergency planning information. If you should have to evacuate your home, make a primary and a secondary meeting place and inform all family members. Have a designated contact that is out of the danger zone and let them know where you are and your status.

3. Pack a "go" bag, containing medications, water and water purifying tablets, hand sanitizers, non-perishable food, a manual can opener, personal toiletries, zip lock bags, a flashlight with good batteries, and a battery-powered radio.

4. If applicable, make a go bag for your animal companion as well, such as a cat carrier, pet food, and mobile kitty box. Dogs should have a leash, food, water, and bags for clean up, if possible.

5. Get to know your neighbors, especially your elderly or infirm and look after them.

6. If you live in an apartment or other type of multiple dwelling, designate floor captains, make emergency evacuation plan, and be sure all of the residents are aware of it. Be sure to know about anyone with special needs. At the first hint that your community may need to be evacuated, be sure that you have a full tank of gas, if you have a vehicle.

7. Have candles, matches, and flashlights with fresh batteries on hand. If a power outage is anticipated, stash some food in a cooler with ice.

8. Don’t panic; look out for one another and remember having a plan in place and following it is the most important thing you can do.

9. For more information on emergency preparedness check the following web sites: the American Red Cross, the Center for Disease Control and FEMA.

10. Here is a list of Web sites that will aid in finding more information about what to do in an emergency, what emergency services are available, locally, statewide and federally, and what emergency plans are in place where you live.

While not exhaustive, it provides a good place to start.

In alphabetical order:

http://www.cdc.gov - The Center for Disease Control
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0306.xml - State Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Department of Homeland Security
http://www.fema.gov - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
http://www.nsc.org/issues/emerg/99esc.htm - National Safety Council
http://www.ready.gov - Ready Gov
http://www.redcross.org - The Red Cross
http://www.weather.com/safeside/emergencyplan.html - The Weather Channel

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks, and public education.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 30,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.

For more information on the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit us at www.cgaux.org.