FRANKLIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH

Planning for Emergencies

Emergencies Emergencies happen. It can be happen. It can be a tornado, house a tornado, house fire, flood or fire, flood or terrorist attack. terrorist attack. No one wants to No one wants to think about think about disasters, but disasters, but being prepared for being prepared for an emergency can an emergency can help protect your help protect your family.family.

Even though local, Even though local, state and federal state and federal agencies have plans agencies have plans to protect the public, to protect the public, you are responsible you are responsible for your own safety, for your own safety, even in an even in an emergency.emergency.

Ready In 3 is an educational Ready In 3 is an educational program developed by the program developed by the Missouri Department of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Health and Senior Services which has been tailored to which has been tailored to Franklin County & ColumbusFranklin County & Columbus

The program informs what The program informs what you can do at home, school you can do at home, school and work to be prepared for and work to be prepared for emergencies.emergencies.

Ready In 3 includes the three Ready In 3 includes the three steps you will need to know to steps you will need to know to prepare for an emergency.prepare for an emergency.

What is Ready In What is Ready In 33

Create a plan for you, Create a plan for you, your family, and your your family, and your business.business.

The entire family should The entire family should know and understand the know and understand the plan.plan.

Talk about how you will Talk about how you will reach each other in reach each other in different emergencies.different emergencies.

Think about making an Think about making an out-of-town family out-of-town family member or friend an member or friend an emergency contact.emergency contact.

1. Create A Plan1. Create A Plan

Plan for two Plan for two situations, staying situations, staying home or leaving.home or leaving.

Prepare a shelter at Prepare a shelter at home.home.

Know where to go if Know where to go if you have to leave.you have to leave.

1. Create A Plan1. Create A Plan

Prepare a kit for home, Prepare a kit for home, car, and work.car, and work.

Your kit should include Your kit should include enough water and enough water and canned or dried food for canned or dried food for three days, and…three days, and…

Battery–powered radioBattery–powered radio FlashlightFlashlight Extra batteries for radio Extra batteries for radio

and flashlightand flashlight Prescription medicinePrescription medicine First-aid kitFirst-aid kit

2. Make A Kit2. Make A Kit

Car supplies should Car supplies should include a gallon of include a gallon of water, and…water, and…

Several cans of food Several cans of food and a manual can and a manual can openeropener

Sleeping bag or Sleeping bag or extra blanketsextra blankets

Extra moneyExtra money First-aid suppliesFirst-aid supplies

2. Make A Kit2. Make A Kit

Listen for information about what to do and where to go during an actual emergency.

It is important to stay calm in an emergency.

3. Listen for 3. Listen for InformationInformation

Get as much information Get as much information as possible from as possible from whatever resources are whatever resources are available including a available including a battery-powered radio.battery-powered radio.

City, county, and state City, county, and state officials have developed officials have developed emergency plans. emergency plans. During an emergency, it During an emergency, it is important to follow is important to follow their instructions and their instructions and advice.advice.

3. Listen for 3. Listen for InformationInformation

Emergency Planning at Emergency Planning at Work:Work: Your employer may have Your employer may have

a building-evacuation a building-evacuation plan.plan.

There should be a There should be a meeting place outside meeting place outside your building where your building where everyone can gather.everyone can gather.

Don’t rely on your Don’t rely on your employer for everything.employer for everything.

Keep you own supply of Keep you own supply of water and canned food at water and canned food at your desk.your desk.

SpecialSpecialConsiderationsConsiderations

Emergency Planning for People Emergency Planning for People with Special Needs:with Special Needs: Seniors and disabled persons Seniors and disabled persons

living in special-care facilities living in special-care facilities should review the building’s should review the building’s emergency plans.emergency plans.

Know where your medicines Know where your medicines and special medical equipment and special medical equipment are located in case you need are located in case you need to have someone get it during to have someone get it during an evacuation.an evacuation.

People living at home who are People living at home who are disabled or have special disabled or have special medical needs should identify medical needs should identify people who can help during an people who can help during an emergency.emergency.

SpecialSpecialConsiderationsConsiderations

Emergency Planning for Emergency Planning for People with Special Needs:People with Special Needs: Make sure these people Make sure these people

know where you keep know where you keep your emergency supplies. your emergency supplies.

Give someone a key to Give someone a key to your house or apartment.your house or apartment.

Medical-alert tags or Medical-alert tags or bracelets will help identify bracelets will help identify your disability if you need your disability if you need medical attention.medical attention.

SpecialSpecialConsiderationsConsiderations

Emergency Planning for People with Emergency Planning for People with Special Needs:Special Needs: A supply kit for people with A supply kit for people with

special needs should include the special needs should include the following additional items:following additional items:

List of prescriptions and List of prescriptions and nonprescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, including dosagesincluding dosages

List of allergiesList of allergies Extra eyeglasses and Extra eyeglasses and

hearing aid batterieshearing aid batteries Copies of medical Copies of medical

insurance/Medicare cardsinsurance/Medicare cards List of doctorsList of doctors List of emergency contacts List of emergency contacts

and familyand family

SpecialSpecialConsiderationsConsiderations

Emergency Planning for Emergency Planning for Pets:Pets: If you leave home, If you leave home,

bring your pet with you bring your pet with you if possibleif possible

A supply kit for your A supply kit for your pet should include the pet should include the following additional following additional items:items:

Extra foodExtra food WaterWater MedicineMedicine Carrier and leashCarrier and leash Extra kitty litterExtra kitty litter

SpecialSpecialConsiderationsConsiderations

Take the time now to Take the time now to get prepared. It is get prepared. It is important to do as important to do as much as possible much as possible before an emergency before an emergency happens.happens.

We want you to share We want you to share this Ready In 3 this Ready In 3 information with information with family, friends and family, friends and neighbors in your neighbors in your community.community.

What Can You DoWhat Can You Do

You can provide this same You can provide this same information to community information to community groups such as:groups such as: Rotary, Lions, and Rotary, Lions, and

Kiwanis clubs Kiwanis clubs Faith-based Faith-based

organizations, even organizations, even Sunday school classesSunday school classes

Senior Centers and Senior Centers and elderly advocateselderly advocates

Foundations and Foundations and advisory boardsadvisory boards

Business groupsBusiness groups Parent-teacher groupsParent-teacher groups

What Can You DoWhat Can You Do

Educational materials for Educational materials for Ready in 3 are available in Ready in 3 are available in multiple languages and multiple languages and can be obtained from the can be obtained from the Franklin County Public Franklin County Public Health through the Health through the following ways:following ways:

by going to:by going to:www.myfcph.orgwww.myfcph.org

ororby calling:by calling:

614-525-3160614-525-3160

Where to FindWhere to Find