Emergency Response
How can you be prepared when disaster strikes your community?
Create a Family Communication Plan and Emergency Supply Kit
- Be Informed – Learn what protective measures to take before, during, or after an emergency.
- Know the phone numbers of where each member of the family can be reached.
- Pick one person every member of the family must call during an emergency to check in, usually someone out of town.
- Know the different exit routes from your house.
- Pick a meeting spot outside your house if you had to get out quickly.
- Pick a meeting spot if an emergency happened and you couldn’t get home.
- Make a Plan-Prepare, plan and stay informed for emergencies
- Different ages of members
- Responsibilities for assisting others
- Locations frequented
- Dietary needs
- Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
- Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
- Languages
- Cultural and religious considerations
- Pets or service animals: For more information – Pet Preparedness
Build a Kit for Emergencies
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist novelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
Be aware of the different types of emergencies
Natural Disasters
- Earthquakes –Surviving a Earthquake requires planning in advance
- Extreme Heat –Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness
- Fire – Home Fire Safety Checklist
- Floods – Protecting your family before the storm and after
- Lightening – Thunder is a warning
- Pandemics – How to Plan for a Pandemic
- Technological & Accidental Hazards – Household Chemicals prevent injury
- Terrorist Hazards – Anthrax threat
- Tornadoes – Protecting you and your family when you see, during and after Tornado
- Winter – What you should know
Volunteers are needed from Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, Hickman, and McCracken Counties
In the event of a bioterrorist attack or natural disaster, the Health Department will need a large number of volunteers to help support our efforts to restore the community to normalcy.
Medical Reserve Corps
Register to volunteer
Ky Helps Frequently Asked questions
Resources and Additional Information
Disaster Fact Sheets for Kids- Ready Kids
Kentucky Update Weather and Travel Information
Kentucky County Emergency Manager Directors
Communicating During an Emergency