Emergency Preparedness: Getting Started

Step 1: Find out what disaster risks are in your area
Go here for a list of state/local FEMA offices.

• Learn what types of disasters are likely to happen and how to prepare for each.
• Identify what your community’s warning signals sound like and what to do if you hear them.

Step 2: Create a Family Emergency Plan
I found a great plan generator here.
Virginia also has an online form to help you generate a plan. Check it out here.
Basically, you need to consider what you would do in the event of an emergency. 

• Discuss with your family the types of hazards and threats in your area and what to do in each case.
• Make a list of important contact information and keep it with you at all times.
• Decide on a meeting place in case you cannot return to your home, and know where you would go if you had to evacuate your area.
• Collect information about the locations where your family members spend the most time (work, school, etc).
• Record any medications your family members take on a daily basis.
• Collect information for others you might need to contact in an emergency. ( For example, doctor, pharmacist, insurance.)

Step 3: Assemble an Emergency Supply Kit
Chance and I are creating one for the car, one for our home, and one for him to take to the office.
Virginia has a list of recommended items for such a kit here.
The third post in this series will focus on creating your kits. Stay tuned.

Links:
*I started my research using my local church's website BlessFamily.com
*This pdf helped me get the ball rolling. I also used a lot of the information from it in this post.