Frequently Asked Questions

• CDC and Red Cross list items in a first aid kit.
• Contact your local Red Cross for classes in first aid, CPR and AED.
  • American Heart Association and Red Cross First Aid Guidelines

• Listen to local news on radio or television.
• Enter your ZIP code for local forecast into the National Weather Service website.
• Track the storm in the ocean at the National Hurricane Centerwebsite.

Call local hospitals from the contact list.

• Regional Resources

The healthcareready.org site shows open pharmacies in impacted disaster areas.

• Download the FEMA app or text SHELTER and ZIP code to 43362.
  
• Contact the local Red Cross.
  • Link the page for state and regional resources
• For more information about shelters, visit Ready website.

• Download the FEMA app or text SHELTER and ZIP code to 43362.
  
• Contact the local Red Cross or Salvation Army.
  • Regional Resources

Make a plan

• Ready Make a Plan
• Red Cross: how to prepare for emergencies
• CDC Hurricane Preparedness

Making a disaster kit

• Ready Build a Kit
• CDC Checklist for Kids and Families
• CDC Hurricane Supplies
• Red Cross Survival Kit Supplies
• FEMA Emergency Supply Check List
• Checklist for children
  • Ready Wrigley Emergency Kit
  • Ready Kids Build a Kit

Communication

• Create a family communication plan.
  • FEMA Emergency Communication Plan
  • Ready Family Communication Plan
• Store resources to phone before the storm and download related apps.
  • Resource Guide
  • FEMA App
    
  • Ready Wrigley App
    
  • Red Cross has several mobile apps for download.
• There are two radio services for families. Visit the FCC for more information.
• Resources for children:
  • CDC Ready Wrigley Family Communication Plan
  • CDC Ready Wrigley Back Pack Emergency Card
  • Ready Kids Family Communication Plan

Food and water storage

• Proper food and water storage is important before, during and after a storm. Find out tips to keep your family safe.
  • FDA Food and Water Safety
  • CDC Food and Water Facts
  • USDA Food and Water Facts
  • FEMA Food and Water in an Emergency
  • Ready Food
  • Ready Water

Children identification

• Create waterproofed identification for each child.
  • CDC Ready Wrigley Back Pack Emergency Card

Pets

• Keep your pets safe by planning before the storm.
  • Ready Pets and Animals
  • Ready Information for Pet Owners
  • Ready Preparing Pets for Emergencies
  • Red Rover Animal Disaster Preparedness
  • ASPCA Pet Disaster Preparedness
  • Humane Society Make a Disaster Plan for Pet
  • CDC Pet Safety in Emergencies
  • CDC Pet Disaster Preparedness Kit

Protecting your home

• Flash created a number of resources to educate professionals and the general public on safeguarding homes and buildings.

Insurance and other important documents

• Organize important documents before the storm to able to grab and go.
  • FEMA Safeguard Critical Documents and Valuables
  • Ready Financial Preparedness
• Flood insurance information:
  • National Flood Insurance Program
  • FEMA Document and Insure Your Property

Organization websites

• Many national organizations have dedicated pages or resources for hurricane and flooding preparation.
  • FEMA Hurricane Information
  • Ready Hurricane Information
  • CDC Hurricane Information
  • CDC Hurricane and Flooding Preparedness
  • EPA Hurricane Information
  • NWS Hurricane Information
  • Flash Hurricane Information
  • Red Cross Hurricane Information
  • AAP Healthy Children Hurricane Preparedness

• Always listen to local authorities about evacuation.
• More information about evacuation:
  • Ready Evacuation Information
  • CDC Evacuation Information

• Red Cross Disaster Cleanup
• OSHA Disaster Cleanup
• CDC Disaster Cleanup
• CDC Household Cleaning and Sanitizing
• CDC Reentering Your Flooded Home
• Children safety:
  • CDC Kids Clean Up Safety
  • EPA Protecting Children Health
• Children’s Activity book:
  • CDC Being Safe After a Flood

• Red Cross Safe Generator Use
• OSHA Portable Generator Safety
• CDC Generator Safety Fact Sheet

PEHSU Children’s health in the aftermath of floods

Mold

• CDC Mold Cleanup Guide
• CDC Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters
• EPA Mold Information
• EPA Mold Guide
• PEHSU Mold in Home and School
• OSHA Mold Quick Card
• Children’s Activity book
  • CDC Ready Wrigley Mold

Flood waters

• CDC Flood Safety
• CDC Preventing Diarrheal Illness (pdf)
• CDC Protection from Released Chemicals
• OSHA Flood Cleanup Facts

Electrical Hazards

• CDC Protect Yourself from Electrical Hazards
• OSHA Electrical Safety Quick Facts

 Animals

• CDC Animal and Insect Hazards Fact Sheet
• OSHA Rodent, Snakes, and Insects Quick Card

 Heat

• CDC Extreme Heat Information
• OSHA Heat Safety Fact Sheet
• Red Cross Heat Wave Safety

Carbon Monoxide

• CDC Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Information
• CDC Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• OSHA Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Quick Card
• PEHSU Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Children

 Debris

• US Army Corps of Engineers Protecting Yourself While Removing Post-Disaster Debris
• EPA Disaster Debris Planning

 Mosquitoes

• CDC Protecting Yourself and Family from Mosquito Bites
• CDC Ready Wrigley Mosquito Bites are Bad
• EPA Insect Repellents

Disaster Assistance Improvement Program (DAIP) is an e-government program created to streamline the process for access and to apply for disaster assistance. Simply enter a zip code or city and state.

• Ready Coping with Disaster
• Ready Kids Coping with Disaster
• CDC Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event
• CDC Helping Children Cope During and After a Disaster
• CDC Ready Wrigley Coping After a Disaster
• AAP Health Children Coping with Disaster
• Red Cross Helping Children Cope with Disaster
• SAMHSA Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event

Children-focused sites with tools, information, and games to prepare the youth.

• Ready Kids Hurricane Information
• CDC Ready Wrigley Hurricane Information
• Ready Wrigley App