Thank you for your interest in preparing for emergencies. We hope our page has helped you to take steps forward in preparing your family, home, and vehicle(s) to be ready for disasters of all kinds. Once you have gathered a supply of water, built a kit with essential foods and supplies, created an emergency plan for your family, and learned about managing your stress and mental health following a disaster, much of the preparation and gathering supplies work will be complete. Read on about what comes next.
- Even after taking great steps in preparing for emergencies, the preparedness task is never completely “done.” Staying prepared requires regular maintenance of your plans, your contacts, and your supplies. After the work of gathering supplies and information is done, regular updates and replenishments become critically important.
- To keep track of when your emergency food and prescriptions were last checked, keep a written log with those supplies. If you find expiration dates set to pass before the next 6-month review, make a list and replace those items as soon as possible.
- Swap our your emergency clothing periodically. Replace any clothing or shoes that your children have outgrown. Make sure all adults in the household check that their emergency clothing items still fit too.
- Keep a list of reliable resources for preparedness information, and review occasionally for any new recommendations. We’ve listed a few of our favorite emergency websites below.
Resources
- Oregon Department of Emergency Management -- www.oregon.gov/oem/hazardsprep/Pages/2-Weeks-Ready.aspx
- Ready – www.ready.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- https://emergency.cdc.gov
- Red Cross -- www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html
To-Do List
- Mark your calendar so you remember to check your supplies regularly, at least twice a year.
- If you have school-aged kids, remember to update your plans when they change schools or after-school care.
- If your medical, home, or auto insurance information changes, make copies to keep with your financial information in your emergency kit.
Maintain Your Kit
Check your kit every 6 months.The best times to do this are before winter when storms and power outages are likely, and before summer when the risk of wildfire increases. Keep an up-to-date kit where it can be easily accessed.
Update Your Plan
Review your emergency plan at least once a year to ensure it remains valid, including meeting locations and out-of-state contacts. This is also a great time to practice the plan with your family members.
Refresh Your Contacts
Stay up-to-date with important contacts. Instead of relying solely on your smart phone to store those numbers, make a printed list of those contacts and give copies to every member of your household.