Disaster Preparedness
This section provides tips, tools, and resources that will help you and emergency plan for you and your family. It is your responsibility to prepare and execute your plan, and to respond promptly when called upon in the event of an emergency.
Build a Kit
Be prepared to have your supplies ready because you may be on your own for at least three days, maybe longer. You may want to consider creating two kits. In one of your kits put everything you will need to stay were you are, the other should be a light-weight smaller version you can take with you in the event that you must leave your home.
Building a basic kit begins here.
Make a Plan
Plan in advance what you will do in an emergency. Make a plan if you do not have one.
Create a Shelter-in-Place plan.
In some circumstances it may be necessary for you to stay where you are. If this is the case it may be best for you and your family to shelter-in-place . If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to shelter-in-place and seal the room. Consider precutting plastic sheeting to seal windows, doors, and air vents.
Create a Plan to Get Away.
Plan in advance how you will assemble your family and anticipate where you will go. Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency. Become familiar with alternate routes as well as other means of transportation.
Be Informed
Making plans and building kits can be done to prepare for a broad variety of emergencies. However, there can be significant differences between disasters that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. By taking efforts to understand the specifics of local threats and hazards you can better prepare for the response you and your family may have to make.
You can stay on top of events and situation occurring in the City by following City of Tampa Social Media platforms and registering for the emergency notification system Alert Tampa.
Get Involved
After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies, take the next step and get involved in preparing the community. Join a volunteer organization like the Greater Tampa CERT Program, which actively involves residents in making the community safer, stronger, and better prepared.