Stay Aware. Be Prepared.

• Visit ready.gov/alerts to learn about different warning alerts and how to get them.
• 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.

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.

• Download emergency planning tools

• 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

Make sure your emergency preparedness plan meets your unique needs. Think about if you or family members would need extra help or tools if you had to stay home for a few days without power, leave home in a hurry, or separate from others to avoid spreading germs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, use the CDC's COVID-19 Household Checklist to make a plan that will protect you and your family in case of illness.

Make a plan for:

• Adults & families
• Kids
• Seniors
• Individuals who need extra help
• Pets

• Steps for Sheltering in Place
• Fire Safety
• Planning to Evacuate
• Prepare for a Hurricane
• Be Ready During a Pandemic
• Influenza (Flu): What you should know
• More: Safety Tips for Specific Threats & Hazards

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 Review your kit every six months to identify and replace outdated supplies.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

Online Emergency Preparedness Training Courses

Download a free emergency kit checklist and customize to your specific needs:

• Preparedness Checklists
• Emergency Planning Tips
• Emergency Planning Tool
• Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness

• CDC: COVID-19 Household Checklist
• Mass.gov:
  • COVID-19 Prevention
  • Steps to Take if You Test Positive for COVID-19
  • Emergency Care Planning for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs during COVID 19 and Beyond

Stay informed about COVID-19 in Massachusetts: sign up for text message alerts or call hotlines and other resources.