Determine the types of disasters whether they are natural or non-natural, that are most likely to occur in your area, such as severe weather, environmental hazards, or power outages.

Below are our local disaster events (both natural & non-natural) in order of most likely to least likely to affect our region as a whole.

Natural Hazards

1. Pandemic & Infectious Disease
2. Extreme Temperatures
3. Flood
4. Winter Storm
5. Windstorm / Tornado
6. Invasive Species
7. Drought
8. Subsidence / Sinkhole
9. Radon
10. Wildfire
11. Lightning
12. Earthquake
13. Hailstorm
14. Landslide

Non-Natural Hazards (or human-made)

1. Cyber-Terrorism
2. Terrorism
3. Drug Overdose Crisis
4. Utility Interruption
5. Environmental Hazards / Explosions
6.  Gas / Liquid Pipeline
7. Fire (Urban / Structural)
8. Transportation Crash
9. Civil Disturbance
10. Dam Failure
11. Levee Failure
12. Structural Collapse
13. Nuclear Incident

To find the breakdown of each of these 27 hazards including the probability, impact, extend, warning and duration please visit our Hazard Mitigation Page.

A family emergency communication plan is essential for the safety and well-being of loved ones during unexpected events. This plan addresses critical questions, including:

• • “What if something happens and family members are separated?”,
  • “Will it be possible to reach them?”,
  • “How can you know they are safe?”, and
  • “How can they be informed that you are OK?”. 

Before any emergency happens, make a plan. To start, sit down as a family and create both an emergency plan as well as a communications plan. Make sure everyone has each other’s phone numbers and also has numbers for other family or friends nearby who can help relay information.

Also decide on a good safe location you can all meet at if you are unable to return home right away. A friend, family member or local landmark (church, school, etc.)

Finally, DO NOT forget about your pets! Pets shall be included in every emergency plan!

Write down it all down (see useful, printable lists below) and make copies for everyone and keep a copy in your emergency supply kit. Remember to check the plan periodically to make sure its always up-to-date. And do not forget to create a plan and gather supplies for your family’s four-legged members.

• • Family Communications Plan
  • Family Emergency Plan (wallet size cards) 

You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 3 days.

Utilize the checklists below to help provide the information and items you need to create your own kits for your home, vehicle, pets, etc.:

• • ALL-IN-ONE Emergency Supply Checklist
  • Disaster Checklist

An effective evacuation plan shall include:

• • clearly defined escape routes,
  • designated meeting points,
  • communication strategies, and
  • provisions for individuals with special needs and/or pets!

It is crucial to practice the plan regularly and update it as needed.

Guide below on creating an evacuation plan.

Disaster preparedness for individuals with special needs requires careful planning and consideration of unique challenges and requirements. This includes developing a comprehensive support network, creating a personalized emergency plan, and assembling a well-stocked emergency kit. Specifically, individuals should focus on accessible transportation, communication needs, and the availability of necessary medical supplies and equipment. 

Special Considerations for Different Needs:

• • Mobility Impairments – Plan for accessible routes, identify manual wheelchairs as backup options, and consider the need for assistance with lift and carrying.
  • Sensory Impairments – Ensure access to visual and auditory alarms, and consider the use of assistive devices to receive emergency information.
  • Cognitive Impairments – Prepare clear and concise instructions for caregivers and support persons, and consider using visual aids to communicate information.
  • Children with Special Healthcare Needs – Include specific information about the child’s medical needs, medications, allergies, and instructions for using medical equipment in your emergency kit and share it with your support network.

By proactively addressing these key areas, individuals with special needs can significantly enhance their preparedness and increase their chances of staying safe during a disaster.

Your pets are an important member of your family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan. To prepare for the unexpected follow these tips with your pets in mind:

1. 1. Make a plan.
   2. Build an emergency kit.
   3. Stay informed.

Make a Plan

If you have a plan in place for you and your pets, you will likely encounter less difficulty, stress and worry when you need to make a decision during an emergency. If local officials ask you to evacuate, that means your pet should evacuate too. If you leave your pets behind, they may end up lost, injured or worse.

• • Have an evacuation plan for your pet. Many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside. Know a safe place where you can take your pets before disasters and emergencies happen.
  • Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.
  • Have your pet microchipped. Make sure to keep your address and phone number up-to-date and include contact information for an emergency contact outside of your immediate area.
  • Contact your local emergency management office, animal shelter or animal control office to get additional advice and information if you’re unsure how to care for your pet in case of an emergency.
  • Preparing Pets for an Emergency

Build a Kit for Your Pet

Just as you do with your family’s emergency supply kit, think first about the basics for survival, such as food and water. Have two kits, one larger kit if you are sheltering in place and one lightweight version for if you need to evacuate.  Review your kits regularly to ensure that their contents, especially foods and medicines, are fresh. Find a Pet Supplies Checklist within this LINK.

Prepare Pets for Travel

When evacuating your home, it’s important to bring your pets. Because you may need to put your cat or dog into a pet carrier, it’s important that they’re comfortable with the experience. Follow these tips to reduce their stress:

Preparing your family for a disaster involves more than just creating a plan. Each family member – especially children – should know exactly what to do during an emergency. Here are some helpful suggestions to communicate the importance of disaster preparedness to your family.

• • Designate Roles / Responsibilities: Give everyone in your family a responsibility. Each family member is an integral part of the plan and each has an important contribution.
  • Role-play: Younger family members may be easily upset if they see a parent worried or panicking. Spend an afternoon pretending an emergency has occured and allow everyone to practice their designated roles. This will help your family be better prepared for the rush of emotions they may experience during a disaster.
  • Visit Emergency Meeting Places: If you have chosen an emergency meeting place, make certain your family is familiar with the location. Assist family members in recognizing landmarks (i.e., buildings, signs, curiously shaped trees or other landmarks, etc.) to help remind them of where they are or where they should be going. Ensure family members memorize emergency rendezvous location addresses.
  • Introduce Your Family to Emergency Contacts: Young children may not be comfortable talking with strangers – even strangers their parents have designated as safe. Introduce your children to emergency contacts and explain their role in your family’s disaster plan. Instruct children regarding safe authority figures, such as firemen, police officers, emergency medical personnel, etc.
  • Practice: Regularly quiz family members about the family’s emergency preparedness plan. Make it a game for younger children. Who’s our local emergency contact? Where do we go when there’s an emergency? Who’s responsible for watching the dog? What is our address? What are the phone numbers you will call? What will you do if we get separated? Where is the emergency kit stored and what is in it? Where is the water stored? How do you use a manual can opener? How do you use a cell phone or landline? The more the family practices the plan, the better family members will be able to recall what to do during an actual emergency.
  • Point Out Emergency Essentials: Be sure everybody in your family know the location of your Disaster Supply / Emergency Kit. Keep your Disaster Supply / Emergency Kit in one place – if you move it, let everyone know the new storage location.
  • Be Honest: Everyone in your family will have questions about preparedness. Take the time to address questions, concerns, and fears, honestly and factually. Discuss mental health concerns, evacuation, sheltering, and returning home. Emphasize, although the situation may be difficult, and there may be loss and/or sadness, the family has made and practiced the plans to survive and recover from any disaster situation.

Americans at all income levels have experienced the challenges of rebuilding their lives after a disaster or other emergency. In these stressful times, having access to personal financial, insurance, medical and other records is crucial for starting the recovery process quickly and efficiently. Financial Preparedness

1. 1. Gather financial and critical personal, household and medical information.
   2. Consider saving money in an emergency savings account that could be used in any crisis. Keep a small amount of cash at home in a safe place. It is important to have small bills on hand because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster when you need to purchase necessary supplies, fuel or food.
   3. Obtain property (homeowners or renters), health and life insurance if you do not have them. Not all insurance policies are the same. Review your policy to make sure the amount and types of coverage you have meets the requirements for all possible hazards. Homeowners insurance does not typically cover flooding, so you may need to purchase flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program.
   4. For more helpful financial preparedness tips, download the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) to get started planning today.

Be Safe

• • Be cautious about sharing personal financial information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or credit card number.
  • Do not click on links in texts or emails from people you don’t know. Scammers can create fake links to websites.
    • Remember that the government will not call or text you about owing money or receiving economic impact payments.
    • Be aware that scammers may try to contact you via social media. The government will not contact you through social media about owing money or receiving payments.
  • Keep in mind that scammers may try to take advantages of financial fears by calling with work-from-opportunities, debt consolidation offers, and student loan repayment plans.
  • Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/complaint if you receive messages from anyone claiming to be a government agent.

Emergency Financial First Aid Kit

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK), a joint publication from Operation HOPE and FEMA, can help you prepare financially and provides tips to reduce the financial impact of disasters on you and your family.

At Home

Store important documents either in a safety deposit box, an external drive or on the cloud to make it easy to access during a disaster.

Take time now to safeguard these critical documents. Be cautious about sharing personal financial information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or credit card number.

Household Identification

• • Photo ID (to prove identity of household members)
  • Birth certificate (to maintain or re-establish contact with family members)
  • Social Security card (to apply for FEMA disaster assistance)
  • Military service
  • Pet ID tags

Financial and Legal Documentation

• • Housing payments (to identify financial records and obligations)
    • Some individuals and households may experience financial difficulty because of the pandemic. If you do not think you can pay your loan payments on time, immediately contact your bank and discuss your options before skipping any payments or taking any other actions contrary to the terms of your loans.
  • Insurance policies (to re-establish financial accounts)
  • Sources of income (to maintain payments and credit)
  • Tax statements (to provide contact information for financial and legal providers and to apply for FEMA disaster assistance)

Medical Information

• • Physician information (in case medical care is needed)
  • Copies of health insurance information (to make sure existing care continues uninterrupted)
  • Immunization records
  • Medications

Insurance Information

Having insurance for your home or business property is the best way to make sure you will have the necessary financial resources to help you repair, rebuild or replace whatever is damaged. Document and insure your property now.

Household Contact Information

• • Banking institutions
  • Insurance agents
  • Health professionals
  • Service providers
  • Place of worship

Get Your Benefits Electronically

A disaster can disrupt mail service for days or weeks. If you depend on Social Security or other regular benefits, switching to electronic payments is a simple, significant way to protect yourself financially before disaster strikes. It also eliminates the risk of stolen checks. The U.S. Department of the Treasury recommends two safer ways to get federal benefits:

• • Direct deposit to a checking or savings account. If you get federal benefits you can sign up by calling 800-333-1795 or sign up online.
  • The Direct Express® prepaid debit card is designed as a safe and easy alternative to paper.

Apply for government-funded unemployment, healthcare, and food and nutrition benefits to supplement your income or savings.

Consider using online and mobile banking services, if you are able. These services enable you to practice social distancing and conduct banking transactions at the same time.

To prepare your home for disasters, reinforce its structure, secure outdoor items, and have an emergency plan. Specifically, secure your roof, windows, and doors, trim trees, clear gutters, and anchor outdoor furniture. Additionally, check your insurance and make sure you have proper insurance coverage.

Ways of Securing Your Home

• • Roof – ensure your roof is in good condition and properly secured.
  • Windows & Doors – Install storm shutters or impact-resistant windows and doors. Reinforce weak points like windows and garage doors to withstand high winds.
  • Gutters and Downspouts – Clean and clear gutters and downspouts to prevent water damage and potential flooding.
  • Outdoor Items – Anchor or store outdoor furniture, decorations, and other loose items that could become projectiles in high winds.
  • Trees and Vegetation – Trim trees and remove dead branches near your house to prevent
  • Backup Power – If you live in an area prone to power outages, consider having a generator and fuel for backup power.

During a disaster, it’s crucial to listen to and follow the instructions of local officials. This includes heeding evacuation orders, shelter-in-place directives, and other safety recommendations. Staying informed through official channels like radio, television, or official mobile apps, and taking immediate action when instructed, is vital for personal safety and the safety of your community. 

Why it’s important:

• • Safety – Local officials are equipped with the information and resources to assess the situation and provide guidance that is specific to your area and the type of disaster.
  • Efficient Response – Following instructions helps emergency responders manage the situation effectively and allocate resources appropriately. 
  • Minimizing Risk – Heeding warnings and taking protective actions, such as evacuation, can significantly reduce the risk of injury or harm to residents AS WELL AS first responders.

How to stay informed:

• • NOAA Weather Radio – A nationwide network broadcasting continuous weather information.
  • Local News Outlets – Pay attention to local radio and television stations for updates and instructions from officials.
  • Official Mobile Apps – Download useful apps such as the FEMA app or other relevant apps for alerts and information. (Click links for useful apps, PA511, Red Cross, & FEMA)
  • Social Media – Follow emergency management agency accounts (such as ours) on platforms like (click on platform to see our page) Facebook and/or X for updates.
  • Public Service Announcements – Pay attention to announcements from emergency services and public agencies via WEA alerts (through cellular phone) or EAS (through television interruption). 
  • Multiple Channels – Utilize multiple channels to receive alerts and information for increased reliability.