Does your community have a public warning system? What do your community s warning signals sound like and what should you do when you hear them?

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1 Why talk abut a Family Disaster Plan? Disaster can strike quickly and withut warning. It can frce yu t evacuate yur neighbrhd r cnfine yu t yur hme. What wuld yu d if basic services, such as water, gas, electricity, r telephnes were cut ff? Lcal fficials and relief wrkers will be n the scene after a disaster, but they cannt reach everyne right away. Families can and d cpe with disaster by preparing in advance and wrking tgether as a team. Knwing what t d is yur best prtectin and yur respnsibility. Learn mre abut Family Disaster Plans by cntacting yur lcal emergency management ffice r yur lcal American Red Crss chapter. Families can and d cpe with disaster by preparing in advance and wrking tgether as a team. Knwing what t d is yur best prtectin and yur respnsibility. Awareness Infrmatin A Natinal Weather Service (NWS) WATCH is a message indicating that cnditins favr the ccurrence f a certain type f hazardus weather. Fr example, a severe thunderstrm watch means that a severe thunderstrm is expected in the next six hurs r s within an area apprximately 120 t 150 miles wide and 300 t 400 miles lng (36,000 t 60,000 square miles). The NWS Strm Predictin Center issues such watches. Lcal NWS frecast ffices issue ther watches (flash fld, winter weather, etc.) 12 t 36 hurs in advance f a pssible hazardus-weather r flding event. Each lcal frecast ffice usually cvers a state r a prtin f a state. An NWS WARNING indicates that a hazardus event is ccurring r is imminent in abut 30 minutes t an hur. Lcal NWS frecast ffices issue warnings n a cunty-by-cunty basis. Fur Steps t Safety Cmplete fur steps t safety. There are fur basic steps t develping a family disaster plan: 1. Find ut what culd happen t yu. By learning what yur risks may be, yu can prepare fr the disaster mst likely t ccur in yur area. Learn mre by cntacting yur lcal emergency management ffice r American Red Crss chapter. Be prepared t take ntes. Ask the fllwing: What type f disasters are mst likely t happen in yur cmmunity? Identify which human-caused r technlgical disasters can affect yur regin, t. Remember t cnsider majr chemical emergencies that can ccur anywhere chemical substances are stred, manufactured, r transprted. Hw shuld yu prepare fr each? Des yur cmmunity have a public warning system? What d yur cmmunity s warning signals sund like and what shuld yu d when yu hear them? What abut animal care after disaster? Pets (ther than service animals) are nt permitted in places where fd is served, accrding t many lcal health department regulatins. Plan where yu wuld take yur pets if yu had t g t a public shelter where they are nt permitted. If yu care fr elderly r disabled persns, hw can yu help them? What might be sme special needs t cnsider?

2 What are the disaster plans at yur wrkplace, yur children s schl r day care center, and ther places where members f yur family spend time? Yu shuld be prepared wherever yu may be when disaster strikes and learn steps yu can take t prevent r avid disasters. 2. Create a Family Disaster Plan. Once yu knw what disasters are pssible in yur area, talk abut hw t prepare and hw t respnd if ne ccurs. Make checklists f steps yu can take as yu discuss this infrmatin with yur family. Here is hw t create yur Family Disaster Plan: Meet with yur family and discuss why yu need t prepare fr disaster. Explain the dangers f fire, severe weather, and earthquakes t children. Plan t share respnsibilities and wrk tgether as a team. Keep it simple enugh s peple can remember the imprtant details. A disaster is an extremely stressful situatin that can create cnfusin. The best emergency plans are thse with very few details. Discuss the types f disasters that are mst likely t happen. Explain what t d in each case. Everyne shuld knw what t d in case all family members are nt tgether. Discussing disasters ahead f time will help reduce fear and anxiety and will help everyne knw hw t respnd. Pick tw places t meet: Right utside f yur hme in case f a sudden emergency, like a fire. Outside f yur neighbrhd in case yu can t return hme r are asked t leave yur neighbrhd. Everyne must knw the address and phne number f the meeting lcatins. Develp an emergency cmmunicatin plan. In case family members are separated frm ne anther during flds r ther disasters, have a plan fr getting back tgether. Separatin is a real pssibility during the day when adults are at wrk and children are at schl. Ask an ut-f-twn relative r friend t be yur "family cntact." Yur cntact shuld live utside f yur area. After a disaster, it is ften easier t make a lng distance call than a lcal call. Family members shuld call the cntact and tell him r her where they are. Everyne must knw the cntact s name, address, and phne number. Discuss what t d if authrities ask yu t evacuate. Make arrangements fr a place t stay with a friend r relative wh lives ut f twn and/r learn abut shelter lcatins. Be familiar with escape rutes. Depending n the type f disaster, it may be necessary t evacuate yur hme. Plan several escape rutes in case certain rads are blcked r clsed. Remember t fllw the advice f lcal fficials during evacuatin situatins. They will direct yu t the safest rute; sme rads may be blcked r put yu in further danger. Plan hw t take care f yur pets. Pets (ther than service animals) are nt permitted t be in places where fd is served, accrding t many lcal health department regulatins. Plan where yu wuld take yur pets if yu had t g t a public shelter where they are nt permitted. 3. Cmplete yur checklists. Take the steps utlined in the checklists yu made when yu created yur Family Disaster Plan. Remember t include the fllwing items n yur checklists. Pst by phnes emergency telephne numbers (fire, plice, ambulance, etc.). Yu may nt have time in an emergency t lk up critical numbers.

3 Teach all respnsible family members hw and when t turn ff the water, gas, and electricity at the main switches r valves. Keep necessary tls near gas and water shut-ff valves. Turn ff utilities nly if yu suspect a leak r damaged lines, r if yu are instructed t d s by authrities. If yu turn the gas ff, yu will need a prfessinal t turn it back n. Paint shut-ff valves with white r flurescent paint t increase visibility. Attach a shut-ff valve wrench r ther special tl in a cnspicuus place clse t the gas and water shut-ff valves. Check if yu have adequate insurance cverage. Ask yur insurance agent t review yur current plicies t ensure that they will cver yur hme and belngings adequately. Hmewner s insurance des nt cver fld lsses. If yu are a renter, yur landlrd s insurance des nt prtect yur persnal prperty; it nly prtects the building. Renters insurance pays if a renter s prperty is damaged r stlen. Renters insurance csts less than $15 a mnth in mst areas f the cuntry. Cntact yur insurance agent fr mre infrmatin. Install smke alarms n each level f yur hme, especially near bedrms. Smke alarms cut nearly in half yur chances f dying in a hme fire. Smke alarms sense abnrmal amunts f smke r invisible cmbustin gases in the air. They can detect bth smldering and flaming fires. Many areas are nw requiring hard-wired smke alarms in new hmes. Get training frm the fire department n hw t use yur fire extinguisher (A-B- C type), and shw family members where extinguishers are kept. Different extinguishers perate in different ways. Unless respnsible family members knw hw t use yur particular mdel, they may nt be able t use it effectively. There is n time t read directins during an emergency. Only adults shuld handle and use extinguishers. Cnduct a hme hazard hunt. During a disaster, rdinary bjects in yur hme can cause injury r damage. Anything that can mve, fall, break, r cause a fire is a hme hazard. Fr example, during an earthquake r a trnad, a ht water heater r a bkshelf culd turn ver r pictures hanging ver a cuch culd fall and hurt smene. Lk fr electrical, chemical, and fire hazards. Cntact yur lcal fire department t learn abut hme fire hazards. Inspect yur hme at least nce a year and fix ptential hazards. Stck emergency supplies and assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit. (See the "Disaster Supplies Kit" sectin.) Keep enugh supplies in yur hme t meet yur needs fr at least three days. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items yu may need in case f an evacuatin. Stre these supplies in sturdy, clearly labeled, easyt-carry cntainers, such as backpacks r duffel bags. Keep a smaller Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk f yur car. (See the "Disaster Supplies Kit" sectin.) If yu becme stranded r are nt able t return hme, having these items will help yu t be mre cmfrtable. Keep a prtable, battery-perated radi r televisin and extra batteries. Maintaining a cmmunicatins link with the utside is a step that can mean the difference between life and death. Make sure that all family members knw where the prtable, battery-perated radi r televisin is lcated, and always keep a supply f extra batteries. Cnsider using a NOAA Weather Radi with a tne-alert feature. NOAA Weather Radi is the best means t receive warnings frm the Natinal Weather Service. The Natinal Weather Service cntinuusly bradcasts updated weather warnings and frecasts that can be received by NOAA Weather Radis, which are sld in many stres. NOAA Weather Radi nw bradcasts warning and pst-event infrmatin fr

4 all types f hazards bth natural (such as weather and flding, as well as earthquakes and vlcanic activity) and technlgical (such as chemical releases r il spills). Wrking with ther federal agencies and the Federal Cmmunicatins Cmmissin s new Emergency Alert System, NOAA Weather Radi is an "all hazards" radi netwrk, making it the single surce fr the mst cmprehensive weather and emergency infrmatin available t the public. Yur Natinal Weather Service recmmends purchasing a NOAA Weather Radi that has bth a battery backup and a Specific Area Message Encder (SAME) feature, which autmatically alerts yu when a watch r warning is issued fr yur cunty, giving yu immediate infrmatin abut a life-threatening situatin. The average range is 40 miles, depending n tpgraphy. The NOAA Weather Radi signal is a line-f-sight signal, which des nt bre thrugh hills r muntains. Take a Red Crss first aid and CPR class. Have yur family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and first aid. These are critical skills, and learning can be a fun activity fr lder children. Plan hme escape rutes. Determine the best escape rutes frm yur hme in preparatin fr a fire r ther emergency that wuld require yu t leave the huse quickly. Find tw ways ut f each rm. Find the safe places in yur hme fr each type f disaster. Different disasters ften require different types f safe places. While basements are apprpriate fr trnades, they culd be deadly in a majr chemical emergency. Make tw phtcpies f vital dcuments and keep the riginals in a safe depsit bx. Keep ne cpy in a safe place in the huse, and give the secnd cpy t an ut-f-twn friend r relative. Vital dcuments such as birth and marriage certificates, tax recrds, credit card numbers, financial recrds, and wills and trusts can be lst during disasters. Make a cmplete inventry f yur hme, garage, and surrunding prperty. The inventry can be either written r videtaped. Include infrmatin such as serial numbers, make and mdel numbers, physical descriptins, and price f purchases (receipts, if pssible). This list culd help yu prve the value f what yu wned if yur pssessins are damaged r destryed and can help yu t claim deductins n taxes. Be sure t include expensive items such as sfas, chairs, tables, beds, chests, wall units, and any ther furniture t heavy t mve. D this fr all items in yur hme, n all levels. Then stre a cpy f the recrd smewhere away frm hme, such as in a safe depsit bx. 4. Practice and maintain yur plan. Practicing yur plan will help yu instinctively make the apprpriate respnse during an actual emergency. Yu will need t review yur plan peridically and yu may need t change sme parts. Quiz yur kids every six mnths s they remember what t d, meeting places, phne numbers, and safety rules. Cnduct fire and emergency evacuatin drills at least twice a year. Actually drive evacuatin rutes s each driver will knw the way. Select alternate rutes in case the main evacuatin rute is blcked during an actual disaster. Mark yur evacuatin rutes n a map; keep the map in yur Disaster Supplies Kit. Remember t fllw the advice f lcal fficials during evacuatin situatins. They will direct yu t the safest rute, away frm rads that may be blcked r put yu in further danger. Replace stred fd and water every six mnths. Replacing yur fd and water supplies will help ensure freshness.

5 Use the test buttn t test yur smke alarms nce a mnth. The test feature tests all electrnic functins and is safer than testing with a cntrlled fire (matches, lighters, r cigarettes). If necessary, replace batteries immediately. Make sure children knw what yur smke alarm sunds like. If yu have battery-pwered smke alarms, replace batteries at least nce a year. Sme agencies recmmend yu replace batteries when the time changes frm standard daylight savings each spring and again in the fall. "Change yur clck, change yur batteries," is a psitive theme and has becme a cmmn phrase. While replacing batteries this ften certainly will nt hurt, available data shw that batteries will last at least a year, s mre frequent replacement is nt necessary, and time des nt change in Arizna, Hawaii, the eastern prtin f Indiana, Puert Ric, American Sama, and Guam. Replace yur smke alarms every 10 years. Smke alarms becme less sensitive ver time. Replacing them every 10 years is a jint recmmendatin by the Natinal Fire Prtectin Assciatin and the U.S. Cnsumer Prducts Safety Cmmissin. Lk at yur fire extinguisher t ensure it is prperly charged. Fire extinguishers will nt wrk prperly if they are nt prperly charged. Use the gauge r test buttn t check prper pressure. Fllw manufacturer s instructins fr replacement r recharging fire extinguishers. If the unit is lw n pressure, damaged, r crrded, replace it r have it prfessinally serviced. What t Tell Children Tell children that a disaster is smething that happens that culd hurt peple, cause damage, r cut ff utilities such as water, telephnes, r electricity. Explain t them that nature smetimes prvides "t much f a gd thing"--fire, rain, wind, snw. Talk abut typical effects that children can relate t, such as lss f electricity, water, and telephne service. Give examples f several disasters that culd happen in yur cmmunity. Help children recgnize the warning signs fr the disasters that culd happen in yur cmmunity. Discussing disaster ahead f time reduces fear and anxiety and lets everyne knw hw t respnd. Teach children hw and when t call fr help. Check the telephne directry fr lcal emergency telephne numbers. If yu live in a service area, teach children t call At hme, pst emergency telephne numbers by all phnes and explain when t call each number. Even very yung children can be taught hw and when t call fr emergency assistance. If a child can t read, make an emergency telephne number chart with pictures that may help the child identify the crrect number t call. Explain that when peple knw what t d and practice in advance, everyne is better able t handle emergencies. That s why yu need t create a Family Disaster Plan. Have lder children take a first aid and CPR curse. These are critical skills, and learning can be a fun activity. Tell children that in a disaster there are many peple wh can help them. Talk abut ways that an emergency manager, Red Crss vlunteer, plice fficer, firefighter, teacher, neighbr, dctr, r utility wrker might help fllwing a disaster. Teach children t call yur family cntact in case they are separated frm the family in an emergency. Help them memrize the telephne number, r write it dwn n a card that they can keep with them.

6 Remember Yur Pets Plan hw t take care f yur pets. If yu must evacuate, it is best t take yur pets with yu. Hwever, pets (ther than service animals) are nt permitted in public shelters, accrding t many lcal health department regulatins and because f ther cnsideratins. Cntact htels and mtels utside f yur immediate area t check their plicies n accepting pets and restrictins n the number, size, and species. Ask if "n pet" plicies culd be waived in an emergency. Ask friends, relatives, r thers utside f the affected area whether they culd shelter yur animals. If yu have mre than ne pet, they may be mre cmfrtable if kept tgether, but be prepared t huse them separately. Prepare a list f barding facilities and veterinarians wh culd shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hur phne numbers. Ask lcal animal shelters if they prvide emergency shelter r fster care fr pets in a disaster. Animal shelters may be verburdened, s this shuld be yur last resrt. Keep a list f "pet friendly" places, including their phne numbers, with ther disaster infrmatin and supplies. If yu have ntice f an impending disaster, call ahead fr reservatins. Carry pets in a sturdy carrier. Animals may feel threatened by sme disasters and becme frightened r try t run. Have identificatin, cllar, leash, and prf f vaccinatins fr all pets. Veterinarian recrds may be required by sme lcatins befre they will allw yu t bard yur pets. If yur pet is lst, identificatin will help fficials return it t yu. Assemble a prtable pet disaster supplies kit. Keep fd, water, and any special pet needs in an easy-t-carry cntainer. Have a current pht f yur pets in case they get lst. As a last resrt, if yu abslutely must leave yur pets behind, prepare an emergency pen in the hme that includes a three-day supply f dry fd and a large cntainer f fresh water. Media and Cmmunity Educatin Ideas Meet with yur neighbrs t plan hw the neighbrhd culd wrk tgether after a disaster until help arrives. Wrking with neighbrs can save lives and prperty. If yu re a member f a neighbrhd rganizatin, such as a hmewner s assciatin r crime watch grup, intrduce disaster preparedness as a new activity. Check with yur lcal fire department t find ut if they ffer Cmmunity Emergency Respnse Team (CERT) training. Knw yur neighbrs special skills (fr example, medical, technical) and cnsider hw yu culd help neighbrs wh have special needs, such as disabled and elderly persns. Identify elderly and disabled peple in the neighbrhd. Ask them hw yu can help if a disaster threatens (transprtatin, securing the hme, getting medicatins, etc.). Make plans fr child care in case parents can t get hme.

7 Evacuatin Evacuate immediately if tld t d s. Authrities d nt ask peple t leave unless they truly feel lives may be in danger. Fllw their advice. Listen t lcal radi r televisin and fllw the instructins f lcal emergency fficials. Lcal fficials will prvide yu with the mst apprpriate advice fr yur particular situatin. Wear prtective clthing and sturdy shes. Disaster areas and debris cntain many hazards. The mst cmmn injury fllwing disasters is cut feet. Lck yur hme. Others may evacuate after yu r befre yu return. Secure yur huse as yu nrmally wuld when leaving fr extended perids. Use travel rutes specified by lcal authrities. Dn t use shrtcuts because certain areas may be impassable r dangerus. If yu have nly mments befre leaving, grab the fllwing items and g: First aid kit, including prescriptin medicatins, dentures, extra eyeglasses, and hearing aid batteries. Disaster Supplies Kit basics and Evacuatin Supplies Kit. (See "Disaster Supplies Kit" sectin fr detailed infrmatin.) A change f clthes and a sleeping bag r bedrll and pillw fr each husehld member. Car keys and keys t the place yu may be ging (friend s r relative s hme). If yu re sure yu have time and if lcal fficials haven t advised an immediate evacuatin, but there s a chance the weather may get wrse r flding may happen, take steps t prtect yur hme and belngings: Bring all pets int the huse and cnfine them t ne rm, if yu can. If necessary, make arrangements fr yur pets. Pets may try t run if they feel threatened. Keeping them inside and in ne rm will allw yu t find them quickly if yu need t leave. Put yur Disaster Supplies Kit basics and Evacuatin Supplies Kit in yur vehicle, r by the dr if yu may be leaving n ft. In sme disaster situatins, such as tsunami, it is better t leave by ft. Ntify yur family cntact where yu are ging and when yu expect t get there. Relatives and friends will be cncerned abut yur safety. Letting smene knw yur travel plans will help relieve the fear and anxiety f thse wh care. Bring things indrs. Lawn furniture, trash cans, children s tys, garden equipment, cltheslines, hanging plants, and any ther bjects that may be blwn arund r swept away shuld be brught indrs. Lk fr ptential hazards. Lk fr ccnuts, unripened fruit, and ther bjects in trees arund yur prperty that culd blw r break ff and fly arund in strng winds. Cut them ff and stre them indrs until the strm is ver. If yu have nt already cut away dead r

8 diseased branches r limbs frm trees and shrubs, leave them alne. Lcal rubbish cllectin services will nt have time befre the strm t pick anything up. Turn ff electricity at the main fuse r breaker, and turn ff water at the main valve. Unless lcal fficials advise therwise, leave natural gas n because yu will need it fr heating and cking when yu return hme. If yu turn gas ff, a licensed prfessinal is required t turn it back n, and it may take weeks fr a prfessinal t respnd. Turn ff prpane gas service. Prpane tanks ften becme damaged r disldged in disasters. If strng winds are expected, cver the utside f all the windws f yur hme. Use shutters that are rated t prvide significant prtectin frm windblwn debris, r pre-fit plywd cverings ver all windws. If flding is expected, cnsider using sand bags t keep water away frm yur hme. It takes tw peple abut ne hur t fill and place 100 sandbags, giving yu a wall ne ft high and 20 feet lng. Make sure yu have enugh sand, burlap, r plastic bags, shvels, strng helpers, and time t place them prperly. After a Disaster Remain calm and patient. Staying calm and ratinal will help yu mve safely and avid delays r accidents caused by irratinal behavir. Many peple will be trying t accmplish the same things yu are fr their family s safety. Patience will help everyne get thrugh a difficult situatin mre easily. Put yur plan int actin. Having specific steps t take will keep yu wrking tward yur family s safety. Listen t lcal radi r televisin fr news and instructins. Lcal authrities will prvide the mst apprpriate advice fr yur particular situatin. Check fr injuries. Give first aid and get help fr seriusly injured peple. Taking care f yurself first will allw yu t help thers safely until emergency respnders arrive. Help yur neighbrs wh may require special assistance--infants, elderly peple, and peple with disabilities--and the peple wh care fr them r fr large families wh may need additinal help in an emergency situatin. Wear prtective clthing and sturdy shes. Disaster areas and debris cntain many hazards. The mst cmmn injury fllwing disasters is cut feet. Check fr damage in yur hme. Disasters can cause extensive damage, smetimes in places yu least expect. Lk carefully fr any ptential hazards. Use battery-pwered lanterns r flashlights when examining buildings. Batterypwered lighting is the safest and easiest and des nt present a fire hazard fr the user, ccupants, r building. Avid using candles. Candles can easily cause fires. They are quiet and easily frgtten. They can tip ver during earthquake aftershcks r in a gust f wind. Candles invite fire play by children. Mre than three times as many peple have died in residential fires caused by using candles after a disaster than frm the direct impact f the disaster itself.

9 Lk fr fire hazards. There may be brken r leaking gas lines, flded electrical circuits, r submerged furnaces r electrical appliances. Fire is the mst frequent hazard fllwing flds. Check fr gas leaks. Sniff fr gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If yu smell gas r suspect a leak, pen a windw and get everyne utside quickly. Turn ff the gas at the utside main valve if yu can and call the gas cmpany frm a neighbr s hme. If yu turn ff the gas fr any reasn, a prfessinal must turn it back n. Lk fr electrical system damage. If yu see sparks r brken r frayed wires, r if yu smell burning insulatin, turn ff the electricity at the main fuse bx r circuit breaker. If yu have t step in water t get t the fuse bx r circuit breaker, call an electrician first fr advice. Electrical equipment shuld be checked and dried befre being returned t service. Check fr sewage and water lines damage. If yu suspect sewage lines are damaged, avid using the tilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, cntact the water cmpany and avid using water frm the tap. Yu can btain safe water frm undamaged water heaters r by melting ice cubes. Clean up spills immediately. This includes medicines, bleach, gasline, and ther flammable liquids. Watch fr lse plaster and ceilings that culd fall. Take pictures f the damage, bth f the building and its cntents, fr insurance claims. Cnfine r secure yur pets. They may be frightened and try t run. Let yur family cntact knw yu have returned hme and then d nt use the telephne again unless it is a life-threatening emergency. Telephne lines are frequently verwhelmed in disaster situatins. They need t be clear fr emergency calls t get thrugh. Make sure yu have an adequate water supply in case service is cut ff. Water is ften cntaminated after majr disasters. An undamaged water heater may be yur best surce f drinking water. Stay away frm dwned pwer lines and reprt them immediately. Getting damaged utilities turned ff will prevent further injury r damage. If pssible, set ut a flare and stay n the scene t warn thers until authrities arrive. Fr Peple with Disabilities Persns with disabilities, r thse wh may have mbility prblems (such as elderly persns), shuld prepare as anyne else. In additin, they may want t cnsider sme f the fllwing steps: Create a netwrk f relatives, friends, r c-wrkers t assist in an emergency. If yu think yu may need assistance in a disaster, discuss yur disability with relatives, friends, r c-wrkers and ask fr their help. Fr example, if yu need help mving r require special arrangements t receive emergency messages, make a plan with friends. Make sure they knw where yu keep yur disaster supplies. Give a key t a neighbr r friend wh may be able t assist yu in a disaster. Maintain a list f imprtant items and stre it with yur emergency supplies. Give a cpy t anther family member and a friend r neighbr. Imprtant items might include:

10 Special equipment and supplies, fr example, hearing aid batteries. Current prescriptin names and dsages. Names, addresses, and telephne numbers f dctrs and pharmacists. Detailed infrmatin abut the specificatins f yur medicatin regime. Cntact yur lcal emergency management ffice nw. Many lcal emergency management ffices maintain registers f peple with disabilities and their needs s they can be lcated and assisted quickly in a disaster. Wear medical alert tags r bracelets t identify yur disability in case f an emergency. These may save yur life if yu are in need f medical attentin and unable t cmmunicate. Knw the lcatin and availability f mre than ne facility if yu are dependent n a dialysis machine r ther life-sustaining equipment r treatment. There may be several peple requiring equipment, r facilities may have been affected by the disaster. If yu have a severe speech, language, r hearing disability: When yu dial 9-1-1, tap the space bar t indicate a TDD call. Stre a writing pad and pencils t cmmunicate with thers. Keep a flashlight handy t signal yur whereabuts t ther peple and fr illuminatin t aid in cmmunicatin. Remind friends that yu cannt cmpletely hear warnings r emergency instructins. Ask them t be yur surce f emergency infrmatin as it cmes ver the radi. Anther ptin is t use a NOAA Weather Radi with a tne-alert feature cnnected t lights. When a watch r warning is issued fr yur area, the light wuld alert yu t ptential danger. If yu have a hearing ear dg, be aware that the dg may becme cnfused r disriented in an emergency. If yu have a hearing ear dg, stre extra fd, water, and supplies fr yur dg. Trained hearing ear dgs will be allwed t stay in emergency shelters with their wners. Check with lcal emergency management fficials fr mre infrmatin. If yu are blind r visually impaired: Keep extra canes well placed arund the hme and ffice, even if yu use a guide dg. If yu have a guide dg, be aware that the dg may becme cnfused r disriented in an emergency. If yu have a guide dg, stre extra fd, water, and supplies fr yur dg. Trained guide dgs will be allwed t stay in emergency shelters with their wners. Check with lcal emergency management fficials fr mre infrmatin. If yu need a wheelchair, shw friends hw t perate yur wheelchair s they can mve yu if necessary. Make sure friends knw the size f yur wheelchair in case it has t be transprted, and where t get a battery if needed.

11 Listen t the advice f lcal fficials. Peple with disabilities have the same chices as ther cmmunity residents abut whether t evacuate their hmes and where t g when an emergency threatens. Decide whether it is better t leave the area, stay with a friend, r g t a public shelter. Each f these decisins requires planning and preparatin.