Step 1. Find Local Risks & Resources
Before making plans or gathering supplies to prepare, first you’ll need to know what you’re preparing for! Discover your local risks and then find out how to sign up to get local updates and alerts to help you and your household stay safe if a disaster happens. (No secret handshake required!)
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
The old saying “knowledge is power” is at the foundation of resilience! If a disaster happens, being signed up to get real time alerts and knowing what disasters to prepare for are the first steps to staying safe. In the summer of 2021 alone, a third of Americans lived in an area that experienced a significant disaster. However, disasters vary widely from floods to hurricanes to fires and extreme heat. What are the risks in your area? If a disaster happens, how will you get an alert to warn you and provide instructions on what to do to stay safe? What resources are available locally to help you and your family get prepared? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and take your first step in becoming prepared!
How to do this action:
Read this action and complete the following tasks:
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Discover the risks that apply to your area
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Find local alert networks and preparedness resources
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Sign up to receive emergency alerts
Then complete the Make a Plan, Build Your Kit and Resilience for Homeowners or Renters actions to cover the basics of emergency preparedness.
1Step 1: Learn about the risks in your area
Multiple Natural Hazard Index for US Counties
To use this map:
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Enter your zip code or city name in the top left box that says “Find address or place”. If you are entering a city name, start typing, then choose the correct one from the drop down list.
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Click on your city to see a popup with Hazard Information (the highlighted area is your county). If nothing happens when you click, you may need to zoom out until you see a colored background and try again (use the minus sign next to the box where you typed your city or zip code).
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Look for hazards rated High or Medium and write those down. If you have any trouble using the map, go to the next step and find someone to help you in your local area!
Action: Find and write down your local hazards: Use the map above to find and write down all high and medium risk hazards. Prioritize all high risk hazards when creating your emergency plan. For medium risk hazards, learn about the hazard and include it in your plan as advised by local authorities.
2Step 2: Find local preparedness resources
Since the hazards and impacts that each community faces are different, the best source of information on how to prepare and what to do in a disaster are local! All communities have staff or volunteers dedicated to helping their community prepare and stay alert to possible hazards. The most important resource is your local emergency alert system. This is where critical, live information is provided to residents during a disaster on what to do and how to stay safe. The primary places to find local information are your local CERT organization, Office of Emergency Services, or your local Fire Department.
What is CERT and the Office of Emergency Services?
CERT, which stands for Community Emergency Response Team, is a national volunteer program where volunteers from your local community receive training on basic disaster preparedness as well as more in depth skills like fire safety and disaster first aid. They support first responders like the Fire Department during a disaster and are often the first helpers on the scene. They also often provide classes in basic emergency preparedness to help the community prepare! Most communities have a CERT group, but not all.
Your local Office of Emergency Services is the government agency responsible for managing local disaster response and providing emergency alerts and information. If you live in a bigger city you may have an Office of Emergency Services in your city, otherwise you will likely have a County office.
Action - find and write down your local resources:
Explore your local CERT or Office of Emergency Services website or give them a call to find the information below. If you can’t find this through either of these resources, call your local fire department (on the non-emergency number!) or stop by and ask them how to get connected.
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How to sign up for local Emergency Alert Networks (see more in the next step below)
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Where to ask questions or find the best resources on local hazards and preparedness
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Where to find information on upcoming community preparedness meetings or trainings
Tips:
How to find your local CERT organization: You can try an internet search with your city or county name + CERT to see if you can find a local website or you can search for your local CERT organization here. To use this locator - start typing your city name in the “Enter Location” field and then choose your city in the drop down list. Then scroll down and choose the CERT location nearest to you. There are only phone numbers and addresses on this list, but once you find the name of the CERT group, you could then try an internet search with this name to look for a local website. Or, give them a call! Write the CERT contact information down and keep it somewhere safe as well as save it to your phone. If there is no local CERT program, skip this and look for your Office of Emergency Services or contact your local Fire Department.
How to find your local Office of Emergency Services: Do an internet search with your city or county name and “Office of Emergency Services” or call the main phone number to your city or county government office and ask for your local Office of Emergency Services website and phone number. Write this information down and keep it somewhere safe.
Go big - Become a CERT volunteer! Becoming a trained CERT volunteer is empowering and rewarding and a great way to help your community prepare for emergencies! There are many different roles for volunteers, from block coordinator to first aid response to radio and communications support. No experience required - CERT is open to anyone of any background - and they even have a special program for teens! Check out our Become a CERT Volunteer action to learn more!
3Step 3: Sign up to receive emergency alerts
Action: Sign up for your local alert system: The most important alert system is your local one. Use the resources you found in Step #2 above and sign up for your local alert system!
Different areas use different alert systems, so it is important to find the main one used in your area. In some areas, there may be more than one alert system where each one is used for a different disaster situation. Be sure to sign up for all of the local alert systems that apply to your location. You can usually choose how you want to be alerted - by text message (free), email or phone call - or all of them. Make sure that everyone in your household with a cell phone signs up!
Additional Alert Resource Options:
If you only want one alert system, choose your local one! It will provide more complete, local information during a disaster. If you would like additional alerts, below are some additional resources:
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Follow local agencies on social media: During a natural disaster, local agencies and first responders like fire departments share reliable updates through social media. They often share useful tips during non-emergency times, too! Sign up for your local city or county fire department on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram
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Red Cross Emergency Alerts app: The Red Cross has a great app that will monitor your location and send alerts for 12 different hazards. Search “Emergency: Alerts” in the app store or text: "GETEMERGENCY" to 90999 for a link to download the app. Set up your location and then you have the option to add additional monitoring for family or loved ones in other locations. This app also has great info on preparedness!
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FEMA mobile app: FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has a user-friendly mobile app that will send emergency alerts, safety notifications, and disaster resources. And it’s available in Spanish, too! Download it in your phone app store or at fema.gov/mobile-app.
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Weather Alerts:
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Weather App - use a weather app on your smartphone (often standard) or other source for local weather updates. Some weather apps will let you set up alert notifications for severe weather.
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NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) - during a disaster, it may be important to have updates from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration radio stations. In order to listen to NWR broadcasts, you’ll need a special radio that can receive VHF (Very High Frequency) broadcasts. You can find one online or listen through a live stream at https://www.weatherusa.net/radio. If you choose to buy one, look for these logos:
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National weather alerts on social media:
Automatic Alert Systems:
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are automatically sent by local, state, or federal authorities to your cell phone.
- Most smart phones are enabled to receive these alerts by default, they are free text messages with a high-pitched sound and two vibrations. To double check your specific phone’s settings, just do an internet search for “how to turn on wireless emergency alerts” and the name of your phone brand.
Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages are messages sent by local, state, and federal authorities through radio and TV broadcasters. This is especially useful for anyone who doesn’t have a smartphone or if you are unable to charge your smartphone during an emergency due to a power outage or other service outage. Be sure to include a battery or hand-crank radio in your Emergency Supply Kit to stay informed during a power outage!