Emergency Checklist

If an emergency occurs and your family is asked to leave home temporarily, you may not have much time to assemble needed items. You and your family will be better prepared if you gather items in advance. Assemble them in a transportable container or bag and keep them in a location the whole family can access. Make sure all family members know where the supplies are located.

Other things you can do to help prepare for an emergency include:

• Keep at least 1 vehicle in good running order.
• Put important papers in a safe place. This includes copies of credit cards, birth certificates, passports, titles and deeds, lists of medications and their dosage, etc.
• If you have special evacuation assistance or transportation needs in an emergency, please call your county emergency management office.
• Sign up for CodeRED emergency notifications through your county emergency management website.

If evacuees bring pets to the assistance center, their pets can be monitored for contamination. The American Red Cross will make accommodations for household pets. If you need to evacuate with your pet, here are some items to think about bringing:

• Collars, leashes, muzzles
• Canned dog food
• A bowl for pet food/water and any medications the pet is taking
• A copy of the pet’s vet record
• A pet carrier (if it is a smaller pet)
• A blanket from inside the home – do not bring beds or blankets that have been outside.

Preparation

Preparation is the key to emergency readiness. Assemble supplies your family will need in advance.

Your kit should include at least the following items: