Why Prepare?

A disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home, and your family may be without basic services like water, gas, electricity, and telephones, or access to stores and other services for several hours or days. While public safety personnel will be on the scene after a disaster, they cannot reach everyone right away.  The best way to make your family and your home safe is to be prepared before disaster strikes.

Ways to Prepare 

• Family Emergency Plan
• Disaster Kit Checklist
• Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety
• OES Earthquake Preparedness Brochure
• Become a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Stay Informed

• National Weather Service
• Cal Trans Road Information
• Santa Cruz County Road Closures
• PGE Outage Map
• Sandbag Distribution in Santa Cruz 
• Register cell phone for emergency notifications
• Santa Cruz County Office of Emergency Services

Other Resources 

• American Red Cross
• California Emergency Management Agency
• FEMA
• US Geological Survey
• Tsunami Threat Information
• Ready.Gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  

More Videos on Preparedness for Specific Populations

• College Students
• Pet Owners
• More for Pet Owners
• Access and Functional Needs and Disabilities
• Seniors