EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS/DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

For people who want to prepare for the possibility of an emergency or a disaster in their community, these agencies offer information and guidance on how to prepare:

• American Red Cross Preparedness Information
  http://www.redcross.org/
• FEMA: Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness
  http://www.fema.gov/areyouready
• Ready.gov - From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security http://www.ready.gov/

Connecticut cities and towns Emergency Management Office's handle "Special Needs Registries", which maintain information about residents who may require assistance in the event of a disaster. People with disabilities, people who cannot drive, and people who do not have access to transportation are included. Participation in the Special Needs Registry is voluntary. Here is a link to the cities/towns who have Special Needs Registries.

Connecticut Department of Social Services: Aging Services Division provides a link to Emergency Preparedness information and services, http://www.ct.gov/agingservices/cwp/view.asp?a=2513&q=423446 available to Connecticut residents.

Businesses can help keep their employees and business safe by having an Emergency Action Plan and a Business Continuity Plan. The following links will help businesses enhance or develop Emergency Action and Business Continuity Plans:

From Ready.gov:

http://www.ready.gov/business/_downloads/readybusiness-brochure.pdf

http://www.ready.gov/business/_downloads/sampleplan.pdf

From the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/index.html

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Information on preparing for specific types of disasters can be found at the following websites:

HURRICANES

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

National Hurricane Center
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml

USA.gov (United States government information website)
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Weather/Hurricane.shtml

THUNDERSTORMS

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

Federal Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/thunderstorms.shtm

National Weather Service
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/tstorm.pdf

TORNADOES

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/safety/tornadoguide.html

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/

WINTER STORMS

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

Federal Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/winter/index.shtm

National Weather Service
http://www.weather.gov/om/winter/

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:

Search by service names:

• General Disaster Preparedness Information
• Terrorism Preparedness Information
• Disaster/Emergency Services Volunteer Opportunities

PREPARED BY: 211/kq
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: August2011