Be Prepared
Being prepared means having a solid plan and knowing how to connect to resources in case of an emergency—The emergency could be a pandemic flu (like H1N1), a severe snowstorm, a flood or other situation. The information below will help you start developing plans for taking care of yourself and your family in any emergency.
Prepare your household:
During a pandemic such as H1N1, you may have to stay at home for many days or several weeks. Now is the time to store enough food, water, household, first aid and medical supplies for at least two weeks (at most 12 weeks) in case you are homebound or in case businesses stop operating. For checklists to guide you, see:
Prepare your family:
During a pandemic you may be caring for yourself or family members who are sick at home. For a free guide with tips on preparing for caring for a sick person at home, go to www.cdphe.state.co.us/epr/h1n1.html and look for the "Colorado Home Healthcare Guide."
Now is the time to create a family response plan and contact list. Include children in the planning so they understand what can possibly happen and how to stay safe. An informative, fun and interactive website that shows children how to be prepared is at Ready Kids
Prepare your neighborhood:
Work with neighbors and community groups to create a plan to communicate with each other during a pandemic or any community emergency. Create a plan to check on neighbors who are elderly, disabled or others who might need help. For checklists and other information on preparing older adults or people with special needs for an emergency, see:
For more information on what to do or who to call in an emergency, visit:
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- The Red Cross
- United Way 211 First Call for Help, Larimer County
To sign up for emergency alerts through the Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority, go to: www.leta911.org
