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Different types of
disasters may require different precautions before and during
an emergency. You should know what disasters strike where you
live and what to do to protect your family.
Chemical Emergencies
Under
certain conditions, chemicals can be poisonous or have a
harmful effect on your health. Some chemicals which are safe,
and even helpful in small amounts, can be harmful in larger
quantities or under certain
conditions.
more...
Earthquakes
Prepare a home
earthquake plan. Choose a safe place in every room--under a
sturdy table or desk or against an inside wall where nothing
can fall on you.
more...
Fires
Smoke alarms save lives.
Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each
additional level of your home.
more...
Floods
If it has been raining
hard for several hours, or steadily raining for several days,
be alert to the possibility of a flood. Listen to local radio
or TV stations for flood information.
more...
Heat
Waves
If a heat wave is predicted or
happening... Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must
do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the
day, which is usually in the morning between 4:00 a.m. and
7:00 a.m.
more...
Mudslides
Mudslides are a
serious geologic hazard common to almost every state in the
United States. It is estimated that nationally they cause up
to $2 billion in damages and from 25 to 50 deaths
annually.
more...
Thunderstorms
Before lightning
strikes... Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies,
flashes of light, or increasing wind. Listen for the sound of
thunder.
more...
Tsunami
Twenty-four tsunamis
have caused damage in the United States and its territories
during the last 204 years. Just since 1946, six tsunamis have
killed more than 350 people and caused a half billion dollars
of property damage.
more...
Volcanoes
The United States is
third in the world, after Japan and Indonesia, for the number
of active volcanoes. Since 1980, as many as five volcanoes
have erupted each year in the United
States.
more...
Wild
Fires
More and more people are making their
homes in woodland settings in or near forests, rural areas, or
remote mountain sites. There, homeowners enjoy the beauty of
the environment but face the very real danger of
wildfire.
more...
Winter Storms
Prepare a winter
storm plan. Have extra blankets on hand. Ensure that each
member of your household has a warm coat, gloves or mittens,
hat, and water-resistant boots.
more...
For general disaster
preparedness information, please see our
TogetherWe Prepare section of our Web
site.
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