Emergency Preparedness

Storms, heavy rain, flooding, even hurricanes batter the coasts. Extreme weather and natural disasters can cause significant damage to coastal communities and ecosystems.

If disaster strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, and electricity for days or even weeks. What would you do if basic services - water, gas, electricity, or telephones were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will eventually be on the scene but they cannot reach everyone right away. Families and workplaces can cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together. Take the time now to prepare for an emergency.

What you can do

1) Create a household emergency plan with the following:

• A full layout of your house with at least two marked exits 
• A map with evacuation routes marked 
• Emergency contact phone numbers

2) Assemble a disaster kit with at least:

• 3 days worth of water, food, and medical supplies 
• Battery operated radio (be sure to check the batteries at least once a year) 
• Flashlight 
• Blanket

If a community evacuation is necessary, local officials will provide information through the media, sirens, or telephone calls. Various government agencies, the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, or other disaster relief organizations also provide emergency shelter and supplies.