AUSTIN, Texas — With freezing temperatures and precipitation predicted for Central Texas this week, it’s a good idea to prepare an emergency kit for your home and make a plan should you lose power or water, or not be able to leave your residence.
The City of Austin’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management department suggests having critical supplies and resources to be self-sufficient for seven days. It recommends the following four steps to get prepared:
- Make a plan
- Build a kit
- Know your neighbors
- Stay informed
Make a plan
Officials recommend discussing with your family how you will respond, stay informed and contact one another during emergency situations in which key services like electricity, water or first responders may not be available.
A family emergency plan should include:
- A designated place to meet if you are separated – outside your home or nearby
- A plan to contact one another if you are unable to meet or get separated during a crisis
- Public safety phone numbers (police, fire and hospital) for your area
- An out-of-area contact to communicate that you’re safe and learn the status of other family members
A FEMA template for a family plan can be found here.
Build a kit
A kit should include enough supplies for everyone in your house for seven days. Understand the unique needs of you and your family and take those into account when building your kit. Don’t forget your pet's needs.
Kit checklist:
- Basic first aid kit, seven-day supply of medications/medical items
- Map of the area
- Extra cash (suggested: $200 in small bills)
- Spare change of clothes
- Spare car/home key
- Family and emergency contact info (phone and email)
- Pet supplies (collar, leash, tags, food, bowl)
- Copies of personal documents in water-tight bag
- 1 gallon of water per person, per day (seven-day supply)
- Seven-day supply of non-perishable food, can opener
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Cellphone, chargers, flashlight, extra batteries
- Sanitation, personal hygiene items, blankets
- Wrench or plyers
- Other tools or equipment you may need
Know your neighbors
If you can help one of your neighbors, that could be one less emergency call that needs to be made, the City of Austin says.
Reducing the strain on emergency services by helping each other can add up to make a big difference in a crisis. All this means that knowing your neighbors and identifying those who might need extra help during a disaster is critical to increasing Austin’s disaster preparedness.
See FEMA’s guide for life-saving tips if you are the help before first responders arrive.
Stay informed
Knowing where you can get reliable information during an emergency is crucial. It’s important to know ahead of time where you will get critical updates about what is going on in the community.
- You should always monitor local weather broadcasts for up-to-the-minute updates. Download KVUE's app for the latest forecast and to track radar 24/7: kvue.com/app.
- Download the Ready Central Texas phone application for iPhone or Android
- Sign up for Warn Central Texas to receive alerts for your neighborhood letting you know when you need to take immediate action to stay safe.
- Sign up HERE for emergency alerts in American Sign Language, English voice, and text for people who are Deaf, Blind, hard of hearing or Deaf and Blind OR by texting AHAS to (737) 241-3710
- Bookmark AustinTexas.gov/Alerts. This page will post key updates throughout an emergency and during recovery.
- Follow the City of Austin and other public safety agencies on social media
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