Disaster Preparation and Recovery

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials
• Games

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Seniors

Summary

Preparing for a disaster can reduce the fear, anxiety and losses that disasters cause. A disaster can be a natural disaster, like a hurricane, tornado, flood or earthquake. It might also be man-made, like a bioterrorist attack or chemical spill. You should know the risks and danger signs of different types of disasters. You should also have a disaster plan. Be ready to evacuate your home, and know how to treat basic medical problems. Make sure you have the insurance you need, including special types, like flood insurance.

No matter what kind of disaster you experience, it causes emotional distress. After a disaster, recovery can take time. Stay connected to your family and friends during this period.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Start Here

• Emergency Preparedness & Response (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Related Issues

• Build an Emergency Preparedness Kit (Healthy Roads Media) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Clean Hands Save Lives: Emergency Situations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Clean Up Safely After a Natural Disaster (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Disaster Preparedness for Your Pet (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water (Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water) Also in Spanish
• Evacuation and Community Shelters (Healthy Roads Media) Also in Spanish
• Evacuation and Community Shelters (Healthy Roads Media) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Home Use Devices: How to Prepare for and Handle Power Outages for Medical Devices That Require Electricity (Food and Drug Administration) - PDF
• Individuals with Access and Functional Needs (Department of Homeland Security) Also in Spanish
• Keep Food and Water Safe After a Disaster or Power Outage (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Pet Disaster Preparedness (American Red Cross)
• Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Shelter (Department of Homeland Security) Also in Spanish
• Travelers' Health: Natural Disasters and Environmental Hazards (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpectedly (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Specifics

• Blackouts (Healthy Roads Media) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Dust Storms (National Library of Medicine)
• How to Cope with Sheltering in Place (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Natural Disaster Recovery: Cleanup Hazard (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Also in Spanish
• Natural Gas Emergencies (Healthy Roads Media) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Power Outages (Department of Homeland Security)

Videos and Tutorials

• Blackouts (Healthy Roads Media) Also in Spanish
• Build an Emergency Preparedness Kit (Healthy Roads Media) Also in Spanish
• Make an Emergency Plan and Practice It (Healthy Roads Media) Also in Spanish
• Pets and Disaster (Healthy Roads Media) Also in Spanish
• Public Health Emergencies (Healthy Roads Media) Also in Spanish
• Sheltering in Place (Healthy Roads Media) Also in Spanish

Games

• Disaster Master (Department of Homeland Security)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Disasters (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Emergency Department Response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive...
• Article: Impact of Patients Presenting with Alcohol and/or Drug Intoxication on...
• Article: Active Shooter Training in the Emergency Department: A Safety Initiative.
• Disaster Preparation and Recovery -- see more articles
• Disaster relief -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• American Red Cross Also in Spanish
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• Department of Homeland Security
• Federal Emergency Management Agency Also in Spanish

Seniors

• Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease: Natural Disaster Safety (National Institute on Aging)