Emergency Planning & Preparedness

Make a Plan

Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.

  1. How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
  2. What is my shelter plan?
  3. What is my evacuation route?
  4. What is my family/household communication plan?
  5. Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit?
  6. Check with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and update my emergency plans due to Coronavirus.
    • Get masks (for everyone over 2 years old), disinfectants, and check my sheltering plan.

As you prepare your plan tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities. Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets or specific needs like operating medical equipment. Create your own personal network for specific areas where you need assistance. Keep in mind some these factors when developing your plan:

  • Different ages of members within your household
  • Responsibilities for assisting others
  • Locations frequented
  • Dietary needs
  • Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
  • Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
  • Languages spoken
  • Cultural and religious considerations
  • Pets or service animals
  • Households with school-aged children

Download and fill out a family emergency plan or use it as a guide to create your own.

Additional Preparedness Materials

Build a Kit

  • Water (1 gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)

  • Food (pre-cooked, non-perishable foods such as canned meats, granola bars, instant soup, cereals, etc.)

  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert

  • Cellular phone with charging device

  • Flashlight

  • First aid kit

  • Extra batteries – For all applicable devices

  • Whistle (to signal for help)

  • Dust mask or N95 (to help filter contaminated air)

  • Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)

  • Blanket or sleeping bag for each person

  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)

  • Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)

  • Manual can opener for food

  • Local maps

Additional Emergency Supplies

Since Spring of 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended people include additional items in their kits to help prevent the spread of coronavirus or other viruses and the flu.

Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:

  • Masks (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces

  • Prescription or essential medications

  • Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution

  • Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream

  • Pet food and extra water for your pet

  • Cash or traveler’s checks

  • Important family documents (Copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container)

  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person

  • Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and durable shoes

  • Fire extinguisher

  • Matches in a waterproof container

  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items

  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils

  • Paper and pencil

  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Stay Informed

Sign up for Ready Wake ALERTS !
Get alerted about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for our Emergency Alert Program. This system enables us to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods.
You will receive targeted, time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more. You pick where, you pick how.

WRAL weather alert center app to receive a phone call or text message when severe weather threatens our area.

National Weather Service resources to assist in preparing for nearly any emergency situation.

Connect directly to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, NC for weather hazard briefings.

Connect directly to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, NC for local weather conditions, predictions, watches, warnings and advisories.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers a free app that helps locate emergency shelters and disaster recovery centers, shares real-time notifications with loved ones, and assists registering for disaster assistance should you require financial help after an event.

Connect directly to the National Hurricane Center for analyses, forecasts and tropical disturbances.

Stay connected to flood conditions on bodies of water across the state through observations, forecasts and modeling.

Connect directly to the AirNow fire and smoke map to view information on ground level air quality monitors on fires, smoke plume locations, and special statements about smoke issued by various sources.