Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Program
Make a plan. Build a kit. Stay informed.
Emergencies can happen quickly and without warning. During an emergency, you may not have access to water, food, or electricity for several days. You may be asked to evacuate your home. Communicating with loved ones may be difficult if the power is out or cellular systems are damaged or overloaded. Disasters can also have a big impact on the supplies and services we use every day. Being prepared for any type of emergency with a plan, supplies and information will help you cope with the challenges and stay safe.
For helpful tips on preparedness planning, see this fact sheet on how to prepare for emergencies.
More than a collection of names, phone numbers, and street addresses, a household emergency plan is an instruction manual for how to stay healthy, stay informed, and stay in contact during an emergency. Because an emergency plan affects everyone in your household, the whole household should be involved in making and practicing the plan.
Write down the phone numbers of family members and important contacts. Find phone numbers for your physician, pediatrician, pharmacist, insurance company, and veterinarian. Other important numbers you should know include:
Ask a friend or relative who lives outside of the immediate area to be your family’s Out-of-Town Contact. Use texts, email or social media if phone calls are not going through.
Identify a shelter-in-place location inside your home. This may be a basement or a bathroom. Also identify an emergency meeting location outside your home where your family can reunite in an emergency.
Ask your child’s school or daycare about their emergency communication and family reunification plans.
Learn more about Keeping Children Safe in Disasters
Update your emergency plan whenever your family moves, your child changes schools, you have a new family member, or your family experiences another significant life event.
Collect a three-day supply of food and water.
Gather emergency supplies.
Store these items in a backpack or easy-to-carry container in case you must evacuate. It’s also a good idea to have emergency kits in multiple places — at home, at work, and in your vehicles. You never know where you might be when a disaster strikes.
Register for Alert Spokane to receive emergency notifications for residents and businesses in Spokane County.
Some useful websites and applications for emergency information are
If you use social media, find and follow feeds from your local fire district, local news channels, and the National Weather Service for your area.
Contact your local fire department or the American Red Cross if you cannot afford a smoke alarm or cannot install one yourself.
