Question:

What is the Ready Campaign?

Answer:

The Ready Campaign is a national public service advertising campaign, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with the Advertising Council. It is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. The goal of the campaign is to get the public involved and ultimately to increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation.

Ready asks individuals to do four key things: get an Emergency Supply Kit; make a Family Emergency Plan; be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses; and get involved in community efforts. Individuals can visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY for information about emergency preparedness.

Question:

How can I better prepare myself and my family for an emergency?

Answer:

The Ready Campaign and its partner Citizen Corps ask Americans to take important steps to prepare, including get an Emergency Supply Kit, make a Family Emergency Plan, be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses, and get involved in the community. More information, including an Emergency Supply Kit checklist and a Family Emergency Plan template, is available on the Ready web site (www.ready.gov) or by calling 1-800-BE-READY

Question:

What should be included in an Emergency Supply Kit?

Answer:

In a basic Emergency Supply Kit, the Ready Campaign recommends including the following:

• One gallon of water per person per day for three days - remember to include enough for your pets, too
• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water and choose foods your family will eat: ready-to-eat canned meats, peanut butter, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola. Also pack a manual can opener and eating utensils
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Local maps

Ready also encourages an individual to think about the special needs of family members:

• Prescription medications and glasses
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food, extra water for your pet, leash and collar
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

For a complete list of items, we encourage people to visit www.ready.gov to download a free emergency supply checklist or call 1-800-BE-READY.

Question:

How can I develop a Family Emergency Plan?

Answer:

Preparing a Family Emergency Plan is simple. You can get started by using a free Family Emergency Plan template available at www.ready.gov. A Family Emergency Plan can help a family to stay in contact if they are separated during an emergency.