Sedgwick County, Kansas
"Ready to Respond"
Emergency Preparedness tips to practice the 11th of each month.

Preparedness is the best prevention. Here are 11 things you can do in order to be "Ready to Respond" to any emergency…

1. Practice Your Emergency Plan at home and at work. What is your plan for tornadoes? For floods? For chemical spills? 
    

2. Look at your utilities. Have the proper tools nearby in case you need to shut them off, and reacquaint yourself with the guides on how to turn them off.
    

3. Check your fire extinguishers. You may need more than one...are they stored in the right places? Also, test your smoke detectors monthly.
    

4. Take care of that Disaster Kit! Refresh the food and water every 3 months, stock a first aid kit, and be sure that your clothing matches the weather and season.
    

5. Is your "contact information" still current? Make sure it stays up-to-date, and keep copies in your Disaster Kit, car, purse/wallet and with a neighbor or relative.
    

6. Do a "Home Hazard Hunt." Check around your house for dangerous situations...things like bad wiring, improperly stored chemicals and more.
    

7. Put together a Disaster Kit for your car — you don’t want to be caught off-guard during winter storms!
    

8. Check on emergency plans for your kids’ schools, daycare centers, your own employer, your parents’ nursing homes and other group facilities. Where will your loved ones be taken in case of emergency?
    

9. Can you "Shelter in Place"? Follow these easy steps:
    

   1. Move inside immediately;

   2. Close all windows and doors; 

   3. Turn off A/C, furnaces and fans;

   4. Go into a room and seal the cracks with duct tape; 

   5. Turn on a radio or television for further information.
       

10. Where are your important papers? Birth certificates, marriage certificates, legal documents, financial information, passports and other irreplaceable documents should be kept in a waterproof, fireproof container.
     

11. And, check with your neighbors, friends and family members to ensure they are also taking steps to prepare for any emergency!

For more information:

Call Sedgwick County Emergency Management, (316) 660-5959
Call Sedgwick County Fire Prevention, (316) 660-3473