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Begin Your Emergency Planning

Disaster Preparation

Personal Emergency Preparation Information

The American Red Cross is an excellent resource for emergency preparation. An inventory of your family’s needs is a good place to begin with your emergency preparation. 

If you have animals – pets or livestock, you need to put them in your emergency and recovery planning. Animals should be included in your evacuation plans.

Government Agencies with emergency preparedness information:

  • FRCoG - Franklin Regional Council of Governments
  • MEMA - Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
  • FEMA - Federal Emergency Managment Agency
  • NOAA - National Oceanic Atomospheric Agency

Mass 211

MEMA and the Council of Massachusetts United Ways (COMUW) continue to promote Mass2-1-1 as the Commonwealth's primary telephone information call center during times of emergency. The easy-to-remember 2-1-1 telephone number will be utilized as a 24/7 resource for human service and Public Safety/disaster response and planning.

Evacuate

  • Where will you stay?
  • How will you get there?
  • How long will you...can you stay?
  • How will family/friends know where you are?
  • Do you have mobility issues? Will that affect where you will go?

Planning for Special Needs/Fragile Populations

  • Do you use medical devices requiring electricity?
  • Do you have back-up systems for power equipment? 
  • Do you use medications requiring refrigeration?
  • Can you refill prescriptions in the event of an emergency?
  • Do your pets/livestock require medication?

Records and Documents

  • Where are your insurance policies? Birth certificates? Passports?
  • Can you quickly access your important papers?
  • Can you get copies quickly and easily?

Protecting Property

The most effective way to protect your home and belongings is to take steps to safeguard them before a disaster strikes. Referred to as “mitigation,” these measures may help you avoid damage altogether in some situations, or at the very least, reduce the damage and economic impact a disaster may bring.