Preparedness

Be Prepared Early

Relief Effort Preparation

Learn the four-step process to equip you to provide survival support for you, your family, and your community:

Build a Kit

In case of an Emergency, you will need to be able to provide food, water, and supplies for you and your household for several days.

Learn how to build an Emergency Kit with the items you and your household will need at

  • Individual
  • Family
  • Church Facility
  • Church Community

Individual Preparedness

You as an individual must be ready in order to help and take care of others.

Plan

Consider how to receive emergency information, communicate with family, and meet basic needs like food, water, shelter, clothing, medication, sanitation, and transportation.

Build a Kit

Include items like non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, a portable radio or television, batteries, medicines, anti-bacterial hand wipes or gel, a first aid kit, money, seasonal clothing, and sanitation supplies. You should be able to be self-sufficient for at least three days.

Know the Risks

Identify your risks and practice your plan.

first aid kit photo

Family Preparedness

Once your family is prepared, they will have the peace of mind to help others.

Plan

Consider how to receive emergency information, communicate with family, and meet basic needs like food, water, shelter, clothing, medication, sanitation, and transportation.

Build a Kit

Depending on the size of your family.

Include items like non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, a portable radio or television, batteries, medicines, anti-bacterial hand wipes or gel, a first aid kit, money, seasonal clothing, and sanitation supplies.

You should be able to be self-sufficient for at least one week.

Know the Risks

Identify your risks and practice your plan.

Prepare for Pets

Plan ahead to ensure that your pets will be taken care of.

More information below:

Emergency Backpack photo

Disaster Readiness for Pets

Pet Emergency Kit

Having an emergency kit for your pets can make a significant difference in a disaster situation both for treating injuries and having the ability to evacuate quickly with all necessary items.

  • Food and Water: At least a 3-day supply.
  • Medications: A week’s supply of any medications your pet needs.
  • Identification: Make sure your pet is microchipped and has an ID contact information
  • Leash, Harness, or Carrier: To safely transport your pet.
  • Sanitation Supplies: Waste bags, litter, and a litter box.
  • Comfort Items: Toys, bedding, and anything that can help reduce stress.
  • A picture of You and Your Pet Together:  If you become separated from your pet during and emergency, a picture will help document ownership and allow others to assist you in identifying your pet.

Evacuation Plans

Plan ahead to ensure a safe evacuation!

  • Identify Pet-Friendly Shelters: Know where you can go that will accept pets.
  • Map Out Routes: Plan multiple routes in case roads are blocked.
  • Practice Drills: Regularly practice your evacuation plan with your pets so they are familiar with the process. In the event of an emergency, we want to make sure our pets can perform these tasks without delay.
    • Practice going in and out of pet carriers/kennels.
    • Practice loading and unloading large animals.

Transport Safety

Ensure safety and comfort during transport.

  • Carriers and Crates: Use sturdy carriers or crates for small animals.
    • Gold Standard: Crash tested carriers/kennels and secured to vehicle with seatbelts or straps to prevent movement in the event of sudden stops or accidents.
  • Trailers: Ensure large animal trailers are in good condition and ready for use.
  • Restraints: Use seatbelt harnesses for dogs if they are not in carriers.

Identification

Proper identification is crucial during disasters and could be the difference between a pet making it back home or not in the event of separation.

  • Microchipping: Make sure your pet is microchipped and the information is up to date.
  • ID Tags: Ensure your pet’s ID tags have current contact information.
  • Photos: Keep recent photos of your pet for visual identification and proof of ownership.

Emergency Contacts

Have a list readily available. Laminating emergency contact lists and securing to the sides of carriers, kennels, and trailers is a great way to keep important information readily accessible.

  • Veterinarian: Keep your vet’s contact information handy.
    • Save as a contact in your phone.
  • Local Animal Shelters: Know the locations and contact details of local shelters should you need assistance.
  • Family and Friends: Identify and locate who can take care of your pets if you are unable to.

Medical Information

Keep your pets' medical information on hand.

  • Records: Maintain up-to-date vaccination and medical records in a waterproofed container.
    • Having multiple copies in different areas can help ensure quick access in the event that certain areas are not reachable.
  • Pet Page App: Use the Pet Page App to access your pet’s medical records easily from your phone and directly from North Star Veterinary Hospital’s records.

Church Facility and Home

The church facility needs to be prepared to handle any kind of situation since people flock to Houses of Worship during times of need.

Plan

Look at how the facility can operate with or without electricity:

  • Do you have back up power?
    • How long will it last?
  • How will you communicate?
  • Can you coordinate with any relief services?

Facility Power Management

Plan ahead by purchasing generators to provide backup power for your Church Facility and Home.

  • Does your Home have back up power?
    • How long will it last?
  • Do you have a plan to secure your house if you are to evacuate the area?

 

If your locations cannot support a large scale back up generator, look into getting a smaller one to provide necessary power.

Generators:

Communication

How will you be able to communicate with your church family?

No power means no internet and phone service!

Look into alternate means to communicate:

  • HAM radios
  • CB radios
  • Satellite phone
  • Starlink
  • and any other means to get messaging out.

Relief Efforts

Work with state and federal agencies to coordinate relief efforts:

  • Medical relief
  • Food drops
  • Clothing donations
  • Water locations
  • and any additional relief locations

Church Family / Community

Shelter Plan

After making sure that all preparation for yourself, your household, and you church facility are complete, then and only then are you able to help others.

  • Look at your facility and see what its capabilities are.
  • Can you help by becoming a drop off center for relief aid?
  • Where can you help?
  • Involving the community in planning and response activities fosters collaboration, enhances resilience, and promotes a sense of solidarity in times of crisis.

Notice

Understand that if you want to turn your location into a type of “SHELTER” there are stipulations in that:

If you are a designated shelter and a natural disaster is declared by the federal government, you will be a shelter for the entirety of the disaster.

This could last months to even a year or more.