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Public Interest   >   Safety Tips   >   Disaster Preparation

Disaster Preparedness

Preparing for an Emergency

Food and Water

  • Store at least 1 gallon of water per day per person.
  • You should store at least a two-week supply of water for each member of your family.
  • Store foods that your family will enjoy that are also high in calories and nutrition.
  • Don't stock salty foods, which will make you thirsty.
  • Don't forget to buy non-perishable foods for your pets.
  • Avoid whole grains, dried beans, and pasta, which can be difficult to prepare under the constraints of a disaster.
  • Have all of your items packed and ready so that you can grab them quickly in an emergency.

 

 

Food And Water PDF Guide

Protect Your Home From Storm Damage

  • Obtain hazard specific homeowners insurance to cover your contents and structure or renters insurance to cover your contents
  • Trim the bushes and trees and away from roof, chimney, gutters and entryways
  • Equip hallways and stairwells with emergency lighting
  • Lock pool fence gates
  • Make sure smoke alarms are working
  • Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher
  • Clean gutters and the chimney regularly
  • Make sure you have at least two ways to exit your residence
  • Make sure the electric panel/fuse box is elevated above previous flood levels
  • Have enough hurricane shutters or pre-cut plywood

Home Protection PDF Guide

Pets and Disaster

  • Have a safe place to take your pets. Don't leave them behind. Prepare a list of boarding facilities who can shelter a pet in an emergency
  • Assemble a portable pet disaster supplies kit. This should include medical records, leashes, pet carriers, food, water, photo of your pet, etc.
  • Place an additional pet tag on your pet's collar with information from the boarding facility
  • Make sure all dogs and cats are wearing collars and securely fastened, up-to-date identification
  • Snakes can be transported in a pillowcase but they must be transferred to more secure housing when they reach the evacuation site
  • Birds and small mammals (hamsters, gerbils, etc.) should be transported in secure carriers suitable for maintaining the animals while sheltered

Pets PDF Guide

Persons With Special Needs

  • Be sure to bring items such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, prosthetic devices, walkers, wheelchair batteries, special dietary food, ect.
  • Be sure to bring medical supplies you use on a daily basis like portable oxygen, cannula, diabetes testing kits, nebulizer, medication, ect.
  • Be sure to have a list of your physicians phone numbers
  • Be sure to have a list of contacts of friends and family to assist in the event of an evacuation and to provide your whereabouts
  • Prepare for a possibly long stay and bring extra medication, batteries, oxygen, ect.

Special Needs PDF Brochure

Special Needs Form

Disaster Information, Resources, and Links

Persons with Special Needs - Important Information

You should ensure that any family members who have special needs are registered under the “Persons with Special Needs Program.”  This program ensures that the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has an accurate accounting of those people needing special care and handling during a disaster or other emergency.  Attached is a form for you to fill out for your special needs family members.  

Additional information is also provided. This form can also be utilized by OEM for situations other than a hurricane.  For example, in the event of a spontaneous evacuation (i.e., HAZ-MAT incident), it allows them to identify the locations of persons with special needs (PSNs).  It also assists them in determining the quantity and type of transportation and medical assistance needed to support any evacuation effort.

 

Persons with Special Needs - FAQ's

Special Needs Form

Persons with Special Needs Brochure


Useful Disaster Preparation Links

Orange County Emergency Management

Florida Division of Emergency Management

FEMA

Red Cross

National Weather Service

IRS Disaster Relief

National Hurricane Center 

Current Florida Storm Warnings


Emergency Alert Systems

OCAlert

OCFL Alert

Orange County Television (OTV)

AlertFlorida


Disaster Publications

Family Disaster Plan

Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults

Senior Disaster Preparedness

Against the Wind

Food and Water Guide

Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane Tracking Chart

Make Your Home Safe

Pets and Disasters

Tornado Information

Workplace Disaster Plans/Supplies

Persons with Special Needs - FAQ's