Emergency Preparedness

Disaster can strike quickly, without warning. Your health department, other local officials, and relief workers have plans in place for a variety of possible emergencies. Do you? Valuable information can also be found on the following websites: Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) or Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

A chance to serve your community in times of crisis:
Have you ever asked yourself, “What can I to do help?” The Peoria City/County Medical Reserve Corps will change your attitude about volunteering and preparing for a disaster.

Regularly Updated Messages Prepare us for all hazards:
See our Preparedness Messages for new articles and updated information to prepare yourself, your family, your community for emergencies.

Emergency Preparedness Word Search with Answer Key

Preparing Makes Sense. Get Ready Now

1. Get a Kit of emergency supplies.
   Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to make it on your own for at least three days (possibly up to two weeks). While there are many things that might make you more comfortable, think first about fresh water, food and clean air.
   Here is a list of recommended supplies to include in a basic preparedness kit:
• Water one gallon per person per day, for drinking and sanitation
• Non-perishable food at least a three-day supply
• Battery-powered or hand crank Radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First Aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Filter mask or cotton t-shirt to help filter the air
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener if kit contains canned food
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Important family documents
• Items for unique family needs, such as daily prescription medications, infant formula and diapers, or pet supplies
2. Make a Plan for what you will do in an emergency.
   Plan in advance what you will do in an emergency. Be prepared to assess the situation. Use common sense and whatever you have on hand to take care of yourself and your loved ones.
3. Be Informed about what might happen.
   Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling a supply kit and developing a family emergency plan, are the same for both a natural or manmade emergency. However there are significant differences among potential terrorist threats, such as biological, chemical, explosive, nuclear and radiological, which will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. By beginning a process of learning about these specific threats, you are preparing yourself to react in an emergency. Go to ready.gov to learn more about potential terrorist threats and other emergencies or call 1-800-BE-READY (1-800-237-3239) for a free brochure. Be prepared to adapt this information to your personal circumstances and make every effort to follow instructions received from authorities on the scene. Also learn about your community's local emergency plan. With these simple preparations, you can be ready for the unexpected.
4. Get Involved in preparing your community.
   After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies, take the next step and get involved in preparing your community. Learn more about Citizen Corps, which actively involves citizens in making our nation safer, stronger and better prepared. We all have a role to play in keeping our hometowns secure from emergencies of all kinds. Also consider joining the Peoria County Medical Reserve Corps which needs both medical and non-medical volunteers to help with disasters in Peoria County.

Join the American Red Cross Ready Rating program. It's a free Web-based program designed to help businesses, organizations and schools become better prepared for emergencies. Complete an online assessment of your current readiness level and receive immediate, customized feedback with tips to improve preparedness. Visit www.readyrating.org today. Peoria City/County Health Department is a proud member of Ready Rating.

Budget-Friendly Guide to Putting Together an Emergency Preparedness Kit

Preparedness for All Americans
Preparación para Todos los Cuidadanos

Preparedness for Older Americans
Preparación para los Estadounidenses Mayores

Preparedness for People with Disabilities and Special Needs
Preparación para las Personas con Discapacidades y Necesidades Especiales

Preparedness for Pet Owners
Preparación para los Dueños de Mascotas