Adult IQ — Emergency Preparedness

Be Prepared • Stay Organized • Respond With Confidence

Most of us go about our daily lives assuming that things will continue as normal. But sometimes they don't. A severe storm, power outage, accident, evacuation, water interruption or another unexpected situation can quickly change what you need to do.

Being prepared doesn't mean expecting something bad to happen. It simply means taking some time beforehand to think about what you might need and what you would do if your normal routine was suddenly disrupted.

The Adult IQ Emergency Preparedness Handbook was created to help you get organized before an emergency happens, rather than trying to work everything out when you're already under pressure.

This handbook takes a practical look at the things you can do ahead of time, including creating an emergency plan, putting together essential supplies, organizing important information, knowing who to contact and thinking through how you and your household would respond if something unexpected happened.

What You'll Learn

Inside, you'll learn practical ways to:

• Create a simple and practical household emergency plan

• Put together and maintain an emergency supply kit

• Keep important emergency contacts and information organized

• Prepare for power, water and communication disruptions

• Think through evacuation and shelter arrangements

• Prepare for severe weather and other common emergencies

• Organize important documents and essential information

• Plan for children, older family members and pets

• Understand basic emergency communication procedures

• Prepare your home before an emergency occurs

• Identify things you may need to do quickly if normal services are disrupted

• Avoid common mistakes that can make an emergency more difficult

• Review and update your emergency plans as your circumstances change

Preparation Can Make a Difficult Situation Easier

When something unexpected happens, it can be difficult to think clearly if you haven't prepared beforehand. Knowing where important information is, having basic supplies available and having an idea of what you would do can take some of the confusion out of an already stressful situation.

You don't need to have everything figured out perfectly. Even basic preparation can make a difference.

It's also important to remember that every household is different. Your emergency plan should reflect where you live, the people you live with, your responsibilities and the types of situations you may reasonably need to prepare for.

Adult IQ Emergency Preparedness is designed to give you a practical starting point for getting your household organized and thinking ahead.

The goal isn't to make you worry about what could go wrong. It's to help you feel more prepared if something does.

Because when normal routines are disrupted, having a plan can give you one less thing to worry about.

Disclaimer: This handbook is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. Emergency situations vary, and official emergency services and local authorities should always be followed when applicable.