Step 1: Plan ahead
Support Circle: Make a list of people who can help you during an emergency.
- Include contact information for your. family, friends, neighbors, providers, faith-based groups, and community groups.
- Contact these people to discuss how you will support each other during an emergency. Tell them where you keep supplies.
- If you are able to, give a spare key to your home to a trusted person.
Medical needs: if you take medication or use medical supplies on a daily basis, make sure you have the supplies you need for seven days.
- Refill prescriptions for any medications you may need during or after the storm.
- If you receive Medicaid in North Carolina, you will be able to refill prescriptions early, before the storm. You will be able to receive up to 4 days of dosing.
- Make sure medical devices and supplies are working properly.
- Have extra batteries and supplies to last up to seven days.
- If you have a support or service animal, make sure you have enough food and supplies.
Emergency Supply Kit: Build an Emergency Supply Kit to last for seven days. This will help if you lose power in your home.
- 1 gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, and pet supplies
- medications, medical equipment, medical supplies, and a first aid kit
- flashlights, battery powered weather radio, and extra batteries
- a whistle to signal for help if trapped
- cash and photo identification
Evacuation bag: Put together a bag of important items for all members of the family. This will help prepare you if you need to leave your home quickly.
- Medical supplies: pack your medications, medical equipment, medical supplies, copies of prescriptions and doctor orders, insurance cards, medical ID cards, eyeglasses, hearing devices, and any other items that help you day-to-day.
- Pets: if you pets, make sure you have enough food and supplies to bring with you and the pet.
- Paperwork: pack your photo identification or driver’s license and contact information for providers and supporting friends and family.
- Other supplies: pack clothing, toiletries, a cell phone, charging cords for electronic devices, and any necessary items to be away for a few days.
Evacuation plan: Know the routes you should take if you need to leave your home, also known as your local evacuation route(s).
- Make a list of where you can go – shelters, family, and friend’s homes that are outside the evacuation zone.
- Have a plan for how you will get to a safe place – using your vehicle or having someone transport you.
- Make sure your vehicle has fuel before the storm arrives and it is in good working condition.
- If you have a support or service animal, make sure you are able to travel with the pet.
Step 2: If you are evacuated
If your area has been asked to evacuate, it is important to leave calmly and quickly. Alerts about an evacuation in your area may be announced:
- Through a Wireless Emergency Alert sent to your mobile phone – make sure your phone has Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled in your settings.
- In the news by local radio and TV news stations.
- On the ReadyNC website, mobile app, Twitter @NCEmergency and Facebook.
- On your local town and county’s website and social media accounts.
- By your local town or county's alert system using phone, text, and/or email messaging.
Before leaving your home, look over this list:
- Pack your medications, medical devices, and medical supplies.
- Grab your evacuation bag and any emergency kit items that you may need.
- Unplug your electronics and turn off your utilities if local authorities have asked you to.
- If you are able to, board up your windows, clear your drains and gutters, and move outdoor objects to inside can help reduce damage to your home.
- Visit the NC Department of Public Safety website for a list of shelters near you.
- Visit DriveNC.gov for traffic conditions statewide. Real-time traffic, weather and preparedness information is also available via the ReadyNC mobile app, available for free for iPhones and Android devices.
Step 3: Stay informed
Make sure you have a way to receive warnings.
Helpful resources
- Steps to be prepared: is a printable document with the information above to prepare for an emergency, evacuation information, how to stay informed.
- North Carolina emergency contacts and resources: is a printable list of state and local resource information during an emergency.
- Shelters: visit the NC Department of Public Safety website for a list of shelters near you. You can also dial 2-1-1 or download the ReadyNC app to see shelter capacities.
- Staying Independent during Disasters: a printable checklist with steps.
- Show me booklet: a communication tool for emergency shelters. This booklet helps with communication for people who have cognitive disabilities, are deaf or hard of hearing, have limited understanding of English, and anyone who may have difficulty communicating verbally.
- What to take to a Shelter: is a printable checklist of things to consider packing when evacuating your home.
- ReadyNC: has emergency preparedness information and resources to plan, prepare, and stay informed!
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Updated on February 20, 2020 to include current and updated information.