close
Donate

Published

Updated on February 26, 2025.

Without proper preparation for natural disasters, our lives can change instantly. Only 33% of Californians claim to be “very knowledgeable” about how to prepare for a major disaster such as an earthquake (Baldassare et al., 2014). Many Californians, despite being at risk for earthquakes or wildfires, do not take the steps necessary to prepare themselves mentally and physically for disaster. Older adults and individuals with illnesses or disabilities are especially disadvantaged when it comes to dealing with and recovering from emergencies. As such, it is important to take extra precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones. 

Below are steps to help you be more prepared for a natural disaster.

emergency preparedness checklist

Make a Plan

A good natural disaster plan includes personal contacts, local municipal agencies like police and fire departments, evacuation routes, and meeting spots. Your plan should also be shared with your emergency contacts and support network.

As Southern California residents, we should be aware of major dangers including, but not limited to:

  • Fires
  • Earthquakes
  • Floods
  • Landslides
  • Tsunami

Understand which natural disasters present the greatest risk for your county and census tract by visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Risk Index (www.hazards.fema.gov/nri/map#).

To best prepare for these natural disasters, consider these six steps:

  1. Set a place to meet up:
    • Decide on a location to meet if a disaster were to occur while you or your loved ones are at home, work, or in the community.
  2. Get connected:
    • Consider how and who you need to get in contact with during and after a natural disaster occurs.
    • Consider how you will contact others if the power is out or cell towers are down.
      • Depending on the situation, you could find a public Wi-Fi area or text your emergency contact.
  3. Be informed:
    • Determine the best ways to receive real-time information and updates on your surroundings. This may include mobile applications, county alerts, and/or the radio.
  4. Know the plan:
    • Once you create your plan, master and practice it.
  5. Know where your important documents are:
    • If possible, digitize your documents and keep them in a safe place.
  6. Share your plans:
    • Once you complete your plans, share them with family and friends as needed.
    • Some examples of information you can exchange are: how you will immediately check on each other after an emergency, the locations of important keys, documents, and emergency supplies, etc. (Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities. SJReady. (n.d.).

Consider using Keiro’s Natural Disaster Planning Resource to make your plan.

  • Use this resource to help you outline your thoughts and plans in the event of a natural disaster.
  • Keep in mind that as life changes, so should our plans. Be sure to update your natural disaster plan every 6 months.

Keep Supplies

Preparing for emergencies also includes keeping supplies that consider the number of people and number of days of support provided by these items. In addition to having backup water, non-perishable foods, protective clothing, and electronics, there are other things to have handy in case of emergencies:

Go-Bag vs. Stay-Box

How to Make a Go-Bag Video: https://youtu.be/wGwV7dyZwiE

Stay Informed

iphone in a hand

Staying up-to-date and receiving real-time information is a necessity when it comes to natural disasters. By staying informed, we increase our odds of preparedness and survival. Below is a list of websites and phone apps and means to receive real-time information during a natural disaster:

  • Alert LA County – This free service provides mass notifications to LA County residents and businesses via text, email, and/or phone call. 
  • Alert OC – This free service provides mass notifications to OC County residents and businesses via text, email, and/or phone call. 
  • VC Alert – Ventura County utilizes a state-of-the-art emergency notification system to deliver time-sensitive emergency alerts in English and Spanish to areas within Ventura County where there is a threat to health and safety.
  • Watch Duty – This nonprofit provides alerts for wildfires, air quality, wind direction, red flag warnings, and evacuation orders. It is operated by volunteer firefighters, dispatchers, and first responders who monitor radio scanners and other municipal sources 24/7 to provide the most up-to-date information. 
  • The Weather Channel – A broadcast television channel that provides real-time weather conditions and alerts.
  • Neighbors by Ring – Also known as “Neighbors,” is a social networking website and app where neighbors can anonymously upload pictures and videos regarding crime and public safety in their community.
  • Citizen – This mobile application provides safety alerts based on geography and allows users to share reports as well as provide filtered 911 communication alerts.
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) radio stations – Government-owned radio stations with a dedicated, continuous, broadcast of weather forecasts and condition reports.

Get Involved

The last step to preparedness is to get involved. Getting involved includes connecting with and coordinating natural disaster planning with family, friends, and neighbors. This could look different for everyone based on individual circumstances. For example, an older adult who lives with their adult children may have different natural disaster plans than an older adult who lives alone. An action we can all take is to get acquainted with our neighbors to share and discuss natural disaster plans. 

Another strategy to actively get involved is to create a phone tree. “A phone tree starts with the source telephoning a few people with a message. Each of those individuals then calls their designated contacts, who call their contacts, and so forth, until the message gets passed to every recipient via an ever-branching ‘tree’ of communication” (Hoppe, 2022). Phone trees can allow for information to be disseminated to those who may be living alone or who may not have access to much of the information channels listed above.

Phone tree with flow chart starting with Coordinator, Key group leader, and then member

Keiro’s Call to Action

Natural disasters are unpredictable, and it is unknown if and when one may hit Southern California. Factors such as living near the San Andreas Fault, by dry brush, or in flash flood areas, pose great risks to us all.

  • Make a Plan – Discuss having an emergency preparedness plan with your loved ones so that everyone knows what to do and how to contact each other in case of unplanned disasters.
  • Keep Supplies – Reference the lists provided above to know what to keep in your supply kit and how to protect yourself and loved ones in the face of danger.
  • Stay Informed – Staying informed with real-time updates is crucial for preparedness and survival during natural disasters, use the list of websites and apps above to help you determine which information sources work best for you. 
  • Get Involved – Coordinate your disaster plans with family, friends, and neighbors, whether through shared planning, building connections, or using tools like phone trees to ensure information reaches everyone, including those who live alone.

Emergencies can affect entire communities, and we should prepare for not only ourselves but also our friends and family with the right resources and tools to face such unforeseeable events. While planning and preparing supplies for a catastrophic event can be overwhelming, it’s better to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to preparations. 

Additional Keiro Resources

Sources

  1. Baldassare, M., Lopes, L., Bonner, D., & Shrestha, J. (2014, October). Disaster Perceptions and Preparedness. Retrieved July 17, 2019, from
    https://www.ppic.org/publication/disaster-perceptions-and-preparedness/
  2. How to build a kit for emergencies. FEMA.gov. (n.d.). https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20250121/how-build-kit-emergencies  
  3. Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities. SJReady. (n.d.). https://sjready.org/emergency-planning-disabilities
  4. Survival kit supplies. What Do You Need In a Survival Kit | American Red Cross. (n.d.). https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/survival-kit-supplies.html
  5. Hoppe, S. (2022, November 11). Automated phone trees and emergency notification systems. Motorola Solutions Blog. https://blog.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/automated-phone-trees-emergency-notification-systems/.