Emergency Prep

When disaster strikes, you may find yourself in a situation where you will need to be able to survive on your own for 72 hours or more without access to power, water or transportation. Getting prepared may seem difficult or time consuming, but with a little help from the basic information and resources provided here, you, your family, and your pets will be ready for almost anything!

Part of being prepared is A) understanding which emergencies or disasters are most likely to occur in your area; B) having and practicing a family emergency plan; C) having an emergency preparedness kit; D) having at least one member of your household trained in first aid and CPR; E) being active in assisting your community to be prepared.

Most Likely Emergencies In the Gila Bend Area

Based upon the location of the Town of Gila Bend, the most likely scenarios for an emergency or disaster situation are the following:

1. Power Outages
2. Severe Weather Alerts (Heat and Cold)
3. Chemical or Hazardous Material Emergencies (household or industrial)
4. Nuclear Power Plant

Making Your Emergency Kit

An important part of emergency preparedness is having an emergency kit or an All Hazards kit. Your kit should be waterproof and easy-to-carry in the event you need to evacuate.The supplies that go into your kit could greatly impact your survival. It is also recommended that you keep another emergency kit in each vehicle for travel or roadside emergencies.

Types of Emergency Kits

  1. Basic Emergency Kit
  2. Deaf or Hearing Impaired
  3. Blind or Low-vision
  4. Speech Impaired
  5. Mobility Impaired
  6. Behavioral Needs
  7. For Pets
 Water – one gallon per person, per day (three day supply for evacuation, two week supply for home)
 Food – non-perishable, easy to prepare items (three day supply for evacuation, two week supply for home)
 Flashlight and extra batteries
 Battery -powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible) and extra batteries
 First aid kit and supplies (whistle, antibiotic ointment, gauze bandages, face masks, gloves, tweezers, needle and thread) and reference book
 Medications (seven day supply) and medicinal dispensers if necessary
 Multi-purpose supplies (wrench, pliers, plastic sheet, duct tape, scissors, matches)
 Rain Gear
 Sanitation/personal hygiene items and bleach 
 Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
 Cell phone with chargers
 Emergency Disaster Plan (and emergency contact information)
 Extra cash 
 Emergency blanket, extra clothes, sleeping bag (at least one for each person)
 Tools, map(s) of the area, and other items to meet your unique family needs
 An extra set of house keys and car keys

Creating a Plan

Get together with your family or household to formulate a disaster plan. Consider how to prepare and respond to emergencies that are most likely to happen in your area. The following is a list of things to consider in your plan:

 List the types of emergencies in your area
 Pick 2 meeting places, 1 outside of your home and another outside of your community if you cannot get back to your home.
 Plan your evacuation route(s)
 Have a plan for your pets if you are unable to evacuate them (have a neighbor or someone get them)
 Create a contact card for each member
 Choose an emergency contact
 Determine the best escape routes out of your home