With the continuing advance of climate change, many severe weather events are becoming more frequent and/or more extreme. While disasters are by nature unpredictable, planning ahead can help you be more prepared for emergencies, both large and small. In addition, having thought through these questions in advance will give you and your loved ones added reassurance and confidence if the challenge arises.

According to the American Red Cross, there are three basic steps to prepare yourself and your loved ones for emergencies:

• Get a Kit – Keeping an emergency kit or “go bag” is an important first step for your preparedness. Here’s the American Red Cross’s guide to basic items for your emergency kit, which you can add to based on you and your family’s unique needs.
  • Be sure to keep multiple copies of critical documents, such as insurance policies, identification, and medical records. Store different copies in different locations, such as having one copy in a waterproof and/or fireproof container and another uploaded to cloud storage. Check out this article from Yale Climate Connections for more information regarding preparing your critical documents.
  • Where possible, look for more sustainable supply options, such as refillable bottles instead of single-use plastics. For great tips on designing a sustainable emergency kit, listen to Lorraine Finch’s “Sustainable Salvage: How to reduce the environmental impact of your emergency kit” talk here.
• Make a Plan – Before disaster strikes, make a clear emergency plan with all of your household members. Be sure to identify evacuation routes, designate meeting points, and establish a plan for emergency communications. Here’s the American Red Cross’s guide to creating and practicing a family emergency plan.
• Be Informed – The final step is to get informed and stay informed about potential hazards in your area. If you’re based in the United States, use this map from the American Red Cross to identify the most common natural disasters in your area and how to respond. Keep in mind that not all disasters are natural: you should also consider potential man-made disasters, such as traffic accidents or industrial accidents, in your planning. When emergencies happen, authorities will use the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to notify the public via TV, radio, and phone alerts. You can also follow trusted social media accounts for more information.

Visit the “Action” link below for more information and resources related to each of these steps.

While individual preparedness is important, true resilience comes from communities working together. Look for opportunities to learn about and build relationships with your neighbors so that you can effectively assist each other in times of need. This can be as simple as chatting when you pick up your mail, or you can take it to the next level by starting a block club or joining your local Community Emergency Response Team.

Finally, by contributing your time and advocacy to local policy efforts, you can help build a stronger, more resilient community. To increase your impact, look for opportunities to join and support local organizations that are already making contributions in the areas of disaster preparedness, response, and risk reduction. Learn more about the UNDRR’s recommendations for disaster risk reduction at the “Definition” link below.