Disaster Preparedness for Military Families

There are special considerations for military families when planning for disasters.
Most military installations have a Readiness and Emergency Management Flight that provides emergency management briefings and education materials to active-duty military and family members. The flights coordinate and integrate activities to build, sustain, and improve the ability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from potential or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other human-caused disasters.

The first steps to readiness for military families include:

• Learn which disasters could affect your area and whether they would necessitate evacuation or shelter-in-place.
• Keep your NOAA Weather Radio tuned to your local emergency station and monitor TV, radio, and mobile alerts about severe weather in your area.
• Download the FEMA app, and sign up to receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five different locations anywhere in the United States.

Make a plan

The emergency management plan for a military installation is a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) 10-2. Military members should ensure their family members are aware of the CEMP 10-2 and supporting checklists.

• Every time you relocate, learn the types of emergencies likely to affect the area and update your emergency kit and plan with new materials if necessary.
• If you live off the base or installation, threat levels or other circumstances may keep you from accessing the base for day-to-day activities following an emergency. Locate alternative places to shop or obtain things you usually get on base.
• During or after an emergency, remember to report to your command. Learn and follow the established procedures.

If stationed abroad

• Learn the emergency telephone number for your location as it is probably not 911, and it may differ depending on whether you are on or off the installation. Communicate the telephone number to all family members.
• Create an emergency supply kit and include additional items, such as passports, birth certificates for children born overseas, cash in the local currency, a card with local translations of basic terms, and an electrical current converter.
• For an emergency that occurs off-base, any response (evacuations, shelter instructions, etc.) likely will be led by the local government. Cooperate with the host-nation responders and follow instructions.

Prepare to report

Following certain catastrophic events, the Secretary of the Defense may direct all DoD-affiliated people in the affected area to check in with their command for accountability.

Here’s where to find information specific to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard communities:

• Army. Ready Army is an Army-wide campaign developed by the Headquarters Department of the Army and the Army Emergency Management Program to prepare the Army community, encouraging soldiers, their families, and Army civilians to build a kit, make a plan, and be informed.
• Navy. Ready Navy is a Navy-wide emergency preparedness program initiated by Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC).
• Marine Corps. Ready Marine Corps is the United States Marine Corps’ proactive emergency preparedness public awareness program commissioned by Marine Corps Installation Command. The tips and resources offered through Ready Marine Corps allow you to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from any emergency, ranging from hurricanes and earthquakes to terrorist attacks.
• Air Force. Prepare for an emergency by visiting the official Air Force Be Ready Emergency Preparedness Website.
• Coast Guard. Ready Coast Guard is a Coast Guard-wide campaign sponsored by the Headquarters Health, Safety, and Work-Life Directorate’s Office. It is a proactive campaign to inform the Coast Guard community about relevant hazards and encourage them to have an emergency plan and kit. Through education and community awareness activities, the campaign encourages individuals and families to plan and prepare for all hazards.

More Resources

FEMA. Military Family Preparedness.