Emergency Preparedness

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Resources from the DSHS Ready or Not? campaign

	Skip down to sections: Preparedness resources from the Ready or Not? campaign General Information, Guides, Checklists Local Texas Emergency and Preparedness Sites Women and Children Individuals with Special Needs:  Seniors,  Kids,  Pets Information for Businesses

Preparedness resources from the Ready or Not? campaign

Resources from the DSHS Ready or Not? campaign

	Emergency Plan Form in PDF Disasters can strike quickly and sometimes without warning. Your family may not be together in the same place when they happen, so it is important to plan for a disaster in advance. Sit down together and decide how you will get in touch with each other, where you will go and what you will do in different emergency situations. This form requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and print. Newer versions of the Acrobat Reader (version 7 and above) allow you to fill out and save the form on your computer.
	Emergency Supply List in PDF Being prepared involves more than just knowing what to do during an emergency. You need to have essential supplies that will support you and your family during all types of emergency situations. Use this checklist to create a shopping list for preparedness items and gather the necessary supplies.
	Evacuation Checklist in PDF Once you’ve gathered all your emergency supplies, you’ll want to consider how you will use them in different scenarios. Some disasters may require that you leave your home and move to a safer location. Yet in other emergencies, sheltering in place may be your safest option. Use this list to organize your emergency supplies into appropriate emergency kits.

General Information, Guides, Checklists

• Texas Division of Emergency Management
  The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) coordinates the state emergency management program, which is intended to ensure the state and its local governments respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters, and implement plans and programs to help prevent or lessen the impact of emergencies and disasters. 

 

• Preparedness Today
  The possibility of public health emergencies arising in the United States concerns many people in the wake of recent hurricanes, tsunamis, acts of terrorism, and the threat of pandemic influenza. The American Red Cross and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have teamed up to answer common questions and provide guidance on steps you can take now to protect you and your loved ones.

  

• Ready America
  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security promotes individual emergency preparedness through the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps. The campaign is designed to educate Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. Includes information on family emergency plans, family communications plans, emergency supply kits, and building a shelter. Also sections for older Americans, people with special needs, and pet owners.

 

• CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response
  and
  Emergency Preparedness and You
  Comprehensive information on bioterrorism agents, diseases, and other threats; preparedness and planning, and training and education. Topics include personal preparedness and preparedness for specific types of emergencies, businesses, and health-care facilities. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

• TexasOnline
  Texas Emergency Portal. Includes information on: preparing for storms, getting assistance for special needs, evacuating to safety, and accessing government resources.

 

• “Are You Ready?” An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
  FEMA’s source on individual, family, and community preparedness. Information on how to develop and maintain an emergency communications plan and disaster supplies kit. Other topics covered include evacuation, emergency public shelters, animals in disaster, and information specific to people with disabilities. Provides in-depth information on specific hazards. You can download the full document (pdf, 21MB) or click on links to separate sections. Also available in Spanish.

 

• Texas Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)
  Provides information relating to disaster preparedness, response and recovery for individuals, families, and urban and/or rural communities. Preparing for the Unexpected is an online booklet developed to explain different types of disasters, suggest protective measures for yourself and your family, and offer sources of additional information. A Spanish version of the booklet, Prepárese para lo inesperado, is also available. Texas EDEN is a joint effort between the Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

Local Texas Emergency and Preparedness Sites

• Local Texas Red Cross chapters

 

• City of Brownsville Office of Emergency Management
  Information on current Homeland Security alert levels, local weather, terrorism preparedness, family disaster plan, disaster supplies, family disaster supplies calendar.

 

• Ready South Texas
  The City of San Antonio, Bexar County and Comal County are working with the Governor's Division of Emergency Management and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to strengthen local and national security.

 

• North Central Texas Council of Governments
  Builds a foundation for lasting partnerships and proactive Emergency Preparedness in North Central Texas through advocacy, information sharing, and collaboration. The department also partners with state and federal agencies that are charged with emergency management mitigation, training, response and recovery responsibilities.

 

• Our Community Responds
  A website designed to help Houstonians prepare before a natural disaster or emergency strikes. Contains information regarding hurricane supply kits, evacuation plans, the 211 Texas system, pets and livestock, special needs, and tips for sheltering in place.

 

• Houston Office of Emergency Management
  This office is responsible for coordinating the City of Houston's preparation for and response to emergency situations.

 

• Harris County Homeland Security and Emergency Management
  Breaking news, hurricane preparedness information.

 

• Fort Worth-Tarrant County Office of Emergency Management
  This office is responsible for disaster planning for the City of Fort Worth and portions of Tarrant County. This is accomplished by conducting a program of comprehensive emergency management principles.

 

• Galveston County Office of Emergency Management
  This office is responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive emergency program for Galveston County. This Plan addresses disaster mitigation, planning and preparedness, response to, and recovery.

Women and Children

• Disaster emergency preparedness for women
  From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

 

• Information for Pregnant Women - Fact Sheet
  From the Centers for Disease Control

 

• Giving Birth "In Place" A Guide to Emergency Preparedness for Childbirth.
  From the American College of Nurse Midwives, a guide for how to give birth if travel is not possible due to an emergency

 

• Prepare for a disaster: Information for anyone caring for a newborn
  From the March of Dimes. Includes information for newborn care before, during and after a disaster

Infant Feeding and Care

• Infant feeding and breastfeeding support resources
  From the Texas Women, Infants and Children Program

 

• Keep Food and Water Safe after a Disaster or Power Outage
  Fact Sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Infection, includes information specific to feeding of infants and young children

 

• Nutrition in emergencies and
  Guiding principles for feeding infants and young children during emergencies (PDF 4.2 MB)  
  Fom the World Health Organization

Child and Adolescents  

• Family Readiness Kit
  From the American Academy of Pediatrics

 

• Helping children and adolescents cope with violence and disasters
  Information from the American Academy of Pediatrics

 

• Terrorist Threat Alerts: What They Mean to Your Family
  From KidsHealth.org

 

• Emergency Preparedness for Children with Special Health Care Needs
  From the American Academy of Pediatrics

Individuals with Special Needs

General Preparedness and Planning:

• Individuals with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs
  From FEMA

 

• Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs  PDF 732 kb
  From FEMA.
  
  
• Emergency and Disaster Planning for Children with Special Health Care Needs
  
  
  Senior Citizens:
  
• Disaster Preparedness for Seniors by Seniors
  From the American Red Cross

 

• Preparing Makes Sense For Older Americans   PDF version
  From Ready.gov  

For Kids:  

• Ready Kids
  Ready Kids helps parents and teachers educate children in grades 4-5 about emergencies and how they can help get their family prepared. The site features age-appropriate, step-by-step instructions on what families can do to be better prepared and the role kids can play in this effort. From the U.S. Deparment of Homeland Security.

 

• Owlie Skywarn's Weather Book
  Owlie is the official mascot of the National Weather Service (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He teaches kids about the hazards of severe weather which include tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes, flash floods and winter storms.

 

• Natural Disasters and Terrorism
  From BrainPOP, a pioneering developer of animated content that motivates and inspires children to learn. Designed to spark children’s inherent curiosity, the movies are visually appealing, and speak to kids in a voice they can relate to, but without talking down to them. The Flash player is required to watch these videos.

About Pets:

• Disaster Preparedness for Pets
  From the Texas SPCA

 

• Disaster Planning for Pets, Family
  From the U.S. Humane Society

 

• Pets America
  Pets America teaches people how to care for their animals before, during, and after an emergency.

Information for Businesses

• Emergency Preparedness for Business
  From the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Note: External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to people with disabilities.