Emergency Plan

Emergencies can happen at any time. Creating an emergency plan is one of the most important steps you can take to prepare your family. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it's important that all family members understand the emergency plan. For more information, or to complete a Family Emergency Plan, please visit Ready.gov.

Emergency Kit

When disaster strikes, emergency services will see a surge in demand. Individuals and families should be prepared to survive on their own for several days. Begin by creating an emergency kit that can support you and your family for at least three full days. A larger kit will be able to sustain you and your family over a longer period of time. Consider having a week, or several weeks, worth of food and water at home to get through the most challenging time period. Older adults and people with disabilities may have unique situations that should be taken into consideration. Visit Ready.gov for more information on creating an emergency kit.

Severe Weather Awareness

Residents are encouraged to prepare and practice severe weather emergency plans in their home and worksite. On the first Wednesday of each month between March and November, Carver County communities test their outdoor warning sirens at 1:00 p.m. The outdoor sirens will be used during severe weather to alert residents who are outdoors to seek shelter. Here's what you need to know to understand the sirens during severe weather:

• If the siren sounds in a steady tone, it means severe weather has been sighted in your area. Seek shelter immediately and turn on a battery-powered radio for more information.
• If you see that severe weather is approaching, don't wait for the sirens to go off before seeking shelter. In some fast-moving storms, the dangerous weather may pass through before the siren can be turned on.
• When the siren stops, it does not mean the severe weather threat is over. It means you should already be indoors, listening to other media for severe weather information.

Weather officials and safety experts suggest every family should have a weather radio, which broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information. According to the National Weather Service, "NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - part of the Department of Commerce) radios should be a common in homes and public places as smoke detectors!" Radios are available at many online sites and local electronic retailers.