Why does it matter?

Lithium-ion batteries power many electronic devices and vehicles, including electric cars, E-bikes, golf carts, scooters, and laptops. However, these batteries can cause fires or even explode if they malfunction, are damaged, or are submerged in water. Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries can pose a significant risk for users and first responders as they are difficult to extinguish.

When collisions or floodwaters damage a lithium-ion battery, a short circuit can cause the cells to discharge energy and heat up. This leads to a condition called “thermal runaway,” in which the heat moves from one cell to the next, causing the cells to ignite and burn in an uncontrollable, self-heating state.

When a lithium-ion battery is underwater, contaminants or saltwater can cause short circuiting. Damaged lithium-ion batteries can also short-circuit after a motor vehicle collision or when moved or loaded onto a tow truck.

Hurricane Ian raised awareness of EV battery issues when it damaged some electric vehicles. Those submerged in saltwater resulted in long-duration, high-voltage electrical battery fires, and several parked in garages or near buildings caused the buildings to ignite as well.

Consider and prepare for the potential dangers of lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles and other equipment, especially before disaster strikes.

Where do I start?

Follow all Lithium-Ion Battery Powered Vehicle Safety and Storage Tips

• Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to charge your electric vehicle and use only charging devices certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

• Stop using the vehicle and notify 9-1-1 immediately if you notice an odor, color or shape change, increased heat, leaking, smoke, or odd noises from the lithium-ion battery-powered vehicle. Be aware that a lithium-ion battery could be damaged without immediately showing these signs.

• If you suspect your lithium-ion battery-powered vehicle has been exposed to or damaged by water, salt water, or other conditions, do not attempt to go near the vehicle, charge or drive the vehicle, or store the vehicle indoors or near structures.

• Notify 9-1-1 immediately if you suspect your electric vehicle has battery damage.

According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection:

• Electric vehicles with suspected battery damage should be towed and inspected by the vehicle dealer or a mechanic certified for hybrids or EVs before use.
• The recommended distance away from EVs with damaged lithium batteries is 50 feet.
• If an EV has sustained damage and cannot be towed, request assistance from emergency responders to disconnect the battery pack from the vehicle safely.
• Damaged lithium-ion batteries can heat up uncontrollably, resulting in fires, off-gassing, and explosions.
• Damaged lithium-ion batteries can pose a risk after the initial damage; some were observed to have reignited days after the original damage.

More Resources

NFPA Lithium-Ion Battery Safety

Electric Vehicle Charging Safety Tips

Post-Storm Guidance: How to Handle Electric Vehicle Lithium-Ion Batteries

Considerations for Fire Service Response to Residential Battery Energy Storage System Incidents

Why does it matter?

Flooding is one of the deadliest disasters and can happen anywhere it rains. That is why everyone should understand how to stay safe in a flood.

What do I need to know?

There are several types of flooding, but the most common are river floods, flash floods, and coastal floods. River floods occur when an inland water body, such as a river, lake, or stream, rises and overflows onto the surrounding banks and land. Flash floods happen after an extreme rainfall event creates a flood, and the water has nowhere to go and accumulates on the surface. Coastal floods occur when a storm surge causes the sea level to rise and flood the coastal areas, as in a hurricane or tropical storm.

How do I get started?

• Pay special attention to the latest information when unusually heavy rains occur or are forecast, especially when the National Weather Service issues flash flood, riverine flood, or storm surge watches and warnings.
• If flooding is expected or occurs, get to higher ground. Stay away from flood-prone areas, including dips, low spots, valleys, ditches, and washes.
• Avoid flooded areas or those with rapid water flow. Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream. Remember, six inches of fast-flowing water can knock you off your feet.
• Flooded roads could have significant damage hidden by floodwaters. NEVER drive through floodwaters, on flooded roads, or over bridges. Remember, it only takes two feet of water to lift and float most automobiles, even trucks, and SUVs.
• Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly when threatening conditions exist.
• Do not allow children to play near high water, storm drains, or ditches.
• Never drink or use floodwater as it is not clean and can carry many germs and toxins.
• Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
• Remember, always heed the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) and National Weather Service flood safety warning, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
• Purchase and monitor a NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup and download mobile weather alerting apps to stay informed of potential severe weather activity in your area. Be sure to turn on location services, so your app can alert you wherever you go.
• Create a family safety plan that includes communication methods, evacuation options, and meeting places so you can rally if a flood threatens when you are not together. Practice your plan, and share a copy with close family or friends.

More Resources

HurricaneStrong.org

BuyersGuideToResilientHomes.org

Why do they matter?

Installing and maintaining carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms, and fire extinguishers in your home can make the difference between life and death because they will alert you when toxic fumes and dangerous fires are present and help you put out a fire.

What do I need to know?

• According to the National Fire Protection Association, 60 percent of home fire deaths happen when smoke alarms don’t work correctly due to dead batteries or lack of periodic cleaning and testing. Thirty-eight percent of home fire deaths happen in homes without smoke alarms.
• The risk of dying in a home fire is reduced by half in homes with working smoke alarms.
• Carbon monoxide is known as an invisible killer because it is an odorless, colorless gas created when the fuels we use around our homes (charcoal, coal, gasoline, wood, kerosene, methane, natural gas, propane, and oil) burn incompletely.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning often occurs during power outages after natural disasters when portable generators are not adequately ventilated or placed incorrectly, such as in the garage or too near a porch or soffit vent.
• Cars running inside a garage can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Where do I start?

Smoke Alarms

• Place smoke alarms on the ceiling or high on your walls inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area and on every level of your home. Ensure that your alarms are interconnected so that when one alerts, all alert.
• Test your alarms monthly, and change the batteries at least every six months. If your smoke alarms get power from your home’s electrical system (hardwired), make sure the backup battery is replaced at least once a year so your alarms will work during a power outage.
• Clean your alarms with a soft vacuum brush and compressed air every month. Never use water or cleaning chemicals on your device.
• Read the manufacturer’s specifications to determine your alarm’s expiration date as even though the batteries may still work, the sensors may not.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups on every level of your home to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.
• Place your carbon monoxide detectors at least five feet above the floor on walls or ceilings as carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air and may combine with warm, rising air.
• Identify potential sources for carbon monoxide and make sure you have adequate ventilation. Focus on charcoal grills, clothes dryers, fireplaces, gas cooktops, home heating systems, kerosene space heaters, portable generators, or vehicles running in enclosed spaces like garages.
• Test your detectors every month, and change the batteries at least every six months.
• Clean your detectors with a soft vacuum brush and compressed air every month. Never use water or cleaning chemicals on your device.
• Read the manufacturer’s specifications to determine the expiration date for your detectors.

Fire Extinguishers

• Keep fire extinguishers on hand and ensure everyone in your home knows how to use them.
• Place your extinguishers near potential fire ignition zones in the kitchen and your outdoor grill.
• Remember that fire extinguishers can lose their charge over time, so check its gauge to ensure it is still operable.

More Resources:

• Ready. Home Fires.
• Ready. Practice Your Home Fires Escape Plan.

Once you and your family are prepared, consider extended family members or friends who are especially vulnerable during disasters. Pay special attention to folks with financial limitations and seniors.

You can help your broader community before, during, and after disasters by volunteering. Find an organization in your community, and participate in a class, training, or discussion. Affiliate with the organization before disaster strikes.

Local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, schools, and civic groups are all great places to begin your search. There are many ways to help your community, including delivering food to older adults or organizing your own community project. Consider any special skills you may be able to offer.

Get training in CPR and basic first aid, as well as other hazard-specific training. A financial contribution or gift to a recognized nonprofit disaster relief organization is always an effective way to support disaster recovery, and even small amounts can make a big difference.

Here are some options to get you started to support community disaster resilience:

• Join your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. CERT programs are typically sponsored, affiliated, or created in partnership with a local fire department, law enforcement agency, or emergency management agency. Get CERT trained in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
• Find a volunteer opportunity with your state’s Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). National VOAD is an association of organizations that mitigate and lessen the impact of disasters.
• Don’t forget the crucial role youth play in disaster preparedness. Get resources to integrate children and youth into family and community disaster preparedness.

When preparing for a disaster, ask yourself: “Where will I be safe?” Is it a room in your home? Is it a nearby school or other commercial building? Is it a family member’s or friend’s home outside of the disaster zone? Once you answer this question and discuss it with your family, you will have a shelter plan that increases survival, reduces stress, and enhances comfort.

Plan for Evacuation

The best ways to plan for evacuation vary based on the type of disaster and whether it is safe to shelter in your home. Local officials declare when a mandatory evacuation will occur, and sometimes they may suggest, but not require, evacuations.

Prepare to evacuate

• Determine alternate routes and several modes of transportation out of your area.
• Review at least two exit routes from your home or neighborhood to the designated meeting place for your family.
• Identify several places — in different directions from your home — to go in an emergency or during an evacuation.
• If you have a car, keep it in good working condition with a full gas tank and a portable disaster supply kit.
• Evacuate in one car per family to reduce congestion and delay.
• If you do not have a car, make transportation arrangements with family, friends, or your local government in case you must evacuate.
• Develop a household plan to maintain contact and reunite if separated.
• Don’t forget about your pets. If you cannot take them with you, identify a place that will accept pets, as most public shelters allow only service animals.
• Pack your bags. After a disaster, you may not be able to return to your home for some time. Make sure to bring your disaster supply kit, including essential documents and valuables.

Decide when and how to evacuate

• Evacuate if government officials instruct you to do so.
• Determine how you will evacuate. Evacuation may be on foot, depending on the type of disaster.
• Always prioritize evacuation routes identified by authorities.

For a flood

• If you’re told to evacuate due to flooding, do so immediately.
• Drive only on roadways that are not flooded. Six inches of moving water can knock you over, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.

For a hurricane

• Prepare to leave if your home is not built to withstand a hurricane.
• Prepare to leave if you live in a storm surge evacuation zone.
• Find your evacuation zone and determine your route before a storm comes.
• Evacuate promptly according to your evacuation zone and follow the evacuation route(s).
• Evacuate immediately as you may not be able to evacuate if you delay too long.
• Identify a safe location to shelter after evacuation before a hurricane threatens.

For a tsunami

• If you are in a tsunami area, protect yourself from the earthquake first.
• Move to a safe place as high and as far inland as possible after the shaking ends if there are signs of a tsunami — like a quickly rising flood, a wall of water, sudden draining, a roar, or a warning siren.
• Crawl if you can reach better cover, but do not go through an area with more debris.

For a wildfire

• Know your community’s evacuation plans.
• Identify several potential exit routes and follow the evacuation routes.
• Evacuate if you’re told to do so. Wildfires may result in extremely hazardous driving conditions, making it difficult or impossible to escape.
• Use N95 masks to avoid breathing harmful particles.

Evacuating when there’s extra time

• Unplug electrical equipment, but do not unplug freezers and refrigerators unless there is a risk of flooding.
• Shut off water, gas, and electricity if your home is damaged or officials advise.
• Close and lock all doors and windows.
• Share evacuation plans with your out-of-state contact in your family disaster plan.
• Wear sturdy, protective shoes and clothing, such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a hat.
• Check on others who may need transportation.
• Take actions depending on your location, the predictions for weather conditions, and guidance from local authorities.
• Take your pets with you, but know that most public shelters may only permit service animals. Plan ahead how to care for your pets.
• Be on the lookout for road hazards, and do not drive into flooded areas.

Plan to Find Shelter

Sheltering in place

Depending on the circumstances, you may need to stay in your current location by sheltering in place.

When deciding where to shelter, identify the safest place in the building based on the peril you’re facing. You may only need to shelter for a short time, such as during a tornado warning, or for a long time, such as during a winter storm.

• Stay in your shelter until authorities say it’s safe to leave.
• Take turns listening to radio broadcasts and maintain a 24-hour safety watch.
• During extended periods of sheltering, manage water and food supplies to ensure you and your family have the supplies and quantities you need.

During a tornado

• Take shelter in a safe room or certified shelter. If neither is available, take refuge in a basement or the lowest level interior room away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls.
• Go to the lowest floor that won’t flood if flooding is possible.

During a flood

• Consider similar safe locations if you have not evacuated. See safety during a flood and hurricane for more information.

During an earthquake

• Drop where you are, cover, and hold on. See safety during an earthquake for more information.

During a tsunami

• Follow the steps above for evacuating during a tsunami. See safety during a tsunami for more information.

During a winter storm

• Locate an indoor heated space to shelter in.
• Plan for a potential power outage by locating your nearest shelter.
• Follow safety precautions like monitoring carbon monoxide levels. See safety during a winter storm for more information.

During an extreme heat event

• Take shelter in an indoor, air-conditioned space.
• Plan for a potential power outage by locating your nearest shelter.
• Follow safety precautions like monitoring carbon monoxide levels.

During a hail storm

• Stay indoors until the storm has passed, and stay away from skylights, windows, and doors. Don’t go outside to protect your property.

During lightning

• If thunder roars, go indoors! Once inside, avoid doors and windows.
• If you are outdoors, avoid water, high ground, open spaces, and metal objects.
• Shelter in a large building or vehicle with closed windows. Do not lean on the doors.
• If you cannot get indoors, crouch down with your feet together and place your hands over your ears to minimize hearing damage from the thunder. Stay at least 15 feet away from other people. See safety during lightning for more safety tips during lightning.

Evacuating to a public disaster shelter

• Take your disaster supply kit with the supplies you need.
• Cooperate with shelter officials, and remember that alcoholic beverages and weapons are prohibited.

Install a Safe Room or Storm Shelter

The best safety protection in high winds and tornadoes is a safe room or storm shelter. A safe room that meets FEMA P-320 or FEMA P-361 guidance or a storm shelter that meets the ICC 500 standard provides near-absolute life safety protection.

Evacuation and Shelter for People with Disabilities

As one of the more vulnerable groups, people with disabilities need special consideration before disaster strikes. If you, your family, friends, or neighbors have access or functional needs, planning now will enhance safety and comfort when it matters the most.

Drugstores, medical facilities and accessible shelters may not be operational or reachable during disasters, so take steps to ensure you have necessary supplies and accommodations.

For all people with disabilities

• Establish a personal support network of family, friends, and neighbors who can help during an emergency and get you to a safe place. Maintain a contact list in your disaster kit, and make sure your network knows where you store your emergency supplies. Share a key to your home with someone in your network.
• Maintain a supply of all the items that you will need for 3–5 days. First responders and emergency personnel may not be able to reach you immediately after a disaster.
• Use the Considerations for People with Disabilities During a Power Outage checklist to ensure you have the things you need in the event of a power outage.
• Stock up on extra prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and medical supplies. If you have allergies or other chemical or environmental sensitivities, keep cleaning supplies, masks, and other necessary items on hand.
• Consult with your doctors and assistance organizations to develop a backup plan so you have uninterrupted services.
• Keep extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen, catheters, medication, food for guide or hearing-ear dogs, etc.
• Maintain a current list of the type and serial numbers of all medical devices.
• Clearly label your assistive devices with your name and contact information.
• Install specialty fire safety devices in the home, such as fire extinguishers and smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or flashing light. Consider installing a strobe light alarm outside of your home to alert neighbors. Test alarms and extinguishers regularly. Replace smoke alarm batteries every six months.
• If you live in an apartment building, ask the management to mark all available, accessible exits.
• Keep a flashlight, whistle or bell handy to signal your location to others.

For those with a communication disability

• Include documentation of your contact information and preferred method of communication in your emergency kit.
• If you use assistive technologies, plan how you will evacuate with the devices or replace equipment if lost or destroyed. Be sure to save your model and device information.

For those who are deaf or hard of hearing

• Obtain extra batteries and a spare charger for hearing aids, cochlear implants and other personal assistive listening devices. Create a record of where you got your hearing aids and the batteries they need.
• If you cannot use a TV, radio or computer, plan for how to receive emergency information.
• Secure and use a specialty NOAA Weather Radio for Deaf and Hard of Hearing with an adaptive weather alert system.
• Determine if your mobile phone includes alerting capabilities that signal an emergency using lights and vibrations.
• Keep an analog amplified or captioned telephone in your emergency supply kit.

For those with a mobility disability

• If you use a power wheelchair, store a lightweight manual wheelchair for backup. Know your wheelchair’s weight and size, and if it is collapsible. If your wheelchair or scooter tires are not puncture-proof, keep a patch kit or sealant and an extra inner tube for flat tires.
• Show others how to operate your wheelchair.
• Purchase an extra battery for a power wheelchair or other battery-operated medical or assistive technology devices. Keep extra batteries on a trickle charger at all times. Note that agencies, service organizations or local charitable groups may be able to help you purchase a spare battery.
• Keep an extra mobility device such as a cane or walker. If you use a seat cushion, take it with you if you evacuate. Have an escape chair if you live or work in a high-rise building.

For those with a visual disability

• Have a talking, Braille or large-print timepiece with extra batteries. Keep model and background information for any assistive technology devices you use (white canes, CCTV, text-to-speech software, etc.).
• Have a backup plan to communicate. Consider using laminated cards with phrases, pictures or pictograms. Keep Braille/text communication cards for two-way communication.

Evacuation for people with disabilities

• Identify accessible transportation methods for evacuation or getting to a medical clinic. Work with local services, public transportation or paratransit to identify all options.
• Plan how you will contact emergency personnel/first responders regarding your evacuation needs.
• Contact your local emergency management agency and register for lists that identify people with access and functional needs that require evacuation assistance.
• Always carry emergency health information and emergency contacts. Wear a medical alert tag or bracelet. Store important information on a flash drive or mobile device. Make hard copies for easy transport in the event of an evacuation. Have your medical professionals update your medical plan every time they make changes in your treatment or care.
• If you need life-sustaining treatment, such as dialysis, identify more than one potential facility.
• Medical shelters are only appropriate for those with acute health care needs who would otherwise be hospitalized. Contact your emergency management office to assess how local shelters can provide for those with access and functional needs.

Plan for children with disabilities

• Make plans for children with access and functional needs and others who may have challenges in unfamiliar or chaotic environments (e.g., those with PTSD).
• Consider handheld electronic devices with movies and games (with extra batteries or chargers and headphones), sheets and twine or a small pop-up tent, and snacks and toys.

Plan for financial stability

• If you receive Social Security or other regular benefits, consider switching to electronic payments as disasters can interrupt mail service for days or weeks. Your options may include a direct deposit to your bank account or the Direct Express® prepaid debit card. Get more information on going paperless with your benefits.

More Resources

• FEMA Ready. Evacuation.
• FEMA Ready. Shelter. www.ready.gov/shelter
• FEMA Ready. Tsunamis.
• FEMA Ready. Wildfires.
• FEMA Ready. Individuals with Disabilities.
• FLASH. #HurricaneStrong.
• FLASH. #TornadoStrong.

Where will your family or household be when disaster strikes? If you are not together when an emergency happens, will everyone know how to stay in contact — even if cell towers are down and phones don’t work? Do you have a meeting place and will everyone have a way to get there?

To develop a family disaster plan, start by mapping out contact methods and meeting places. Then share and practice your plan with your family or household and out-of-town contact. While you develop your plan, keep in mind these specific household needs:

• Ages of household members
• Medical needs like prescriptions and equipment
• Disabilities or access and functional needs
• Dietary needs
• Pets or service animals
• Languages spoken

After you make your plan, all you need to do is revisit and communicate your plan regularly so you’re ready when disaster strikes.

Build your plan

• Write it down.
  • Create a document with the contact information for your family, close friends, designated out-of-town contact, employers, and other service providers like doctors, schools, etc.
• Plan to communicate.
  • Plan how to communicate with family or friends when disaster strikes.
  • Discuss the benefits of calling, texting, emailing, or using social media. Texting tends to work more reliably than calling, especially when systems are in high demand.
  • Determine how your family will receive emergency updates and alerts.
• Choose a meeting place.
  • Pick two places to meet your family or household members.
  • Meet outside your home in case of a sudden emergency or at a friend’s or neighbor’s house in case you can’t return home.
  • Ensure that these places are reachable for those with access and functional needs and that your pets are welcome.
  • Share the address and phone number for each of your meet-up locations.
  • Add the information to your phone’s contacts and list them in your plan.
• Plan to evacuate.
  • If an evacuation is necessary, determine where you will evacuate and how you will get there.
  • If you plan to shelter-in-place, identify the safest location in your home to shelter during a disaster.
• Identify emergency contact(s).
  • Ask an out-of-town family member or friend to be your emergency contact.
  • Ensure everyone in your household knows the contact’s name, location, phone number, email, and any social media contact options.
• Schedule a meeting.
  • Set a meeting with your household to talk about the types of disasters and hazards you might face.
  • Work together and share responsibilities as a team.

Know your plan

Send links to your disaster plan and make copies for all family or household members and emergency contacts. Post a copy in a prominent place in your home like a bulletin board.

Practice the plan

Regularly gather your family or household members to review and practice your plan. Discuss what information you would communicate during a disaster and send practice messages. Make sure all family members (including children) understand how and when to call 911.

Update your communication plan at least once a year or whenever information changes.

Special Considerations for Families with Children

A natural disaster is often devastating for adults, but children can be especially vulnerable to stress and anxiety when disaster strikes. Prepare your children before a disaster and plan activities to keep them busy during and after an emergency.

Getting kids involved in the planning process and letting them plan activities will distribute the workload and give your family a sense of control.

Preparing Your Children for Disasters

• Learn what types of emergencies are possible where you live, teach your children about them, and discuss the steps you’ve taken to protect your family and home.
• Discuss emergencies that may require evacuation, such as a hurricane, and shelter-in-place emergencies, such as a tornado.
• Include your children when creating your family communication plans and building a disaster supply kit.
• Have a disaster drill and practice your plan, making sure to give your children a role and way to participate.
• Prepare fun, kid-friendly activities and games to keep them occupied. Choose games that they do not ordinarily play, so they have something special to enjoy.
• Select activities that do not require power so you can conserve your batteries and back-up power sources.

More Resources

• FEMA. Create Your Family Emergency Communication Plan.
• Ready. Make a Plan.
• Ready. Kids.

Pets are cherished family members, so it’s essential to plan for their safety and comfort as a part of your comprehensive family disaster plan.

Take inventory of your supplies and review all records periodically so your pet can be safe and cared for during any disaster.

Consider these options for your pet’s location during a disaster.

• Take your pet with you to a friend’s or family member’s house or a hotel outside the threat zone. Make arrangements ahead of time to avoid last-minute surprises and confusion.
• Keep your pet with you in a secure, storm-prepared shelter location. Find evacuation shelters that accept pets ahead of time. While many shelters will accept pets, some can only accommodate service animals or certain types of pets like dogs.
• Leave your pet with a friend in a safe zone or make boarding arrangements with a veterinary clinic or kennel. Talk to the kennel about advance registration and requirements like shots.
• Create a safe, quiet, and comfortable space in your home for your pet. Never leave them alone or behind.

Keep your pet prepared at all times.

• Portable carrier (large enough for the pet to stand up and turn around)
• Extra leash, collar and ID tag
• Pet food: At least 2 weeks of dry food in a water-tight container or canned food (include a manual can opener)
• Water: At least 2 weeks of clean water (large dogs need 1 gallon per day)
• Up-to-date health and immunization records
• Medications (flea and tick preventative, a two-month supply of heartworm prevention medication, all prescription medications)
• Litter/newspapers for clean-up
• Toys and treats
• Towels
• First aid supplies
• A recent photo of you with your pet

How to prepare large animals for a disaster

Prepare your large animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats, or pigs before a disaster using the following tips from FEMA:

• Ensure all animals have some form of identification.
• Evacuate animals whenever possible. Map out primary and secondary routes in advance.
• Make vehicles and trailers needed for transporting and supporting each type of animal available. Make sure experienced handlers and drivers are also available.
• Ensure destinations have food, water, veterinary care, and handling equipment.
• If evacuation is not possible, animal owners must decide whether to move large animals to shelter or turn them outside.

Take the extra time to observe livestock, looking for early signs of disease and injury. Severe cold-weather injuries or death primarily occur in the very young or in animals that are already debilitated.

Animals suffering from frostbite don’t exhibit pain. It may be up to two weeks before the injury becomes evident as the damaged tissue starts to slough away. At that point, treat the injury like an open wound, and consult a veterinarian.

Make sure your livestock has the following to help prevent cold-weather problems:

• Plenty of dry bedding to insulate vulnerable udders, genitals, and legs from the frozen ground and frigid winds.
• Windbreaks to keep animals safe from frigid conditions.
• Plenty of food and water

More Resources

• Ready. Pets and Animals.

Nearly every home is susceptible to power outages caused by disasters. Some disruptions last for days, even weeks. Electrical power loss can create unhealthy and unsafe living conditions or building damage.

Taking steps to prepare before a power outage is the best way to maintain your family’s comfort and avoid danger, costly losses, or damage to your home. Learning how to protect food, prevent mold growth, safely use generators, prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and avoid house fires when power returns are all essential parts of your power outage preparedness plan.

Evaluate and secure different backup power options ranging from small backup batteries and solar charging options to portable or standby generators with an automatic switch.

Before a Power Outage

Prepare for a power outage

• Keep a disaster supply kit handy with water, nonperishable foods, medicine, printed copies of essential documents, baby supplies, pet food, and more.
• Maintain a supply of cash as ATMs may not operate, and businesses and restaurants may be unable to accept debit or credit cards.
• Maintain a supply of flashlights, batteries, hand-crank cell phone chargers, battery, and solar-powered radios.
• Identify an alternative power supply for any family members who are dependent on electric medical equipment.
• Consider purchasing a portable generator and learn how to use and ventilate it safely before an outage occurs.
• Consider purchasing and installing a standby home generator with an automatic switch.
• Keep your landscape trimmed and clear of dead or weak branches to prevent power loss from downed trees and limbs.

Consider evacuation needs

• Keep your gas tank full or nearly full at all times as gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps. If you use your car to charge your devices, never leave it running inside a garage, partially-enclosed space, or near a home.
• If your garage door opener is electric, know how to locate and use the manual release lever. Understand that you may need help to lift the garage door due to weight. If you ordinarily enter your home through the garage, make sure you have an alternate way and key to enter if the garage door won’t open.
• Learn about state or local emergency plans detailing the closest cooling and warming shelters. If the temperature is extremely hot or cold outside and the power outage is expected to last for a long time, consider relocating temporarily to a site with heating or air conditioning.

Protect electronics

• Back up your computer files and operating systems regularly. Consider extra batteries and a power converter for your laptop.
• Turn off all appliances and electronic devices when they’re not in use to protect them from power surges.
• Use a high-quality surge protector for all high-value electronics. If you use a computer frequently, consult your local computer equipment dealer about an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
• If your telephone requires electricity, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan alternate communication options, including a regular telephone handset, cell phone, radio, or pager.
• Ask remote service providers if they have backup power systems and how long those systems will operate. Some voicemail systems and remote computer dial-up servers may not work if power is out in their location, even if your power is uninterrupted.

Plan for people with disabilities

• If you need electricity to operate medical equipment in your home, plan with your doctor, health care provider or local emergency management office.
• Charge devices and extra batteries to maintain power to your equipment during electric outages.
• Contact your power company if you use oxygen or mechanical ventilation. Find out what you can expect in a power outage.
• Sign up for automatic power company alerts to stay aware of planned or unplanned power outages and power restoration.
• Plan how you will maintain power during an outage if you cannot be without it. Consider using a backup battery, a generator, solar energy or other alternate electrical resources. Consider how you will keep your medications refrigerated.

During and After a Power Outage

• Keep your use of electricity minimal by practicing energy conservation measures to help power companies avoid imposing rolling blackouts.
• Use sewage check valves and backflow preventers on your home to guard against contamination. Electrical power loss can have many secondary effects, including compromised water and sewage systems.
• Use flashlights and rechargeable lamps instead of candles during a power outage. Candles present a fire risk when first responders may be unable to reach you.
• Turn off any electrical equipment that was in use before the power outage, but leave one light on to alert you when power resumes.
• Check on elderly neighbors, friends, or relatives who may need assistance if the weather is severe during the outage.
• During a power outage, resist the temptation to call 911 for information. Use radios, online news sources, or social media channels for updates.
• Be careful when driving through intersections as traffic lights may not be working.
• Once your power is restored, wait a few minutes before turning on major appliances to avoid problems caused by a sharp increase in demand.

Practice food and water safety

During or after a power outage or disaster, your food may no longer be safe to eat. Take precautions to prevent food spoilage, and know when you should dispose of refrigerated food. Food that has not been refrigerated can spoil quickly and cause severe health problems, so you should take all steps to keep it safe. Here’s how the following steps to extend the shelf life of your refrigerated food:

• Turn your refrigerator or freezer to the coldest setting before the power goes out.
• Keep a supply of nonperishable foods, medicine, baby supplies, and pet food on hand.
• Prepare one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days.
• Fill plastic containers with water, leaving about an inch of space in the container, and store them in your refrigerator or freezer as space allows. Storing this water will help keep food cold during a power outage.
• Keep one or more coolers with ample ice to keep your food cold in case a power outage is prolonged. Avoid storing perishable foods above 40℉ for more than two hours.
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. If the door is closed, items in a refrigerator will keep for up to four hours. If the door is closed, items in a full freezer will stay frozen for about two days, and in a half-full freezer for about one day.
• Use a refrigerator thermometer to check temperature. For proper food storage, refrigerated or frozen foods should be kept at 40° F or below. Discard any perishable refrigerated foods that have been above 40° F for more than two hours.
• Discard any food with an unusual odor, color, or texture. Remember: “When in doubt, throw it out.”
• Food exposed to wildfire can be unsafe from the heat of the fire, smoke fumes, and chemicals used to fight fire.

How to Safely Use a Generator

You can also make your home resilient to power loss by using a combination of power generation options from basic to sophisticated. Then you can provide backup power for lighting, food preservation, limited air conditioning, prevention of mold growth on interior finishes, and much more.

Consult a licensed, professional electrician to evaluate your generator purchase options. Two kinds of generators can generate emergency power in your home: permanently installed standby or “whole house” generators, and temporary, portable generators.

Ensure your generator is properly ventilated. Improperly ventilated generators can cause deadly carbon monoxide fumes to build up. The fumes are odorless and are often fatal.

• Understand the primary hazards to avoid when using a generator: carbon monoxide
• (CO) poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust, electric shock/electrocution, and fire.
• Follow manufacturer instructions before using a generator to learn about safe usage like proper grounding.
• Consult relevant federal, state, and local regulations to see if you need a permit.
• Before you operate your generator, disconnect the regular source of power to your home. Hire a qualified electrician to install the correct equipment that meets local electrical codes, or ask your utility company to install an appropriate power transfer switch.
• Use gas-powered generators only in well-ventilated outdoor areas. Always operate the generator outdoors and away from open windows and doors. NEVER operate it inside, including the basement, enclosed patio, or garage.
• Store fuel for the generator in an approved safety can. Use the type of fuel recommended in the instructions or on the generator label.
• Ask your local fire department if local laws restrict the amount of fuel you may store at your location. Store the fuel outside of living areas in a locked shed or other protected area. To guard against accidental fire, do not store it near a fuel-burning appliance, such as a natural gas water heater in a garage.
• Inspect and maintain your generator regularly. Consider a maintenance contract that provides at least one service visit per year. Keep fresh fuel in the tank, and periodically run the generator to test performance.
• Regularly monitor above-ground storage tanks, pipes, and valves for cracks and leaks and make any needed repairs immediately. Meet any regulatory requirements for tanks.
• Keep the generator dry to avoid electrocution.
• Be sure to turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.
• Regularly start your generator even when there is not a power outage to ensure that it is working properly.

How to Install and Use a Portable Generator

• Install electric carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups on each floor of your home, including outside each bedroom.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and use a portable generator only when needed for essential equipment.
• Plug appliances directly into the generator, or use a heavy duty, outdoor-rated extension cord that is rated (in watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads. Check that the entire cord is free of cuts or tears and that the plug has all three prongs, especially a grounding pin.
• Adopt an installed transfer switch or connect appliances directly to the generator.
• Only connect individual appliances to portable generators and never plug a generator into wall outlets. Plugging generators into the home’s electrical system can feed electricity back into the power lines. Known as “backfeeding,” this practice puts utility workers, your neighbors, and your family at risk of electrocution.
• Keep generators, gasoline-powered equipment and tools, grills, camp stoves, and charcoal-burning devices outdoors and away from doors, windows, and vents that could permit deadly carbon monoxide to come indoors.
• Keep generators outside and at least 20 feet away from open windows so exhaust does not enter your or your neighbor’s home.
• Never place a generator in your garage.
• Keep the generator dry by operating it only on dry surfaces and when your hands are dry. Do not use the generator in wet or rainy conditions.
• Store fuel for your generator in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place outside your house. Keep any fuel-burning appliances in specially designed containers, and fuel your generator outside.
• Be sure to turn off and cool down your generator before refueling.

How to Install and Use a Standby Generator

• Consult a licensed professional to assist with your selection and installation of a standby generator.
• Choose a generator that is listed and approved by Underwriter’s Laboratories or a similar standards organization. Some jurisdictions require “air quality permits,” so consult a licensed electrician to identify the requirements in your area.
• Install the generator outdoors near the incoming gas service, near the main electrical panel, or on a flat, level mounting area.
• The recommended distance from your home to the generator depends on state and local building codes. A minimum of 20 feet is recommended.
• Position the generator so that the exhaust does not blow on plants or other combustible materials. No plants, shrubs, or other ignitable materials are allowed within 1.2 meters (4 feet) of the exhaust end of the generator set.
• Do not install the generator where exhaust gas could accumulate, seep inside, or draft into a building. Furnace and other similar intakes must be at least 10 feet from the exhaust end of the generator set.
• Do not use the generator near open doors and windows.
• Do not place the generator set near patios, decks, play areas, or animal shelters.
• Do not install the composite mounting pad directly on grass, wood, or other combustible materials.
• Clear all ignitable materials, including plants and shrubs, building materials, and lawn furniture from an area at least 4 feet beyond the exhaust end of the generator.
• In flood hazard areas, place the generator and its control systems above the highest expected flood level.
• In high wind areas, securely mount the generator to a concrete pad according to the mounting instructions in the installation manual.

Turning the power back on

Before your turn the power back on

• Hire a licensed electrician to inspect your equipment before returning it to service if you have standing water or if any of your electrical components are, or were, submerged in water. Carefully evaluate your circuit breaker box to ensure it is not compromised or wet. Replace any wiring that came into contact with salt water.
• Disconnect cord-connected appliances from their outlets until they have been inspected, repaired, and are certified by a qualified professional as safe for use.
• Circuits with permanently affixed appliances like dishwashers should remain off until the circuits and appliances are certified as safe by a qualified professional.
• Heating and mechanical equipment should be inspected by a qualified professional before returning to use if it has been in contact with any water.
• Failing to inspect and certify appliances, equipment, and systems as safe to use can result in life-threatening shock or electrocution and destroy the equipment as well.

How to turn the power back on

• If you are unfamiliar with your home’s electrical systems, contact your power company or a qualified electrician to make your home safe from electrical hazards.
• Follow your power company’s advice and precautions.
• Watch for loose or downed power lines and tree limbs or debris as they may hide an electrical hazard. Treat loose or downed power lines as if they are energized, and report them to the power company, police, or fire department immediately. Warn others of the loose or downed power lines.
• Do not enter a wet or flooded area or building if the power is on.
• If your exterior electrical service equipment has been flooded, have the local power company remove their metering equipment before you enter the building. Explosion, electrocution, or fire can occur if power is restored to flooded metering equipment.
• Turn off electricity at the main breaker or fuse box, even if your community’s power is off. Do not turn the power off or on at the breaker box if you must stand in water to do so; call an electrician. After confirming that the power is off, leave it off until a licensed electrician can inspect and repair the electrical wiring or equipment and a building inspector approves the work.
• Do not go into a flooded basement unless you are sure the electricity is off.
• Do not connect generators used to power a house until after all compromised wiring has been disconnected or replaced.

More Resources

• FEMA Ready. Power Outages.
• To prepare your business or organization for a power outage, download the free Ready Business Power Outage Toolkit to kickstart your planning.

You can enhance your safety and comfort during and after an emergency or disaster by planning to be self-sufficient. By creating an emergency supply kit, you’ll be able to meet your basic needs for food, water, cash, medicines, and other supplies that will last for at least 72 hours.

Once you build and maintain your disaster supply kit, you have a way to meet your family’s basic needs during a difficult time. This also helps your community by allowing emergency officials and first responders to focus on those who cannot help themselves. Make sure to make your disaster preparedness plan and practice with your family.

Plan for two scenarios when building your disaster supply kit: remaining in your home or evacuating to a safer location.

Store items in airtight plastic bags, and use 1-2 portable containers for your whole kit.

Inventory on-hand supplies, and purchase any additional items. Building and maintaining your kit over time can help offset the cost.

Basic Disaster Supply Checklist

• Cash: Banks and ATMs may not be open or available for extended periods
• Water: At least one gallon per person per day for 3-7 days for drinking and sanitation
• Food: Enough for 3-7 days, including non-perishable packaged or canned food and juices, food for infants and the elderly, snack food, manual can opener, vitamins, etc.
• Meal supplies: Paper plates, paper cups, paper towels, and plastic utensils
• Radio: Battery-powered radio and NOAA Weather Radio with extra batteries
• Sleep: Sleeping bag, blankets, and pillows
• Clothing: Seasonal clothes, rain/snow gear, and sturdy shoes
• First-aid kit with medicines and prescription drugs
• Toiletries: Hygiene items, moisture wipes, and sanitizer
• Flashlight and batteries
• Car and house keys
• Toys, books, and games
• Fire extinguisher
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to filter contaminated air
• Wrench or pliers to turn off gas or utilities
• Maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
• Paper and pencils
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper to disinfect water
• Glasses, contacts, and contact lens solution
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, and diaper cream
• One week or longer supply of prescription medicines with a list of all medications, dosage, and any allergies
• Copies of medical insurance and Medicare identification cards
• In case of emergency (ICE) contact information for doctors, relatives, or friends to be notified if you are injured

See more about preparing emergency supply kits specifically for people with disabilities.

Pet Supplies Checklist

• Pet food: At least a two-week supply of dry food in a water-tight container or canned food (include a manual can opener)
• Water: At least a two-week supply of clean water; large dogs need one gallon per day
• Portable carrier large enough for the pet to stand up, turn around, and lie down
• Extra leash and collar or harness with an identification and rabies tag
• Up-to-date health and immunization records
• Two-month supply of medications like flea, tick and heartworm prevention
• Toys, treats, and bedding (familiar items can help reduce stress for your pet)
• Registration information, adoption papers, and vaccination documents: Discuss microchipping and enrolling your pet in a recovery database with your veterinarian.
• First-aid kit, including cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors, antibiotic ointment, flea and tick prevention, gloves, isopropyl alcohol, saline solution, and a pet first aid reference book
• Pet litter and litter box if appropriate, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags, and household chlorine bleach
• Picture of you with your pet to document ownership if you become separated: Add a note specifying your pet’s species, breed, age, sex, color, and distinguishing characteristics

Keep your disaster kit fresh

Remember to replace your stored food and water every six months. Dedicate one area of your cabinet or pantry to non-perishable food like peanut butter and jelly that you continuously replace.

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.
• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
• Keep a supply of fresh batteries.
• Use items and continually replace them to avoid expiration and waste.
• Review your needs and update your kit annually.

Water supply is a top priority

Make your emergency water supply a top priority. Your requirements will vary depending on age, physical condition, activity, diet, and climate.

An active person needs at least two quarts of drinking water daily, so store at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days. This amount will provide for drinking, cooking, and sanitary needs.

Children, nursing mothers, and people with health issues will need more. Keep in mind that high temperatures can double the required water amount.

Store your water in thoroughly washed plastic, fiberglass, or enamel-lined containers. Don’t use containers that can break (like glass bottles) and never use a container that has held toxic substances. Plastic containers like soda bottles work, and camping stores offer various containers.

Seal your water containers tightly and label and store them in a cool, dark place. Put a date on each container, and change stored water every six months.

Identify and gather important documents

Collect your household documents and create a photographic inventory of your household contents and valuables for an efficient insurance claims process.

• Insurance papers
• Medical records
• Bank account numbers
• Social Security cards
• Deeds or mortgages
• Birth and marriage certificates
• Stocks and bonds
• Recent tax returns
• Wills and estate papers
• Emergency or hotline contact information
• Valuables and priceless personal items

Secure your documents in a safe place. Store paper copies in a fireproof and waterproof box or safe at home, in a bank safe deposit box, or with a trusted friend or relative. Keep electronic copies of important documents in a password-protected encrypted format on a removable flash or external hard drive in your fireproof and waterproof box or safe, or use a secure cloud-based service.

Store your disaster supply kit, documentation, and valuables in waterproof containers away from basements or other home locations that may flood.

Store multiple kits in multiple locations

A disaster can occur when you are at home, work, or traveling. Prepare a kit for your home, work, and all vehicles.

• Home: Have this kit in one location that all family members know and can access.
• Work: Prepare to shelter at work for at least 24 hours with food, water, and other needed items like medicines and comfortable walking shoes stored in a portable container.
• Vehicle: Keep an emergency supply kit in your car.

More Resources

• Ready. Build A Kit.
• Ready. Individuals with Disabilities.
• FEMA. Safeguard Critical Documents and Valuables.

Quickly changing weather and environmental conditions demand careful attention. You can stay safe by staying aware of the latest disaster events in your community in a variety of ways, including those that operate without electric power.

No matter how you receive your updates and alerts, make sure you choose more than one method so you have a backup plan during any emergency.

What You Can Do Right Now

Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio receiver with backup battery power. NOAA Weather Radio from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a nationwide, 24-hour radio station network that broadcasts continuous weather information like forecasts, watches, warnings and all-hazard updates, such as earthquakes or environmental events like chemical releases or oil spills.

NOAA Weather Radio is commercial-free but requires a specific receiver or scanner that is widely available for as little as $30. You may need an external antenna if you are more than 30 miles from the nearest transmitter.

The nationwide Emergency Alert System can deliver wireless emergency alerts to your devices. In addition to NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System, you also may be covered by a community-level emergency alerting system.

If your government alerting system uses landline telephones, but you do not have one, you may still be able to connect your mobile devices to Enhanced Telephone Notification systems like Reverse 911© and text messages. Strobe lights, pagers, computers, and text printers can be connected for the visually and hearing-impaired, as well.

Download your state or local emergency management agency app and the FEMA app. Enable text message alerts (message and data rates will apply).

Look for updates from official local government and emergency management agencies and utility providers on their websites and social media to stay current before, during, and after a disaster.

Sign up for listservs and emergency alerts from your workplace, school, houses of worship, or other community organizations that provide notifications during an emergency.

What to Do During Extreme Weather

Monitor weather forecasts frequently using apps, devices, government alerting services, radio/television news, and social media. Always keep your cell phone charged and activate location settings that allow weather-related apps to follow and alert you no matter where you go.

No matter how you plan to receive emergency alerts, listen to broadcasts and check online every 30 minutes during emergencies to stay current on the latest updates and essential instructions.

More Resources

• FEMA Ready. Get Tech Ready.
• FEMA Ready. Emergency Alerts.
• FEMA Ready. Be Smart. Take Part. Know Your Alerts and Warnings.
• NOAA. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards.

Why does this matter?

As the nights get colder, it is important to look for ways to keep warm like lighting the fireplace, cranking up the furnace, and turning on the space heaters. But keep in mind that fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are real risks when heating your home. These tips will help you keep your family safe and warm this winter season.

What do I need to know?

Fireplace Safety

Before you light your first fire of the season:

• Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
• Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations, and flammable materials.
• Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment. Make sure all vent pipes extend at least three feet above the roof.
• If you have a gas fireplace, have a professional service the fireplace before your first fire of the season to ensure it is operating safely.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside and outside of sleeping areas. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
• Also, install carbon monoxide detectors to ensure levels are safe within your home.

While enjoying your fire:

• If you have glass fireplace doors, leave them open while burning a fire to ensure complete combustion and keep creosote from building up in the chimney.
• Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces that do not have a glass fireplace door.
• Never use flammable liquids to start a fire and use only seasoned hardwood. Never burn cardboard boxes, trash, charcoal, or debris in your fireplace or woodstove.
• Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
• When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
• Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise, you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.

Once you finish your fire:

• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house. Close the glass doors, if you have them, to keep the chimney air out of the room.
• Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside of your home.

Furnace Safety

• Be sure all furnace controls and emergency shutoffs are in proper working condition. If something needs repair, call a licensed professional. Do not attempt repairs on your own, unless you are qualified.
• Inspect the walls and ceiling near the furnace and along the chimney line. If the wall is hot or discolored, additional pipe insulation or clearance may be required.
• Check the flue pipe and pipe seams to make sure they are well supported and free of holes and cracks. Soot along or around seams may be an indicator of a leak.
• Keep trash and other combustibles away from the heating system.

Portable Space Heater Safety

Read the Labels

• When buying a heater, look for one that has been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL).
• Purchase a space heater with more modern safety features like those that shut off if it is tipped or turned over.

Location, Location, Location

• Keep the heater three feet away from drapes, furniture, bedding, or other flammable materials.
• Place the heater on a level surface away from areas where someone might bump into it and knock it over. Be careful to keep children and pets away from the heater.
• Try to locate electric space heaters where they can be plugged directly into the wall outlet. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is a heavy-duty cord marked with a power rating at least as high as that on the heater label.
• Keep electric heaters away from water. Never use them near a sink or in the bathroom. Never leave a space heater unattended or running while you sleep.
• Ensure the room has enough ventilation to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Liquid Fueled Heater Tips

• For liquid-fueled heaters, follow the manufacturer’s fueling instructions using only the approved fuel. Never use gasoline! Never fill a heater that is still hot. Do not overfill the heater; you must allow for the expansion of the liquid. Only use approved containers clearly marked for the particular fuel available, and store them outdoors.
• Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters. Refuel kerosene heaters outside. Ensure the heater is at least three feet away from flammable objects.
• Have vented space heaters professionally inspected every year. If the heater is not vented properly, not vented at all, or if the vent is blocked, separated, rusted, or corroded, dangerous carbon monoxide levels can enter the home, causing sickness and death. Carbon monoxide also can be produced if the heater is not properly set up and adjusted for the type of gas used and the altitude at which it is installed.

Where do I start?

• Get your fireplace ready for the season, including reducing the ability for fire to enter your home.
• FEMA recommends installing spark arrestors on all chimneys, stovepipes, and vents for fuel-burning heaters. Use spark arrestors made of 12-gauge welded or woven wire mesh screen with openings 1/2 inch across.
• Every year have heating equipment and chimneys professionally cleaned and inspected.
• Keep any outdoor firewood at least 30 feet away from your home.
• Ensure your roof is free of potential fire fuel (ex: leaves, pine needles), and remove branches above the chimney, flues, or vents.
• Ensure roof-covering assemblies do not have openings that allow firebrands in.
• Make sure eaves that extend beyond exterior walls are built with fire-resistive materials.
• Cover all vent openings with a corrosion-resistant, non-combustible, 1/4 inch or smaller wire mesh or screen that prevents entry of firebrands.
• Check up your furnace.
• Follow portable heater safety tips.
• Never heat the house with an oven or oven range.

More Resources

• FLASH Plan for Power Outages.
• FEMA. Winterize Your Home.
• FEMA. How to Prepare for a Winter Storm.

Increase personal safety and reduce your risk of lightning injury by following these essential tips.

Before the storm

• Stay alert and listen carefully for the first signs of lightning or thunder. Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”
• Seek shelter: Lightning often strikes before the rain begins, so don’t wait for the rain to start before leaving.

If you are outdoors

• Immediately leave elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges, or peaks.
• Never lie flat on the ground.
• Never shelter under an isolated tree.
• Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.
• Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water.
• Stay away from objects that conduct electricity like wire fences, power lines, and windmills.

If you are indoors

• Avoid water and stay away from doors and windows.
• Do not use landline telephones or headsets.
• Turn off, unplug, and stay away from appliances, computers, power tools, and television sets as lightning may strike exterior electric and phone lines and generate shocks to inside equipment.

After the storm

• Don’t resume activities until at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike or thunderclap.
• Use first aid procedures and call 911 immediately if anyone is injured.
• Lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge, so it is safe to administer medical treatment.

On International ShakeOut Day, you can join others worldwide and practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” The ShakeOut takes place once a year on the third Thursday of October.

Endorsed by emergency officials and first responders, the safe response to an earthquake is to:

• DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.
• COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand.
  • If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter.
  • If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows).
  • Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs.
• HOLD ON until the shaking stops.
  • Under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts.
  • No shelter: hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.

To take part in the ShakeOut, register for free at www.ShakeOut.org. Once registered, you will receive regular information on planning your drill and becoming better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.

For resources and more information regarding the Great ShakeOut, visit www.ShakeOut.org.

The Southern California Earthquake Center, NEHRP Earthquake Consortia and States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and dozens of other partners coordinate the Great ShakeOut.

Why does it matter?

Having a source of water at your home provides you and firefighters a way to help protect your home if it’s threatened by a wildfire or already on fire. In some areas, water may not be readily accessible, so having a source of stored water can be critical.

What do I need to know?

Identify a means of on-site water, such as those listed below:

• Community water/hydrant system
• Drafting site on a lake
• Swimming pool
• Cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors

Where do I start?

• Determine where and how water can be accessed or stored on your property, and how water can be collected (ex: rainwater catch system, on-site storage tanks)
• Plan for how water will be pumped or delivered, planning for delivery without electricity
• Consider a gasoline-powered portable pump to deliver the water
• Mark your water supply, so it is readily visible for firefighters if you are not present