How to Prepare for Disasters
Family Protection and Preparedness
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides a number of fact sheets on things families can do to prepare for disasters. Some are available can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format for viewing or color printing.
FEMA Materials
- Your Family Disaster Plan
- Disaster Supplies Kit
- Emergency Food & Water
- Emergency Preparedness Checklist
- Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book for Kids [PDF only]
- Helping Children Cope with Disaster
- Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities
Preparing for Common Disasters a set of fact sheets that provides background and preparedness information on: Earthquakes, Extreme Heat, Floods, Hurricanes, Landslides and Mudflows, Tornadoes, Tsunamis, Volcanoes, and Wildland Fires (FEMA).
Animals in Emergencies Preparedness Information includes fact sheets for pet owners as well as emergency managers and planners.
Severe Weather Safety is an illustrated guide on severe weather safety that includes advice on what to do in case of tornadoes, flash flooding, and lightning (National Weather Service).
Severe Weather Preparedness includes a set of 6 fact sheets on preparing for storms, tornadoes, and flooding (Illinois Disaster Education Action Commitee).
Winter Storm Preparedness includes a set of 12 fact sheets on preparing for winter danger (Illinois Disaster Education Action Commitee).
Drought Mitigation information from the National Drought Mitigation Center helps people and institutions develop and implement measures to reduce societal vulnerability to drought. Additional drought resources can be found at:
- Coping with Droughts (North Dakota State University Extension Service)
- Illinois Drought Resources
- EDEN (Extension Disaster Education Network) Drought Information
Reducing Risk and Protecting Home and Property
Household and Personal Property Inventory Book from the University of Illinois Extension is a comprehensive 60 page guide (in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, 639K) on how to prepare a household inventory that will help in making insurance claims or documenting losses for tax purposes. Includes forms and instructions, along with insurance advise and a listing of agencies and organizations who can provide additional information and answers to insurance questions.
Reducing Risk Through Mitigation includes an overview of the importance of preventive action that can reduce the losses to disasters; information for homeowners, building professionals, communities, and businesses; and guidelines for flood, hurricane/tornado, earthquake, and wildfire.
Flood Insurance Information for Consumers from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (FEMA)
- What You Need to Know About Federal Disaster Assistance & Federal Flood Insurance
- Flood: Are You Protected from the Next Disaster?
Trees and Ice Storms Susceptibility ratings of species commonly planted in urban areas are presented for use in developing and maintaining healthy urban tree populations. Includes information about what causes ice storms.
Additional Information
Preparedness Planning for Your Business A step-by-step approach to emergency planning, response and recovery for companies of all sizes. Sponsored by a Public-Private Partnership with FEMA.
Information Resources includes additional information.