Have you developed an emergency and disaster plan? Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to plan in advance. How will you evacuate your home, school or workplace? How will you contact one another? How will you get back together? What should you do in different emergency situations?

Your plan should identify a place for family members to meet in the event your neighborhood is evacuated or your home is damaged. Your plan should also include a digital outreach plan with group text and social channels as well as an out-of town contact person such as a friend or relative. Your family members can call the designated contact person to notify them of their locations and if they are safe if cell/WiFi service is not available. The out-of-town contact person can then call/message other family members to pass information to and from each other.

Complete a hard copy and digital contact card for each family member and have them keep these cards stored in their phones, wallet, purse, backpack, etc. Be sure every member of your family has each other's cell numbers and the number to call the emergency contact. Tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts and added them as part of a group text. 

Include your entire family in making the disaster plan by following the basic guidelines from these resources:

• FEMA Emergency Plan
• LA County Emergency Plan 

• American Red Cross - How to Prepare for Emergencies 

Once you've completed making a plan, test your plan immediately and then practice your plan regularly.

Everyone should have an emergency kit with the essential requirements to meet their needs for three to seven days. You should make a kit to fit you and your family’s needs, whether for your household, vehicle, workplace, school, pets or personal needs. Consider where you and your family members spend their time and design a kit for each location. If your home is not damaged, you already have many supplies and items needed to sustain your family throughout the disaster. In the event you must vacate your home, the following items are required for your survival. Keep these items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supply kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers, such as an unused trashcan, camping backpack or duffel bag.

Basic Emergency Kit Supplies:

• Nonperishable food including canned, freeze-dried or dehydrated food for three meals a day per person for seven days, including pet food. Don't forget a can opener.
• One gallon of water per day per person for a minimum of seven days. Extra water for your pets and additional water for bathing, brushing your teeth, etc.
• An extra supply of all prescription medications used by your family members.
• First Aid kit with bandages, disinfectant, and antibiotic ointment.
• Tool kit with items such as hammer, wrench, screw driver, etc.
• Sanitation supplies and plastic bags for waste.
• Minimum of $100.00 cash in small bills and change in the event ATMs are not functioning.
• Emergency lighting with extra batteries, and a battery/ solar/crank-style radio.
• Bedding and blankets, or sleeping bags and tents.
• Minimum of one change of clothes per person with sturdy, closed-toe shoes.
• Families with special needs should include diapers for infants and toddlers and canes, walkers or other medical supplies for seniors in their basic supplies.
• Books, toys, puzzles and games help pass the time and keep children occupied.

Important Paperwork:

Keep the following important paperwork to use during the recovery process and store these documents in a portable, waterproof container:

• Copies of insurance policies
• Vital records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, passports, etc.
• Medical and immunization records
• Bank-account information
• Social Security records
• Military discharge papers
• Deed or mortgage documents related to your home
• Wills, deeds, and copies of recent tax returns
• Stocks, bonds and other negotiable certificates
• Utility bills to establish your residency when authorities allow evacuees back into the disaster area

How to Store Supplies:

While homeowners may be tempted to hide the supplies in a far corner of the garage or storage shed, it is recommended to store your emergency supplies where you can get to them quickly. Remember to maintain your kit, check food for expiration dates, and rotate water supplies so they never go stale. Each member of the family should be able to locate the disaster supply kit in case of an emergency.

To-Go Bag:

Each member of the family, including pets, should have a sturdy bag with supplies for their individual needs in the event they need to evacuate immediately. These bags should NOT be packed in plastic bags, but rather in a sturdy, canvas bag, backpack, or material that will hold up in travel. Bags should include:

• Water bottles, cartons, or foil pouches
• Portable non-perishable food such as energy or granola bars
• First Aid Kit or supplies
• Extra glasses or contact lenses
• Child care or other specialized supplies
• Soap, deodorant, toothbrush and other personal hygiene items
• Copies of all important documents, in waterproof, transportable container
• Contact and meeting place for your family, including phone numbers, and a small regional map
• Change of clothing and undergarments for at least three days, including layers of warm clothing and rain gear
• Extra credit card or cash, in small denominations
• Extra set of house and/or car keys
• Vitamins, medicines, and/or prescription medicines, including a list of what kind, dosages, reason for taking, and prescription schedule. You should prepare as though you will be away from your regular pharmacy or medical supplies for at least a week’s time.

Other Supply Kit Resources:

• FEMA Basic Disaster Supply Kit
• LA County Public Health Build a Kit

Purchase Supply Kits:

Disaster Supply Kits can be purchased online or at a variety of home improvement and home supply stores, supermarkets, or membership warehouse club chain stores.

Involve your children to help them understand what to do in an emergency. Engage them by asking what they would like to include in a disaster supplies kit, such as books or games or nonperishable food items. Ask them to help the household remember to keep the kits updated. Create a calendar, play a game to mark dates for checking emergency supplies rotating the emergency food and water or replacing it every six months and replacing batteries as necessary. Ask them to participate by helping you prepare plans and disaster kits for your family pets.

Resources for Children:  

• Ready Kids 
• Listen, Protect, and Connect (Psychological First Aid for Children & Parents)

Preparing for a disaster is important at every age. As people age, their needs and capabilities change so when preparing for a disaster, it’s important to think differently than you might have at an earlier age.

• Develop a plan specifically for your needs and share it with family, friends, and close neighbors
• Create a support network if you need assistance in case of an emergency
• Let people know about medications you might need or what your needs are
• Identify someone locally and out of state to call after a disaster strikes
• Text message even if only to say that, “All is Well”
• Prepare an emergency kit
• Learn how technology could support you with your important documents

Resources for Older Adults:

The following are links for additional resources for information and guides specific to preparedness for Older Adults in case of an emergency.

• FEMA Ready.gov for Older Adults
• American Red Cross Preparedness for Older Adults

For the millions of Americans with physical, medical, sensory or cognitive disabilities, emergencies such as earthquakes, fires, evacuations, and acts of terrorism present a real challenge.  Protecting yourself and your family when disaster strikes, requires planning ahead.  People who may have additional needs before, during, and after an incident in functional areas may need assistance with maintaining independence, communications, transportation or medical care. Disasters can create new physical barriers and may take away the ability to perform certain functions that were previously possible or to navigate the available response and recovery systems effectively. 

Decide what you will be able to do for yourself and what assistance you may need before, during and after a disaster. El Segundo will make every effort to address the needs of citizens with access and functional needs and will address issues related to communications, mobility, and accessibility.

American Red Cross along with FEMA and Department of Homeland Security created a guide book titled "Preparing for Disaster for People with Special Needs".  Another source of information is FEMA's Ready.org page that provides a wealth of information including a pamphlet, "Prepare for Emergency Now:  Information for People with Disabilities".

Disaster Supply Checklist for Pets:

• Food and water for at least three to seven days for each pet, with food and water bowls and a manual can opener.
• Depending on the pet, litter and litter box or newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags, grooming items and household bleach.
• Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container, a First Aid kit and a pet First Aid book.
• Sturdy leashes, harnesses and carriers to transport pets safely and to ensure that your pets cannot escape. A carrier should be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around, and lie down. Your pet may have to stay in the carrier for hours. Be sure to have a secure cage with no loose objects inside it to accommodate smaller pets. These may require blankets or towels for bedding and warmth and other special items.
• Pet toys and the pet’s bed, if you can easily take it to reduce stress.
• Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated, and to prove that they are yours.
• Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems and the name and telephone number of your veterinarian in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care.

Resources for Pet Preparedness:

• ASPCA Disaster Preparedness
• FEMA Information for Pet Owners
• American Red Cross Preparedness for Pets
• American Kennel Club Disaster Preparedness