Are You Ready? - An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness

Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness (IS-22) is FEMA’s most comprehensive source on individual, family, and community preparedness. The guide has been revised, updated, and enhanced in August 2004 to provide the public with the most current and up-to-date disaster preparedness information available.

Are You Ready? provides a step-by-step approach to disaster preparedness by walking the reader through how to get informed about local emergency plans, how to identify hazards that affect their local area, and how to develop and maintain an emergency communications plan and disaster supplies kit. Other topics covered include evacuation, emergency public shelters, animals in disaster, and information specific to people with disabilities.

Are You Ready? also provides in-depth information on specific hazards including what to do before, during, and after each hazard type. The following hazards are covered: Floods, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Thunderstorms and Lightning, Winter Storms and Extreme Cold, Extreme Heat, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Landslide and Debris Flows (Mudslide), Tsunamis, Fires, Wildfires, Hazardous Materials Incidents, Household Chemical Emergencies, Nuclear Power Plant, and Terrorism (including Explosion, Biological, Chemical, Nuclear, and Radiological hazards).

Are You Ready?, also available in Spanish, can be used in a variety of ways including as a read-through or reference guide. The guide can also be used as a study manual guide with credit awarded for successful completion and a 75 percent score on a final exam. Questions about the exam should be directed to the FEMA Independent Study Program by calling 1-800-238-3358 or by going to www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/is.

Also available is the Are You Ready? Facilitator Guide (IS-22FG). The Facilitator Guide is a tool for those interested in delivering Are You Ready? content in a small group or classroom setting. The Facilitator Guide is an easy to use manual that has instruction modules for adults, older children, and younger children. A resource CD is packaged with the Facilitator Guide that contains customizable presentation materials, sample training plans, and other disaster preparedness education resources.

Copies of Are You Ready? and the Facilitator Guide are available through the FEMA publications warehouse (1.800.480.2520). For large quantities, your organization may reprint the publication. Please visit our reprint page for more information.

For more publications on disaster preparedness, visit the Community and Family Preparedness WebPages.

Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness

Are You Ready Full Document (PDF 21MB)

Separated by Sections

• Preface
• Why Prepare
• Basic Preparedness
• Getting Informed
• Emergency Planning and Checklists
• Assemble Disaster Supplies Kit
• Shelter
• Hazard Specific Preparedness
• Practicing and Maintaining Your Plan
• Natural Hazards
• Floods
• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Thunderstorms and Lightning
• Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
• Extreme Heat
• Earthquakes
• Volcanoes
• Landslide and Debris Flow (Mudslide)
• Tsunamis
• Fires
• Wildfires
• Technological Hazards
• Hazardous Materials Incidents
• Household Chemical Emergencies
• Nuclear Power Plants
• Terrorism
• General Information about Terrorism
• Explosions
• Biological Threats
• Chemical Threats
• Nuclear Blast
• Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD)
• Homeland Security Advisory System
• Recovering from Disaster
• Appendix A: Water Conservation Tips
• Appendix B: Disaster Supplies Checklists
• Appendix C: Family Communications Plan (PDF 1.55MB)

FEMA RELEASES "Getting Ready For Disaster" DVD

With the upcoming hurricane season on the horizon, killer tornados and wildfires in the Midwest and south and California floods breaking levies, FEMA announces the release of a new citizen preparedness DVD titled, "Getting Ready For Disaster- One Family's Experience". The DVD guides viewers through important steps of disaster preparedness and is a welcome addition to FEMA's preparedness materials.

· Introduction (Windows Media 6.3MB)

· Get Informed (Windows Media 4.7MB)

· Make a Plan (Windows Media 7.0MB)

· Disaster Supplies Kit (Windows Media 5.6MB)

· People with Disabilities (Windows Media 3.8MB)

· Food and Water (Windows Media 5.8MB)

· Helping Children Cope (Windows Media 5.8MB)

· Get Involved (Windows Media 7.0MB)

A transcript of the videos has been provided for those that are unable to view these files.