Stay Informed

Know where to go for timely, consistent and reliable Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) during an emergency.

Sign up with your state and/or local emergency management office to receive emergency alerts and notifications.
Monitor local news coverage for emergency information, including evacuation orders, boil water advisories, and air quality reports. Beware of rumors, especially on social media. Always check your sources and turn to reliable sources of information like your local government.
Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts notifications on your smartphone.
Listen to state and local public health departments for vaccination and personal protection recommendations after an emergency.
Do NOT hesitate when given an evacuate order by state and local officials.
Listen for and follow water advisories from local authorities. Use ONLY bottled, boiled, or treated water to prepare food, wash your hands, clean feeding bottles, mix baby formula, or reconstitute a prescription drug.
Know the location of the nearest fire extinguisher, AED, shelter-in-place location, and emergency exit wherever you are at work.
Pet owners: Pre-identify shelters, a pet-friendly hotel, or an out-of-town friend or relative where you can take your pets in an evacuation. Local animal shelters may be able to offer advice on what to do with your pets if you are asked to evacuate your home.

Friend and follow local and state public health departments and emergency management offices on social media.
Know the difference between a severe weather watch and a warning, and what to do in response to each.
Talk through an age and developmentally appropriate version of your Emergency Action Plan, including two ways out of each room in house fire, with your children.
Sign up to receive Health Alert Network (HAN) email updates about urgent public health incidents.
Know your flood risk and contact your local emergency management office to learn whether landslides or debris flows have occurred in your area.
Keep a weather radio at home and in the office and tuned to your local National Weather Radio station for weather alerts and information 24 hours a day.