What Can I Do to Be Prepared?

At little or no cost, these simple actions will help you better prepare for any disaster or emergency.


  1. Know what kind of disasters and emergencies are most common for where you live.
  2. Create your emergency communications plan. Record important contact and medical information about your family, which you then can share with others. Store copies both digitally and on paper.
  3. Make sure you store important phone numbers somewhere besides just your cell phone.
  4. Take pictures of valuables, household possessions, and the condition of your home (interior and exterior) for insurance purposes.
  5. Sign up for emergency alerts in your area to receive life-saving information from your state and local municipality.
  6. Build your emergency supply kit (Go Bag) over time. Start with items you may already have in your home, like a flashlight, extra batteries, copies of important documents, first aid items, medications, water, and non-perishable food. When you go to the grocery store,  pick up an extra item that you use regularly, especially if it’s on sale! Community food banks are a potential resource for food-insecure families to stock their emergency supply kits. 
  7. Talk with family or members of your household about where you will go if told to evacuate. Having a plan before disaster strikes can help you save precious time and money.
  8. Store important documents and items like passports, birth certificates, maps, and electronics in a safe place and/or digitally.
  9. Instead of donating older clothing that still fits well, consider adding it to your disaster kit. You can also work within your social circle to swap clothes, which can be especially helpful if you have children. Look for deals at garage sales and thrift stores. You may find useful items like camping gear, tools, cookware and backpacks or luggage at a fraction of the retail price. Also, keep an eye out for seasonal sales on emergency supplies.

Test Yourself: Do you think you are ready for two weeks?  Can you agree with these statements?

  1. I know what emergencies or disasters are most likely to occur in Netarts and surrounding areas.
  2. I have a family disaster plan and have practiced it.
  3. I have Go Bags (aka survival kits) at home, in my vehicle(s), and at my workplace.
  4. I have stocked up on drinking water, canned and dried food, medications, flashlights with batteries and/or candles, and considered the needs of my family i.e., children, pets, older adults, and family members with mobility issues and disabilities.
  5. I have taken action to help Netarts prepare.