Preparing 

Makes Sense.

Get Ready 

Now.

www.ready.gov
The likelihood of you and your family

surviving a house fire depends as much on having a working

smoke detector and an exit strategy, as on a well-trained fire

department. The same is true for surviving a terrorist attack

or other emergency. We must have the tools and plans in

place to make it on our own, at least for a period of time, no

matter where we are when disaster strikes. Just like having a

working smoke detector, preparing for the unexpected

makes sense. Get ready now.

Potential Threats Terrorists are working to obtain biological,

chemical, nuclear and radiological weapons, and the threat of an

attack is very real. Here at the Department of Homeland Security,

throughout the federal government, and at organizations across

America, we are working hard to strengthen our Nation’s security

and to reduce our vulnerability to emergencies of all kinds.

Whenever possible, we want to stop terrorist attacks before they

happen. All Americans should begin a process of learning about

potential threats so we are better prepared to react during an

attack, natural disaster or other emergency. While there is no

way to predict what will happen, or what your personal circumstances will be, there are simple things you can do now to prepare

yourself and your loved ones. Some of the things you can do to

prepare for a terrorist attack, such as assembling a supply kit and

developing a family communications plan, are the same for both

a natural or man-made emergency. However, as you will read in

this brochure, there are important differences among potential

terrorist threats that will impact the decisions you make and the

actions you take. With a little planning and common sense, you

can be better prepared for the unexpected.

Everyone should have a plan.
Emergency Supplies

Just like having a working smoke detector in your home, having emergency supply kits will put the

tools you may need at your fingertips. Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to

make it on your own for at least three days, maybe longer. While there are many things that might

make you more comfortable, think first about fresh water, food and clean air. Remember to include,

and periodically rotate, medications you take every day such as insulin and heart medicine. Plan to

store items in an easy-to-carry bag, such as a shopping bag, backpack or duffle bag. Consider two

kits. In one, put everything you will need to stay where you are and make it on your own. The other

should be a lightweight, smaller version you can take with you if you have to get away.

Water Store one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation in clean 

plastic containers. If you live in a warm weather climate more water may be necessary.

Food Store food that won’t go bad and does not have to be heated or cooked. Choose

foods that your family will eat, including protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, canned

foods and juices, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts, crackers and baby foods. Remember to

pack a manual can opener, cups and eating utensils. 

Clean Air Many potential terrorist attacks could send tiny microscopic “junk” into the air. 

For example, an explosion may release very fine debris that can cause lung damage. A biological

attack may release germs that can make you sick if inhaled or absorbed through open cuts.

Many of these agents can only hurt you if they get into your body, so think about creating a 

barrier between yourself and any contamination. Be prepared to improvise with what you

have on hand to protect your nose, mouth, eyes and cuts in your skin. Anything that fits

snugly over your nose and mouth, including any dense-weave cotton material, can help filter

contaminants in an emergency. It is very important that most of the air you breathe comes

through the mask or cloth, not around it. Do whatever you can to make the best fit possible

for children. There are also a variety of face masks readily available in hardware stores that are

rated based on how small a particle they can filter in an industrial setting. 

Given the different types of attacks that could occur, there is not one solution for masking. 

For instance, simple cloth face masks can filter some of the airborne “junk” or germs you

might breathe into your body, but will probably not protect you from chemical gases. Still,

something over your nose and mouth in an emergency is better than nothing.

Have heavyweight garbage bags or plastic sheeting, duct tape and scissors in your kit. You

can use these things to tape up windows, doors and air vents if you need to seal off a room

from outside contamination. Consider precutting and labeling these materials. Anything you

can do in advance will save time when it counts.

Basic Supplies Store a flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, 

utility knife, local map, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, soap, garbage bags and

other sanitation supplies, plastic sheeting, duct tape, as well as extra cash and identification.

Periodically rotate your extra batteries to be sure they work when you need them.
Warmth If you live in a cold weather climate, you must think about

warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have

heat. Have warm clothing for each family member in your supply kit,

including a jacket or coat, long pants, a long sleeve shirt, sturdy shoes,

a hat and gloves. Have a sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person.

Special Items Think about your family’s unique needs. Pack diapers,

formula, bottles, prescription medications, pet food, comfort items,

books, paper, pens, a deck of cards or other forms of entertainment.

www.ready.gov

Emergency Supplies

Recommended Supplies to Include in a Basic Kit:

❑ Water one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking

and sanitation 

❑ Food at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food 

❑ Battery-powered radio and extra batteries 

❑ Flashlight and extra batteries 

❑ First Aid kit

❑ Whistle to signal for help 

❑ Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air 

❑ Moist towelettes for sanitation 

❑ Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities 

❑ Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) 

❑ Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place 

❑ Infant formula and diapers if you have an infant 

❑ Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation 

Unique Family Needs:

❑

❑

❑

❑
You should plan in advance what you will do in an emergency. Be prepared to assess the

situation, use common sense and whatever you have on hand to take care of yourself and your

loved ones. Think about the places where your family spends time: school, work and other

places you frequent. Ask about their emergency plans. Find out how they will communicate

with families during an emergency. If they do not have an emergency plan, consider helping

develop one. Use the tool in the back of this brochure to get started today.

Develop a Family Communications Plan Your family may not be together when disaster

strikes, so plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different

situations. Consider a plan where each family member calls, or e-mails, the same friend or

relative in the event of an emergency. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than

to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate

among separated family members. Be sure each person knows the phone number and has

coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. You may have trouble getting

through, or the phone system may be down altogether, but be patient. 

Deciding to Stay or Go Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the attack,

the first important decision is whether you stay put or get away. You should understand and

plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and available information, including what you

are learning here, to determine if there is immediate danger. In any emergency, local authorities

may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what

you should do. However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often

for information or official instructions as it becomes available. If you’re specifically told to 

evacuate or seek medical treatment, do so immediately.

Staying Put and Shelter-in-Place Whether you are at home, work or elsewhere, there may

be situations when it’s simply best to stay where you are and avoid any uncertainty outside. In

fact, there are some circumstances where staying put and creating a barrier between yourself

and potentially contaminated air outside, a process known as sheltering-in-place and sealing the

room, is a matter of survival. Plan in advance where you will take shelter in this kind of an

emergency. Choose an interior room or one with as few windows and doors as possible.

Consider precutting plastic sheeting to seal windows, doors and air vents. Each piece should be

several inches larger than the space you want to cover so that it lies flat against the wall. Label

each piece with the location of where it fits.

Use available information to assess the situation. If you see large amounts of debris in the air,

or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to shelter-in-place and

seal the room. Quickly bring your family and pets inside, lock doors, and close windows, air

vents and fireplace dampers. Turn off air conditioning, forced air heating systems, exhaust fans

and clothes dryers. Take your emergency supplies and go into the room you have designated.

Seal all windows, doors and vents with plastic sheeting and duct tape or anything else you

have on hand. Listen to the TV, the radio, or check the Internet for instructions.

Emergency Planning
Getting Away There may be conditions under which you will decide

to get away, or there may be situations when you are ordered to leave.

Plan in advance how you will assemble your family and anticipate where

you will go. Choose several destinations in different directions so you

have options in an emergency. If you have a car, keep at least a half

tank of gas in it at all times. Become familiar with alternate routes as well as

other means of transportation out of your area. If you do not have a car, plan

how you will leave if you have to. Take your emergency supply kit, unless

you have reason to believe it has been contaminated, and lock the door

behind you. Take pets with you if you are told to evacuate; however, if you

are going to a public shelter, keep in mind that they may not be allowed

inside. If you believe the air may be contaminated, drive with your windows

and vents closed and keep the air conditioning and heater turned off. 

Working Together Schools, daycare providers, workplaces, neighborhoods and apartment buildings, like individuals and families, should

all have site-specific emergency plans. Ask about plans at the places

where your family spends time: work, school and other places you

frequent. If none exist, consider volunteering to help develop one. You

will be better prepared to reunite your family and loved ones safely

during an emergency if you think ahead, and communicate with others

in advance. 

Neighborhoods and Apartment Buildings A community working

together during an emergency also makes sense. Talk to your neighbors

about how you can work together. Find out if anyone has specialized equipment, like a power generator, or expertise such as medical knowledge, that

might help in a crisis. Decide who will check on elderly or disabled neighbors.

Make backup plans for children in case you can’t get home in an emergency.

Sharing plans and communicating in advance is a good strategy.

Schools and Daycare If you are a parent, or guardian of an elderly

or disabled adult, make sure schools or daycare providers have emergency response plans. Ask how they will communicate with families

during a crisis. Do they store adequate food, water and other emergency

supplies? Find out if they are prepared to shelter-in-place if need be,

and where they plan to go if they must get away.

Employers If you are an employer, make sure your workplace has a

building evacuation plan that is regularly practiced. Take a critical look

at your heating ventilation and air-conditioning system to determine if

it is secure or if it could be feasibly upgraded to better filter potential

contaminants. Be sure you, and others, know how to turn off the system

if necessary. Think about what to do if your employees can’t go home,

and make sure you have appropriate supplies on hand.

www.ready.gov
It is important to remember, there are significant differences among

potential terrorist threats that will influence the decisions you make and

the actions you take. By beginning a process of learning about these

specific threats, you are preparing yourself to react in an emergency.

Biological Threat A biological attack is the deliberate release of germs

or other biological substances that can make you sick. Many agents must be

inhaled, enter through a cut in the skin or be eaten to make you sick. Some

biological agents, such as anthrax, do not cause contagious diseases.

Others, like the smallpox virus, can result in diseases you can catch

from people. 

Unlike an explosion, a biological attack may or may not be immediately

obvious. While it is possible that you will see signs of a biological attack, as

was sometimes the case with the anthrax mailings, it is perhaps more likely

that local health care workers will report a pattern of unusual illness or there

will be a wave of sick people seeking emergency medical attention. You will

probably learn of the danger through an emergency radio or TV broadcast or

some other signal used in your community. Perhaps you will get a phone call

or emergency response workers may come door-to-door. If you become

aware of an unusual or suspicious release of an unknown substance nearby,

it doesn’t hurt to protect yourself. Quickly get away. Cover your mouth and

nose with layers of fabric that can filter the air but still allow breathing.

Examples include two to three layers of cotton such as a t-shirt, handkerchief

or towel. Otherwise, several layers of tissue or paper towels may help.

Wash with soap and water and contact authorities.

In the event of a biological attack, public health officials will provide

information on what you should do as quickly as they can. However, it can

take time for them to determine exactly what the illness is, how it should be

treated and who is in danger. What you can do is watch TV, listen to the radio

or check the Internet for official news including the following: Are you in the

group or area authorities consider in danger? What are the signs and

symptoms of the disease? Are medications or vaccines being distributed?

Where? Who should get them? Where should you seek emergency medical

care if you become sick? 

At the time of a declared biological emergency, if a family member becomes

sick, it is important to be suspicious. However, do not automatically assume

you should go to a hospital emergency room or that any illness is the

result of the biological attack. Symptoms of many common illnesses

may overlap. Use common sense, practice good hygiene and cleanliness

to avoid spreading germs, and seek medical advice.

Specific Terrorist Threats
Chemical Threat A chemical attack is the deliberate release of a

toxic gas, liquid or solid that can poison people and the environment.

Watch for signs of a chemical attack such as many people suffering from

watery eyes, twitching, choking, having trouble breathing or losing coordination. Many sick or dead birds, fish or small animals are also cause for

suspicion. If you see signs of a chemical attack, quickly try to define the

impacted area or where the chemical is coming from, if possible. 

Take immediate action to get away from the affected area.

If the chemical is inside a building where you are, try to get out of the

building without passing through the contaminated area. Otherwise, it

may be better to move as far away from where you suspect the chemical

release is and seal the room. If you are outside when you see signs of a

chemical attack, you must quickly decide what is the fastest way to get

away from the chemical threat. Consider if you can get out of the area or

if it would be better to go inside a building and follow your plan to

shelter-in-place. 

If your eyes are watering, your skin is stinging, you are having trouble

breathing or you simply think you may have been exposed to a chemical,

immediately strip and wash. Look for a hose, fountain or any source of

water. Wash with soap, if possible, but do not scrub the chemical into

your skin. Seek emergency medical attention.

Nuclear Blast A nuclear blast is an explosion with intense light and

heat, a damaging pressure wave and widespread radioactive material that

can contaminate the air, water and ground surfaces for miles around.

While experts may predict at this time that a nuclear attack is less likely

than others, terrorism by its nature is unpredictable. If there is a flash or

fireball, take cover immediately, below ground if possible, though any

shield or shelter will help protect you from the immediate effects of the

blast and the pressure wave. In order to limit the amount of radiation you

are exposed to, think about shielding, distance and time. If you have a

thick shield between yourself and the radioactive materials, it will absorb

more of the radiation and you will be exposed to less. Similarly, the farther

away you are from the blast and the fallout, the lower your exposure.

Finally, minimizing time spent exposed will also reduce your risk.

Radiation Threat or “Dirty Bomb” A radiation threat or “Dirty

Bomb” is the use of common explosives to spread radioactive materials

over a targeted area. It is not a nuclear blast. The force of the explosion

and radioactive contamination will be more localized. While the blast will

be immediately obvious, the presence of radiation may not be clearly

defined until trained personnel with specialized equipment are on the

scene. As with any radiation, you want to try to limit your exposure.

Think about shielding, distance and time.

www.ready.gov
Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as

making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency.

However, there are important differences among natural disasters that

will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Some 

natural disasters are easily predicted, others happen without warning.

Planning what to do in advance is an important part of being prepared.

Find out what natural disasters are most common in your area. You may

be aware of some of your community’s risks: others may surprise you.

Historically, flooding is the nation's single most common natural

disaster. Flooding can happen in every U.S. state and territory.

Earthquakes are often thought of as a West Coast phenomenon, yet 

45 states and territories in the United States are at moderate to high

risk from earthquakes and are located in every region of the country.

Other disasters may be more common in certain areas. Tornados are

nature’s most violent storms and can happen anywhere. However, states

located in “Tornado Alley,” as well as areas in Pennsylvania, New York,

Connecticut, and Florida are at the highest risk for tornado damage.

Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic

Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Scientists can now predict hurricanes, but people who live in coastal

communities should plan what they will do if they are told to evacuate.

Planning what to do in advance is an important part of being prepared.

Find out what natural disasters are most common in your area.

Natural Disasters
Citizen Corps actively involves citizens in making our communities and our nation safer, stronger, and better prepared. 

We all have a role to play in keeping our hometowns secure

from emergencies of all kinds. Citizen Corps works hard 

to help people prepare, train, and volunteer in their 

communities.

What role will you play? Being ready starts with you,

but it also takes everyone working together to make our

communities safer. Citizen Corps provides a variety of

opportunities for you to get involved.

You can provide valuable assistance to local fire stations,

law enforcement, emergency medical services, and emergency management. Get connected to disaster volunteer

groups through your local Citizen Corps Council, so that

when something happens, you can help in an organized

manner. Citizen Corps programs build on the successful

efforts that are in place in many communities around the

country to prevent crime and respond to emergencies.

You can join the Citizen Corps community by:

■ Volunteering for local law enforcement agencies through

the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program;

■ Being part of a Community Emergency Response Team

(CERT) to help people immediately after a disaster and to

assist emergency responders;

Get Involved... Join Citizen Corps Today.

www.ready.gov
■ Joining a Neighborhood Watch group to help with 

terrorism awareness and neighborhood emergency 

preparedness;

■ Volunteering with the Medical Reserve Corps to provide

public health and medical support;

■ Providing fire safety and prevention education in the

community and helping out at your local fire station through

Fire Corps;

■ Helping others get prepared, especially those with 

special needs.

It starts with you.

There are no limits to how you can prepare and train for

emergencies. All over America, communities have organized

Citizen Corps Councils to inspire citizens to take action and

get involved in hometown preparedness. Contact your local

Council by going to www.citizencorps.gov and click on the

homepage link to find the Council nearest you.

Prepare. Train. Volunteer...
In All Cases, Remain Calm.

Be prepared to adapt this information to your personal

circumstances and make every effort to follow instructions

received from authorities on the scene. Above all, stay calm,

be patient and think before you act. With these simple

preparations, you can be ready for the unexpected. If you

have a working smoke detector, you understand that preparing

makes sense. Get ready now. Use the tool to the

right to get started today.

This common sense framework is designed 

to launch a process of learning about citizen

preparedness. For the most current information

and recommendations, go online to

www.ready.gov.
Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, 

so plan how you will contact one another and review what

you will do in different situations.

Out of Town Contact Name: 

Email:

Tel. Number 1: Tel. Number 2:

Fill out the following information for each family member

and keep it up to date.

Name: 

Social Security Number: Date of Birth: 

Important Medical Information:

Name: 

Social Security Number: Date of Birth: 

Important Medical Information:

Name: 

Social Security Number: Date of Birth: 

Important Medical Information:

Name: 

Social Security Number: Date of Birth: 

Important Medical Information:

Name: 

Social Security Number: Date of Birth: 

Important Medical Information:

Name: 

Social Security Number: Date of Birth: 

Important Medical Information:

Where to go in an emergency. Write down where your family

spends the most time: work, school and other places you frequent.

Schools, daycare providers, workplaces and apartment buildings should

all have site-specific emergency plans. (over)

Family Communications Plan
Home

Address: 

Phone Number: 

Neighborhood Meeting Place: 

Regional Meeting Place: 

Work

Address:

Phone Number:

Evacuation Location:

Work

Address:

Phone Number:

Evacuation Location:

School

Address: 

Phone Number:

Evacuation Location: 

School

Address: 

Phone Number:

Evacuation Location: 

School

Address: 

Phone Number:

Evacuation Location: 

Other place you frequent:

Address:

Phone Number:

Evacuation Location:

Other place you frequent:

Address:

Phone Number:

Evacuation Location:

Important Information Name Telephone # Policy #

Doctor(s):

Other:

Pharmacist:

Medical Insurance:

Homeowners/Rental Insurance:

Veterinarian/Kennel (for pets):

Other useful phone numbers: 9-1-1 for emergencies 

Police Non-Emergency Phone #: www.ready.gov
Every family member

should carry a copy 

of this important 

information:

Contact Name:

Telephone:

Out-of-Town Contact Name:

Telephone:

Meeting Place Telephone:

Neighborhood Meeting Place:

Contact Name:

Telephone:

Out-of-Town Contact Name:

Telephone:

Meeting Place Telephone:

Neighborhood Meeting Place:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Washington, DC 20528