Preparedness starts with you.
Guide Stay Aware. Be Prepared.
Table of Contents
Stay aware
Sign up for emergency alerts
- Massachusetts resource: Be Informed and Receive Emergency Alerts
- Check with your local city or town to see if it uses its own alert system and what you might need to do to sign up.
- If you speak languages other than English, find places to get alerts in your language. This could be a friend, family member, or a news organization.
- If you are deaf or hard of hearing learn more about how to receive emergency warnings in an accessible form
- Check with community, faith-based, and cultural groups to see if they have ways to help keep people informed.
Communicate with family
Communicating with family members is essential to make sure everyone is okay. Have a simple plan that accounts for limited cell phone service, texting, or e-mails. Make sure everyone in your family has a mutual contact out of the region or state. This person can act as a contact point for you and your loved ones.
Stay engaged through social media
- Follow DPH on Twitter
- Like MA Responds on Facebook
- Follow MEMA on Twitter
- Like MEMA on Facebook
- Find the social media accounts of a public health or safety agency in your community
Visit MA 211 for information on essential community services
Plan ahead
Make an emergency preparedness plan
Think about your household's health needs, vulnerabilities, and capabilities when you make your emergency preparedness plan. Whether you are sheltering-in-place or evacuating to a different location, a plan will help keep you and your family safe. During the COVID-19 pandemic, use the COVID-19 Household Checklist to make a plan that will protect you and your family in case of illness.
Customize your plan to fit your needs
Make a plan for:
Be prepared
Create an emergency preparedness kit
Every home should have a basic emergency preparedness kit that can be used for any emergency. Store your kit in an area that is dry and easy to get to. Review your kit every six months to identify and replace outdated supplies. While some items should be in everyone’s kit, it is important to adapt the kit for the needs of you and your family.
Find a training
Download a checklist
Download a free emergency kit checklist and customize to your specific needs:
COVID-19 resources
- CDC: COVID-19 Household Checklist
- Mass.gov:
Stay informed about COVID-19 in Massachusetts: sign up for text message alerts or call hotlines and other resources.
Resources for families
- MEMA: Make a Family Emergency Plan
- MDPH: Emergency Care Planning for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs during COVID 19 and Beyond
- Ready.gov: Make A Plan
- Red Cross: How To Prepare For Emergencies
- Red Cross: Emergency Preparedness Checklist
- USA.gov: Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
- Youth.gov: Preparation
Resources for individuals
- Ready.gov: Make A Plan
- Red Cross: How To Prepare For Emergencies
- Red Cross: Emergency Preparedness Checklist
- Do 1 Thing: Emergency Preparedness for Individuals
- AAFP Preparedness Guide for Disasters and Emergencies
- USA.gov: Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
- MEMA: Prepare Your Home for Emergencies
- MEMA: Prepare Your Business for Emergencies
Resources for individuals with access or functional needs
- Ready.gov: Individuals with Disabilities
- MEMA: Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs
- DPH: Emergency Care Planning for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs during COVID 19 and Beyond
- Ready.gov: Prepare for Emergencies Now: Information for People with Disabilities
- Red Cross: Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs
- The Independence Center: Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
- CDC: Disability and Health Emergency Preparedness
Resources for pets
- MEMA: Emergency Preparedness for Pets and Animals
- Ready.gov: Pets and Animals
- Ready.gov: Pet Preparedness Social Media Toolkit
- Red Cross: Pet Disaster Preparedness
- ASPCA: Disaster Preparedness
- CDC: Pet Safety in Emergencies
- Humane Society: Pet disaster preparedness
- AVMA: Large animals and livestock in disasters