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Emergency Preparedness
Make A Plan
Make a disaster plan with your household members to prepare for what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in an emergency. Make a plan that best suits your needs and the needs of your household.
Build a Kit
Everyone in your household should have a Go Bag — a collection of things you would want if you have to leave in a hurry. Your Go Bag should be sturdy and easy to carry, like a backpack or a small suitcase on wheels. You'll need to customize your Go Bag for your personal needs. Learn how to build a kit.
Warnings and Alerts
The City of Baytown provides warnings and alerts through various alerting systems. Register for the City’s Mass Notification System to get warnings and alerts. Learn more about all of the city’s warning and alert systems.
For many individuals with disabilities, access and functional needs, emergencies present a real challenge. While each person’s abilities and needs are unique, every individual can prepare for a disaster. Being ready is part of maintaining your independence.
Tips
Evaluate your needs, abilities, and limitations to determine what type of help you will need in an emergency.
- Create a support network or “buddy system” with friends, family or neighbors.
- Have a contact list with any communication needs.
- Keep at least 1 week’s supply of medications available during an emergency.
- Have a medical information list: copy of current insurance card, medications, allergies, medical provider and pharmacist.
- Inform your employer or school about the assistance you will need in an emergency.
- Have extra assistive devices and medical equipment available.
- Keep extra power supply readily available to support powered assistive devices and wheelchairs.
- Plan in advance for service animals.
- Maintain a health information card or medical alert bracelets.
State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR)
Individuals with disabilities, access and functional needs, and the medically fragile can register for transportation assistance during evacuations and wellness checks using the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR). Register online or call 2-1-1.
Include your children in planning for an emergency. Teach them how to get help and what to do in different situations. Practice your household disaster plan with your children and quiz them about preparedness information. Disasters happen everywhere, and every member of the family can prepare including kids.
What Every Child Should Know
- Family name, address and phone number.
- Know where to meet in case of an emergency.
- Family contact information for use in an emergency.
- Never to touch wires lying on the ground or hanging from poles.
- How to identify the smell of gas. Tell them that if they smell it, they should tell a grown-up or leave the building.
- How and when to call 911.
Your Child's School or Day Care Facility
- Find out what your child's school does in the event of an emergency and know the school's emergency plans.
- Find out where can you pick up your child during an evacuation.
- Ensure that the school has up-to-date contact information for you and at least one other relative or friend.
Ages 1 to 6: Prepare with Sesame Street
Make a Plan
Sesame Street in Communities - Planning Together
Make a Kit
Sesame Street in Communities - Family Emergency Kit
Prepare for Hazards
Sesame Street in Communities - Family Emergency Plan
Ages 7 to 12: Prepare with Pedro
Make a Plan
Family Communications Plan for Kids
Make a Kit
Be a Hero… and Build a Kit
Prepare for Hazards
Become a Disaster Master
Determine any special assistance you may need and include in your emergency plan.
- Create a support network of family, friends and others who can assist you during an emergency and share your disaster plans with them. Practice your plan with them.
- Make sure they have an extra key to your home, know where you keep your emergency supplies and how to use lifesaving equipment or administer medicine.
- If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or hospital, find out their emergency plans and work with them to identify back-up service providers.
- If you have a communication-related disability, note the best way to communicate with you.
- Don’t forget your pets or service animals. Not all shelters accept pets so plan for alternatives
Download this brochure (PDF) for more tips to be prepared for Older Adults.
When preparing for a disaster, it is imperative that you make preparations for your pets as well.
Items to Prepare
Checklist for your pets should include:
- Food and water (seven-day supply)
- Crate
- Bowls for food and water
- Leash and/or harness
- Medications and vaccination records
- Toys and pet beds Plan in advance for options that will work for both you and your pets.
- Keep a collar and identification tags or microchip
- A current photo of your pet.
- Pet waste clean-up supplies.
Protect Your Pet
In the event of an evacuation, the single most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to take them with you. If you need to find a safe place for them ahead of time, check with the Baytown Health Department, Animal Services Division or local veterinarian to help identify a pet-friendly evacuation shelter in your area.
ID your Pet
Pet microchipping is the best way to ensure reunification with your animal. Your cell phone number should be on the identification tag and your microchip registration should be kept current. If your pet is adopted from a shelter or rescue organization, make sure the registration has been transferred to you and is not still with the adoption group.
Other Considerations
- Carefully monitor and bring pets inside at the first warning of a storm or disaster.
- Animals sense impending storms and can become disoriented and wander away.
- Keeping pets within sight when possible will reassure them. After a disaster, help reorient them by walking them on a leash. They may be confused if landmarks or scents are altered.
Be ready for hurricane season. Hurricane Season is from June 1 to November 30. Take action today to be better prepared for when the worst happens.
Before – Know your risk, gather supplies, make an evacuation plan, and protect your property to reduce the risk of hurricane damage.
During – Be prepared to evacuate or hunker-down to ride out the storm.
After – Be prepared to repair, rebuild, and restore damaged property.