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Disaster Preparation
A wide range of natural disasters occurs within the United States every year. Natural disasters can have a devastating effect on you and your home. The Charleston area faces the genuine risk of fire, flooding, hurricanes, lightning, high winds, and earthquakes. Every family needs to be ready and know what to do before a disaster happens.
Basic Preparedness
- Talk about disasters with your family. Be prepared, not scared.
- Create a family disaster plan.
- Be prepared to stay or go in an emergency.
- Listen to the news.
- Be prepared by having flashlights and batteries available in your home. In case of an emergency, do not use candles to light your home. One-third of the people killed in candle fires were using them for light when there was no power.
- Have the flashlights accessible in the kitchen and bedroom.
- You should also carry a flashlight in your car and a small light on your person.
Related Documents
- Disaster Prep - Home Safety Council (HSC) (Spanish) (PDF)
- Earthquake Safety Tips (PDF)
- Earthquake Safety Tips (Spanish) (PDF)
- Extreme Heat Safety (PDF)
- Extreme Heat Safety (Spanish) (PDF)
- Flood Preparation (PDF)
- Flood Preparation (Spanish) (PDF)
- Generators (PDF)
- Generators (Spanish) (PDF)
- Generator Safety Tips (PDF)
- HazMat Incident Preparation (PDF)
- HazMat Incident Preparation (Spanish) (PDF)
- Home Fire Disaster Prep (PDF)
- Home Fire Disaster Prep (Spanish) (PDF)
- Hurricane Preparedness Guide - Charleston County
- Hurricane Evacuation Zones
- Lightning Safety (PDF)
- Pets and Service Animal Safety (PDF)
- Pets and Service Animal Safety (Spanish) (PDF)
- Disaster Prep for People with Disabilities (PDF)
- Disaster Prep for People with Disabilities (Spanish) (PDF)
- Disaster Prep for Seniors (PDF)
- Disaster Prep for Seniors (Spanish) (PDF)
- Relief Aid (PDF)
- Relief Aid (Spanish) (PDF)
- Thunderstorm Safety (PDF)
- Thunderstorm Safety (Spanish) (PDF)
- Tornado Safety (PDF)
- Earthquake Notes from FEMA (PDF)
- Hurricane Notes from FEMA (PDF)
- Lightning and Thunderstorm Notes from FEMA (PDF)
- Tornado Safety Notes from FEMA (PDF)