Several resources are available to help prepare families, kids and business for emergencies.  Orange County Citizen Corps encourages everyone to Be Ready.

History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster.

Hurricane hazards for our area may come in many forms: high winds, tornadoes, and inland flooding. This means it is important for your family to have a plan that includes all of these hazards.

The National Hurricane Center has information regarding actions that you can take based on specific hurricane hazards. The most important thing that you can do is to be informed and prepared. Disaster prevention includes both being ready as well as reducing damages (mitigation).

Disaster Prevention should include:

• Developing a Family Plan
• Creating a Disaster Supply Kit
• Having a Place to Go Securing your Home
• Having a Pet Plan
• Registering with OCALERT

In order to encourage Americans to prepare themselves, their families and their communities, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in partnership with The Advertising Council, has created instructional videos to help educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to all kinds of emergencies.

The first set of instructional videos, released in English and Spanish, are designed to detail how American families get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed about the different types of emergencies in their community. Homeland Security and the Ad Council have also created additional instructional videos with specific information for pet owners, older Americans and individuals with disabilities and other special needs.