Widespread flu or infectious disease outbreak, monsoon flooding, power outages, and fire are some of the most common types of major events that may affect your daily routine.

Members of your household may have specific planning considerations such as:

• A chronic medical condition that requires prescriptions? Be Proactive! Take a moment now and talk with your medical provider about having an extra supply stored at home.
• A medical condition that requires medical equipment that needs electricity to operate?
• Have you planned to provide for any medical conditions that requires treatment appointments outside of the home? Take a moment now and talk with your medical equipment supplier to learn of the back up power sources you may require such as batteries, generator, etc.
• How about in-home care? Do you or a household member or neighbor require home health care service? Take a moment now and talk with your medical provider about how these needs would be met if an emergency prevented your access to these necessary services.

• Items for seniors, disabled persons, children, or anyone with serious allergies including special foods
• Denture items
• Extra eyeglasses
• Hearing aid batteries
• Several day supply of prescription and non-prescription medications, including insulin, that are used regularly
• Inhalers and other essential equipment and back up power supply if these items require electricity or water

And – remember, we are all affected behaviorally by emergencies and the unexpected. These resources may also be helpful in rounding out your personal preparedness plan.

• Vaccine Safety Concerns?  The American Academy of Pediatrics provides extensive research studies to address your concerns
• Healthy Mental Health Tips from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) // emergency.cdc.gov
• Healthy Mental Health Tips from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) // www.aacap.org
• How to talk with children after a disaster from the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) // www.nmha.org
• Tips to reassure children affected by a disaster from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) // www.fema.gov
• Helping Children Cope with Disasters from NMHA // www.nmha.org