Step 1. Find Local Risks & Resources
Before making plans or gathering supplies to prepare, first you’ll need to know what you’re preparing for! Discover your local risks and find out how to sign up to get local updates and alerts to help you and your household stay safe if a disaster happens.
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
If a disaster happens, being signed up to get real time alerts and knowing what disasters to prepare for are the first steps to staying safe. In the summer of 2021, a third of Americans lived in an area that experienced a significant disaster. But disasters — just like our precautions and responses to them — vary widely. What are the risks in your area? Floods? Hurricanes? Extreme heat? How will you get an alert to warn you and provide instructions on what to do to stay safe? What resources are available locally to help you and your family get prepared? Find answers to these questions and take your first step in becoming prepared!
This action is part of the Get Prepared sequence, be sure to complete all Steps 1-5!
1Step 1: Find out what risks apply to your area
The first step toward becoming resilient is to learn what risks are present where you live. Use this map from the National Center for Disaster Preparedness to find a list of hazards for your local area. Hazards are rated high, medium, low or none.
Multiple Natural Hazard Index for US Counties
To use this map:
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Enter your zip code or city name in the top left box that says “Find address or place.”
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Click on your city to see a popup with hazard Information (the highlighted area is your county.). If nothing happens when you click, you may need to zoom out until you see a colored background and try again (use the minus sign next to the box where you typed your city or zip code.)
Action: Find and write down your local hazards:
Use the map above to find and write down all high and medium risk hazards. Prioritize all high risk hazards when creating your emergency plan. For medium risk hazards, learn about the hazard and include it in your plan as advised by local authorities.
Note: For some areas, the local hazards, resources and alert system information is in the Resources section below. If yes, use this information to work through this and the following steps.
2Step 2: Find local preparedness resources
Action: Find and write down your local resources
Explore your Office of Emergency Services website or give them a call to find the information below. If you can’t find it, call your local fire department (on the non-emergency number) and ask:
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How to sign up for local Emergency Alert Networks (see more in the next step below).
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Where to ask questions or find the best resources on local hazards and preparedness.
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Ask if there are any specific evacuation routes for your area and use this in Step 3. Make a Plan
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Where to find information on upcoming community preparedness meetings or trainings.
3Step 3: Sign up to receive emergency alerts
Local agencies are responsible for providing residents with live, real-time updates and alerts with information on the state of the disaster, what to do (like shelter in place or head to a community shelter), and tips on staying safe and secure. Signing up for these alerts will ensure you’ve got the most accurate information from reliable sources.
Some areas have multiple alert systems for different disaster situations. Be sure to sign up for all of the local alert systems that apply to your location. Make sure everyone in your household with a cell phone signs up!
Action: Sign up for your local alert system
Use the resources you found in Step #2 above and sign up for your local alert system! Remember to update your information if anything changes.
Additional Alert Resource Options:
If you would like additional alerts, below are some additional resources:
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Follow agencies: like the local fire department or the National Weather Service on social media
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Red Cross Emergency Alerts app: Search “Emergency: Alerts” in the app store, or text: “GETEMERGENCY” to 90999, free app
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FEMA mobile app: Search “FEMA” in the app stor for the free app
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Weather Alerts app: Use the weather app on your smartphone or other weather app or stream NOAA Weather Radio.
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NOAA Weather Radio: requires a special VHF radio
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Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs): Most smart phones receive these free text alerts by default.
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Emergency Alert System (EAS): These messages are sent by local, state or federal authorities through radio and TV.