Be Prepared
The more you are prepared for the possibility of a pandemic flu, the better you, your family and your community will weather the pandemic flu storm. Being prepared means having a solid plan and knowing how to connect to resources in case of an emergency. The emergency could be a pandemic flu, a severe snowstorm, a flood or other situation. The information below will help you start developing plans for taking care of yourself and your family in an emergency.
Prepare your household:
During a pandemic you may have to stay at home for many days or several weeks. Now is the time to store enough food, water, household, first aid and medical supplies for at least two weeks (at most 12 weeks) in case you are homebound or in case businesses stop operating. For checklists to guide you, see:
Prepare your family:
Now is the time to create a family response plan and contact list. Include children in the planning so they understand what can possibly happen and how to stay safe. An informative, fun and interactive website that shows children how to be prepared is at Ready Kids
Prepare your neighborhood:
Work with neighbors and community groups to create a plan to communicate with each other during a pandemic or any community emergency. Create a plan to check on neighbors who are elderly, disabled or others who might need help. For checklists and other information on preparing older adults or people with special needs for an emergency, see:
For more information on what to do or who to call in an emergency, visit:
