Go to the Getting Started Web page to
begin your preparedness plan.

91% of Americans believe it is important to be prepared for emergencies. However, only 55% of households report having taken any steps at all to prepare. In order to encourage more Americans to prepare themselves, their families, and their communities, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has sponsored public service advertisements that educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to all kinds of emergencies. Click here to view the ads and links to help get you prepared.

•  NEW   Click here to view a video of one family's story on how they prepared themselves for disaster. You can use the information to help you and your family get prepared too!

• An emergency checklist can help you do what is necessary for you and your family, or you can also check out the five-steps preparedness steps on our Getting Started page.

• Use this document to determine what should be in your Family Disaster Supply Kit. You can also purchase a kit from the Red Cross.

• Determine how much food and water in an emergency is needed.

• Be sure to have enough home emergency supplies.

• Are You Ready? Basic preparedness from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

• Preparing makes sense...Get Ready Now! from Maricopa County Emergency Management.

• Develop a Family Disaster/Emergency Plan and Home Escape Plan.

• Develop a Family Communications Plan.

• If authorities tell you to stay indoors and you cannot get to a community shelter, you should refer to your shelter plan, also called "shelter-in-place."

• Be aware of possible terrorism and prepare for terrorism disasters (FEMA).

• Organizing or participating in your local blockwatch is an excellent way to be sure your neighbors are just as prepared as you - and to help look out for one another (click here to find out how).

• Be sure you are prepared at work, as well as at home.

• Learn more about weather-related disasters and environmental-related emergencies.

• If you are interested in purchasing ready-made disaster kits and supplies, visit the Red Cross Store.

• Arizona 2-1-1 Online is the State of Arizona doorway to thousands of health, human service and emergency response resources. Developed in partnership with government, tribal, non-profit and community groups, Arizona 2-1-1 Online is committed to providing all Arizonans access to information and resources to improve the quality of their lives.

•  NEW   How prepared is your city? Unfortunately, most cities did not fare well when rated on overall preparedness. For a summary of the article, go to http://mmrs.fema.gov/news/threats/2006/jan/nthr2006-01-31a.aspx. You can also visit www.prepareyourfamily.org.

 Preparedness for Seniors

• Preparedness information for seniors, written by seniors.

• Evacuation Preparedness Guide, for people with disabilities and other activity limitations.

• Emergency Preparedness for Seniors from the Department of Homeland Security.

• Heat Stress in the Elderly, from the Center for Disease Control.

• Disaster Preparedness for the Elderly, from Wilcott Connecticut USA.

• How to develop a Disaster Action Plan for older, distant relatives, from AARP.

• Fire risk for older adults, the U.S. Fire Administration's guide on fire mitigation for seniors.

• Preparedness for the cognitively and developmentally disabled, from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

• Preparedness for individuals with impaired mobile ability, from DHS.

• Preparedness for individuals with visual disabilities, from DHS.

• Preparedness for individuals with hearing or speech disabilities, from DHS

• Preparedness for individuals with psychiatric disabilities, from DHS.

• Preparedness for users of service animals, from DHS.

• Preparing for disaster for people with disabilities and other special needs, from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

• Preparedness for users of service animals, from DHS.

• Get several documents, links, and information from FEMA regarding animals and disasters.

• Disaster Planning Tips for Pets, Livestock, and Wildlife, from FEMA.

• Ensure your pet's safety in the event of an emergency with a disaster plan for animals, from the Red Cross.

• Farm Animal Preparedness, from the Red Cross.

• Knowing first aid for pets is important in an emergency.

• Animal Disaster Plan Worksheet, from FEMA.

• Ready Pets brochure on emergency preparedness.

• FEMAs Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry.

• Plan to stay in business, from Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has many links and resources for your business, as well as information on protecting your business.

• DHS encourages businesses to talk to their people.

• Checklist criteria for business recovery, from FEMA.

• Preparing your business for the unthinkable - business and industry guide from the Red Cross.

• Learn what should be in your Personal Workplace Disaster Supplies Kit, from the Red Cross.

• Disaster Recovery Guide to Financial Issues, from the Red Cross.

• Business Recovery: Operation Fresh Start, has several links and resources for businesses.

• How the public can help after a disaster, from FEMA.

• Helping children cope with disaster, from FEMA.

• Are you ready to not only respond in a disaster, but to recover from a disaster?

• Disaster Recovery Guide to Financial Issues, from the Red Cross.

• Operation Fresh Start - helping families and businesses recover from disaster.

• Visit DisasterHelp for information and recovery resources.

• Need recovery assistance? Contact the Red Cross or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).