Natural disasters, like floods, storms, and earthquakes, can strike at any time without warning and disrupt our normal lives. Being prepared for a disaster will help protect both you and your loved ones during an emergency. Here are some steps and resources we recommend to prepare for a disaster before crisis strikes.
Create an Emergency Plan
Making an emergency plan is a great way to prepare for a disaster. Here are some tips on what to include:
- Identify evacuation routes in your area and have a plan to reach them when disaster strikes.
- Create a communication plan with your loved ones, including emergency contacts and designate a family member as the point of contact.
- Sign up for emergency alerts from your local authorities and federal government resources. Download the FEMA app to get information in a central place. In case of evacuation, follow instructions from local authorities quickly.
- Build an emergency kit to help you and your family during a disaster. Include supplies like non-perishable food, water, flashlights, first aid supplies, and any medications required. Important documents like insurance policy papers and identification documents should also be included.
Planning ahead will help ensure that you and your family are prepared in the event of a disaster. To learn more about preparing for and responding to a disaster, visit Make A Plan on Ready.gov.
Helpful Benefits for Disaster Relief
Crisis counseling provides immediate counseling to victims of federally declared disasters. To use this program, you must have been in the area during a disaster, and that disaster must have been declared a major disaster by the President. After a presidential disaster declaration, you may also be eligible for the Individual and Household Assistance Program, which helps with temporary housing and repair of damaged permanent housing. Disaster Legal Services provide legal help to low-income individuals affected by a major disaster. Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are facilities that provide information and other resources to survivors recovering from a disaster. DRCs are set up in locations where a disaster has taken place and are open to all survivors.
More Resources
Disasterassistance.gov can provide you with up-to-date information about your local disaster and the available resources in your area. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security hosts Ready.gov, a great website for information on different types of disasters and resources to prepare for them. We have many other disaster relief programs on Benefits.gov. Use our Benefit Finder questionnaire to find other benefits you may be eligible for and browse the Disaster Relief category to see all disaster benefit programs on our website.
