Before an Emergency
Make a Plan
Make a Plan
Having an emergency plan is your family’s best chance of survival in any emergency and of being reunited, if separated. Your plan should cover children, seniors, family members with other access or functional needs, pets, and your home. The plan should also include arrangements for the care of horses and other livestock, if needed.
Family Communication
• Pick a relative or friend who lives out of the danger area who your family will know to contact during an emergency to communicate their location.
• Have an emergency go-bag packed and ready to grab at a moment’s notice. In this bag, include items for all family members including infants and pets.
• If you have a traditional landline, make sure to keep one non-cordless phone that will work if the power goes out.
• Program emergency contacts into your cell phones, and make sure to keep them fully charged. Make sure that your family’s schools, daycare, and workplaces have current emergency contact information.
• Keep backup batteries and/or solar-powered chargers in your emergency go-bag.
• Keep emergency contact lists up-to-date and print and laminate small, business card-sized copies for your family.
• Teach family members how to use text messaging on the cell phones. Text messages tend to be more reliable when wireless networks are congested.
• Use social media to inform others of your location and keep track of your friends and relatives. However, try to conserve your cell phone’s battery as much as possible.
• If you have a working radio and/or TV, be sure to listen for emergency instructions and updates.
• Pay close attention to the special needs of the elderly. Use this CHECKLIST.
• Information will be sent to the following broadcast networks:
• KSTE 92.5 AM, KFBK 1530 AM, KGBY 92.5 FM, KKCY 103.1 FM, KMYC 1410 AM, KUBA 1600 AM, KMJE 101.5 FM, 93Q Radio 93.3 FM
Access and Functional Needs
Because every person’s needs are different, you are in the best position to plan for your safety, or other family members with disabilities and other access & functional needs.
• Create a personal support network to assist you before, during and after an emergency.
• Make a list of your/their personal daily living requirements and resources.
• If you need dialysis or other life-sustaining treatment, identify more than one service facility and work with your doctor to include this information in your emergency plan.
• Pre-arrange for transportation in the event of an evacuation-- This could be a friend, neighbor, or relative. If you have no other transportation during an emergency, contact the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office at 530-749-7777.
• Develop backup plans for in-home assistance providers, if used.
• Prepare an emergency go-bag that’s ready to grab at a moment’s notice. Make sure it includes necessary medical equipment + batteries, medications, and first aid supplies.
• Connect with local organizations that provide assistance to those with access and functional needs, including support for service animals.
• Keep in writing a request that you be evacuated with your family, Service Animal, and/or care provider and provide it to emergency personnel, if needed.
Here is a helpful CHECKLIST.• Create a personal support network to assist you before, during and after an emergency.
• Make a list of your/their personal daily living requirements and resources.
• If you need dialysis or other life-sustaining treatment, identify more than one service facility and work with your doctor to include this information in your emergency plan.
• Pre-arrange for transportation in the event of an evacuation-- This could be a friend, neighbor, or relative. If you have no other transportation during an emergency, contact the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office at 530-749-7777.
• Develop backup plans for in-home assistance providers, if used.
• Prepare an emergency go-bag that’s ready to grab at a moment’s notice. Make sure it includes necessary medical equipment + batteries, medications, and first aid supplies.
• Connect with local organizations that provide assistance to those with access and functional needs, including support for service animals.
• Keep in writing a request that you be evacuated with your family, Service Animal, and/or care provider and provide it to emergency personnel, if needed.
Use the following resources for more in-depth information on how to address access and functional needs in an emergency:
- California Office of Emergency Services information
- Ready.gov is a federal government website for comprehensive information on programs and services in communities nationwide. The site links resources from federal, state and local government agencies; academic institutions; and nonprofit organizations.
FEMA Video: Preparing Makes Sense for People with Access & Functional Needs
Pets
Many people consider their pets members of their families. The odds of a pet’s survival during a flood are greatly increased if you plan in advance for its care. In the event of an evacuation, do not leave your pets behind. Identify a backup, like a friend or neighbor, to care for your pet in the event an evacuation occurs when you’re not home.
Following an evacuation, the best option for pet owners is to stay with a friend or relative out of the area who can care for you and your pet. Most Yuba County shelters will not allow animals, with the exception of Service Animals. However, Yuba County will do everything possible to set up separate emergency pet shelters nearby. Don’t forget to bring special foods, medications, or other supplies for your pet, regardless of where you plan to stay.
Here is a helpful CHECKLIST.
Watch FEMA’s “Preparing Makes Sense for Pet Owners” Video to learn more.