Emergencies and disasters do affect individuals, families, and communities. Some of the consequences resulting from these unexpected events may include:

• a breakdown in communication systems.
• medical concerns, injuries or deaths.
• a decrease in the response of emergency services.
• a loss of utility and other community services.
• a limited supply of basic supplies such as food, water and fuel.
• isolation or separation of family members.
• loss of control over one’s house, business or community.
• evacuation of one’s home.
• a need to assist emergency responders in their work.

Your best protection is knowing what to do. This guide contains information that will help you and your family to PREPARE for, RESPOND to, and RECOVER from local emergencies and/or natural disasters.

"Preparing for the worst doesn’t mean you believe it will happen it means only that you accept that the possibility exists. You don’t need proof that your house will burn down before you buy fire insurance, nor that you will have an automobile accident to purchase car insurance. In the some way, you do not need to believe worse-case scenarios will happen to take out another kind of insurance -
emergency preparedness."

- Utne, Eric (editor). Y2k Citizen’s Action Guide Minneapolis, MI: Utne Reader Books, 1998