Emergency Preparedness and Safety Information

It’s important for your safety to have multiple ways to receive warnings. Some storms, or other events, may occur when you are sleeping. Have at least one device that will wake you up at night.

Ensure your phone receives Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) messages. Wireless Emergency Alerts are sent only during an emergency and based on your location.

Download the FEMA app and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide.

Prepare to Protect.

Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love. Are you ready for an emergency?

Emergency Planning for Families:

Make sure your family has a plan in place in case of an emergency. Before an emergency happens, sit down together and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go and what you will do in an emergency.

Emergency Planning for Pets:

Be sure to include your pets in your disaster preparedness planning. Map out pet-friendly accommodations, in the event of an evacuation. Have an emergency supply kit ready for your pets. Confirm that your pets have up-to-date identification and contact information on their collars, tags, and microchips.

Emergency Planning for Businesses:

Every year, emergencies can drastically affect businesses. By planning ahead business owners can limit injury, property damage, and return to daily operations sooner. Business owners should take precautions by: having plans in place to ensure staff safety, reviewing insurance coverage, improving cyber security, securing their facility and any equipment.

Dare County has a significant population of individuals who have special needs, which is typically defined as being a group of people who would need assistance with medical care and/or personal care during an emergency.

If you or someone you know may benefit from being added to the Special Medical Needs Registry, please contact the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services' Social Services Division at 252-475-5500 or email Adult Services Supervisor Beth Bradley at BradleyB@dcdss.org.

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Build a Kit

It only takes one disaster, be prepared now.

During and after an emergency, you need supplies to keep your family safe and healthy. Consider the unique needs each person or pet may have when building your kit. Remember that a disaster could cause a power outage and affect the water supply. You also may not be able to drive because of damage to your car or flooded roadways.

Be prepared—stock up on everything you might need before disaster strikes.

When assembling your kit, store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.

Here are 10 additional items you may not have thought about, but should be included in your kit:

1. Flashlight. Extra batteries for the flashlight are also a good idea. If your power is out and you have no way to charge your phone, you might need to rely on a flashlight to get around at night.

2. Whistle. A whistle can help you signal for help if you are stranded and need search and rescue to hear you.

3. Dust Mask. Depending on the emergency, you may need a mask to help protect you against contaminated air.

4. Local Maps. If you need to evacuated but have no power or access to the internet, you may need to rely on a paper map to find your way to safety.

5. Manual Can Opener. Your emergency kit is probably made up of canned food, which lasts for a long time. If you don’t have power, you’ll need a way to open these cans.

6. Battery-powered or Hand Cranked Radio. A radio will help you receive updates on the disaster and any known safety risks.

7. Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children. Disasters can be stressful. If you have fun games or activities that your children can do when the power is out, this can help them cope with the stress.

8. First Aid Kit. Conditions during and after a disaster can vary dramatically. You may need to provide immediate care to an injured family member.

9. Supplies for your pet. Your pet is a member of your family. You will want to have enough of their supplies to several days, as well as a favorite toy to comfort them.

10. Wrench or pliers. These tools can come in handy if you need to turn off utilities. Visit ready.gov/safety-skills to discover more valuable skills that can be useful in emergency situations.