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Preparing for Disasters

Learning about seasonal and year-round hazards is an important step in preparing for disasters.

Find hazards near me

Not sure what hazards you are at risk of ? Use this tool to find out what hazards are in your area.

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Resources

Building a kit
Prepare your Vehicle
Grab-and-Go Bag
Prepare your docs
Select a Disaster Type to Learn More About

Seasonal hazards

Winter storms
Wildfires
Flooding

Year-round Hazards

Power outage
Hazardous Material Spills
Pandemics and Disease Outbreaks
Earthquakes

Disaster Preparedness for People with Access & Functional Needs

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Building an emergency kit and grab-and-go bag

Grab-and-go Bag Supplies

A Grab-and-go bag is a small emergency kit, that is easy to carry in the event of a disaster.
It is recommended to have a grab-and-go bag for your home and car.

  • Batteries
  • Cash
  • Cell Phone & power bank
  • Copies of important documents
    • Insurance paperwork
    • Birth, death & marriage certificates
    • house deed
    • photographs
  • Emergency / evacuation Plan
  • First Aid Kit
  • Flashlight
  • Food
  • Identification
  • Medications
  • Radio
  • Seasonal clothing
  • Toiletries
  • Water
  • Whistle

During COVID-19 your Grab-and-go bag should also include:

Facemask
Hand sanitizer

Emergency Kit Supplies

An emergency kit should supply you with enough necessities for three days

  • Batteries
  • Three to Seven day supply of Canned Food
  • Cash
  • Cell Phone & power bank
  • Copies of important documents
    • Insurance paperwork
    • Birth, death & marriage certificates
    • house deed
    • photographs
  • Emergency/evacuation Plan
  • Emergency blanket
  • First Aid Kit
  • Flashlight
  • Garbage Bags
  • Identification
  • Medications
  • N-95 Masks
  • Radio
  • Seasonal clothing
  • Toiletries
  • Water
    • 4 Liters per person/per day
  • Whistle

During COVID-19 your Grab-and-go bag should also include:

Facemask
Hand sanitizer

Vehicle Emergency Supplies

A vehicle emergency kit should have the essentials in the event of a disaster.

  • Batteries
  • Cell Phone & power bank
  • Emergency/evacuation Plan
  • Emergency Flares
  • First Aid Kit
  • Flashlight
  • Food
  • Hazard Reflectors
  • Pet Supplies (In separate bag)
    • Dog Food
    • Leash
  • Radio
  • Sand
  • Seasonal clothing
  • Toiletries
  • Water
  • Whistle

During COVID-19 your Grab-and-go bag should also include:

Facemask
Hand sanitizer

Preparing Your Important Documents

Take pictures of your important documents. Keep all of your important documents in one, easily accessible spot. Also remember that documents are replaceable. Lives are not.

  • Bank/Financial Information
  • Bills
  • Birth Certificates
  • Credit Cards
  • Custody Agreements
  • Green Card/ Immigration Documents
  • Home or Renters insurance policy
  • ID Cards
  • Insurance Card
  • Marriage or divorce certificate
  • Medical Information
  • Mortgage
  • Passport
  • Pet Information
  • Photos
  • Social Security Card
  • Tax Documents
  • Vaccination Card
  • Wills and life insurance information

Video Resources

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How to protect your legal rights before and after a disaster

The Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative is a coalition of bar associations, legal aid organizations, law firms, and nonprofits across California whose mission is to provide free legal help to those affected by disasters in California.

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