Be Prepared
Earthquakes, fire, flood or other disaster require immediate response.  Planning ahead and practicing your response will help you react quickly.  Planning ahead includes taking some time to collect emergency contact information, family medical information, key telephone numbers and insurance information.  Below you will find information for getting started. 

1   Make an emergency plan
2   Prepare an emergency kit
3   Stay informed about current conditions

For information about disaster preparedness and creating a disaster preparedness kit that meet the needs of your home and family; please visit the following websites:

The state of California Office of Emergency Services has useful information for you, your family, home, and pets.  Please visit Be Prepared California for more information. www.bepreparedcalifornia.ca.gov/epo

The Santa Barbara County Chapter of the American Red Cross is the premier disaster response organization.  They offer disaster preparedness classes, CPR and first aid training and numerous other emergency readiness workshops for you and your family.  Please visit the Red Cross website. www.sbredcross.org

VOAD or Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster has a listing of all organizations in Santa Barbara County who may play a role in disaster response.  Please visit the VOAD website for more information. www.VOADsbc.org

Additional information to become familiar with:

Evacuations
In the event of an emergency evacuation, if there is a loss of communications and you and/or your family is separated from one another, decide on a safe place to meet (home, school, workplace, etc) and discuss the travel route that you will most likely use.

Earthquakes
Find a safe place to go in and near your house where nothing can fall on you. Decide on a safe place to meet outside the house.

Remember how to ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold On’.

Fires
Install smoke alarms on each level of your home and check (every six months) to make sure they work (replace batteries when necessary).

-Create two escape routes for your family.
- Pick a safe place to meet outside of the house.
- Conduct regular fire drills.
- Have a working fire extinguisher with all adults in the home capable of operating the extinguisher.

If possible, take your emergency kit with you and always have a full tank of gas (this will allow you to leave quickly).

Floods
If it has been raining steadily, pay attention to TV and radio for the possibility of a flood. In the case of evacuation, make sure you take your emergency kit and always have a full tank of gas (this will allow you to leave quickly).