How to Prepare Before a Disaster Occurs
Find the full list of items to include in your preparedness kit, HERE.
Weather-related disasters can happen at any time, which is why it is important to be prepared ahead of time. Part of this preparedness includes having a preparedness kit. Test your knowledge on what should be included in your kit!
Is Your Emergency Preparedness Kit Ready?
Create Your Emergency Plan in Just 3 Steps
- With your family or household members, discuss how to prepare and respond to the types of emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live, learn, work and play.
- Identify responsibilities for each member of your household and how you will work together as a team.
- Practice as many elements of your plan as possible.
- Identify how local authorities will notify you during a disaster, how you will get information and download the Red Cross Emergency App.
- Know the difference between different weather alerts such as watches and warnings and what actions to take in each.
- Know what actions to take to protect yourself during disasters that may occur in areas where you travel or have moved recently.
- Make sure that at least one member of your household is trained in first aid and CPR and knows how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Find a class, HERE.
Preparedness Resources for Older Adults
This National Preparedness Month the American Red Cross encourages everyone, especially older adults, to get ready for emergencies.
According to new research from the Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and the American Academy of Nursing, older adults are more vulnerable and experience more casualties after a natural disaster compared to other age groups experiencing similar events.
Being prepared for disasters is important for people of all ages. But, there are several factors that make older adults more vulnerable during a natural disaster:
- Older adults experience more chronic conditions and medication concerns.
- They are more dependent on assistive devices, such as walkers and eye glasses, and support from caregivers. o Living in social isolation can also make them more vulnerable.
Preparedness for Older Adults Checklist
Preparedness for Older Adults Booklet
FREE Preparedness Classes
Virtually Presented During COVID-19
Offered virtually by the American Red Cross of Colorado Preparedness Team, the Pillowcase Project is a free program for 3rd to 6th graders to help increase awareness of natural hazards and encourage emergency preparedness actions.
Offered virtually by the American Red Cross of Colorado Preparedness Team, the Pillowcase Project is a free program for 3rd to 6th graders to help increase awareness of natural hazards and encourage emergency preparedness actions.
Floods and wildfires are becoming more frequent and can be devastating to our loved ones, homes and communities. Build confidence by learning simple steps you can take now, to help prepare and protect your family. It’s easy to learn through one of our FREE disaster preparedness trainings! If your employees are not prepared at home, they will be unable to work in times of disaster. We can hold a virtual class for your whole team!
Hosted by the American Red Cross, Be Red Cross Ready is a national, standardized, FREE preparedness education curriculum for adults taught by certified presenters.
Every eight minutes, the American Red Cross responds to a disaster in the U.S. – the vast majority of which are home fires. And tragically, seven people die in home fires each day, most in homes that lack working smoke alarms. The enormity of this loss of life and the commonplace nature of home fires rarely garners significant media attention, even when it strikes a local community.
The Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign in October 2014 to reduce home fire-related deaths and injuries. Our goal is to install 2.5 million smoke alarms and make 1 million homes safer in at-risk neighborhoods, as well as to educate families about home fire safety through free youth preparedness programs and the campaign’s Sound the Alarm events.
Most Common Disasters Across the U.S.
Find out which natural disasters affect your region, then read tips about how you can prepare.
Create Emergency Cards for All Household Members
- Print one card for each family member.
- Write the contact information for each household member, such as work, school and cell phone numbers.
- Fold the card so it fits in your pocket, wallet or purse.
- Carry the card with you so it is available in the event of a disaster or other emergency.