Community preparedness

There are many things individuals can do to prepare themselves and their families for a disaster or public health emergency. From preparing a family disaster kit to making sure that all family members know how and when to wash their hands, you can ensure that you and your family have taken the right steps to protect yourselves during an emergency. The Center has developed a number of useful tools to assist you with your emergency preparedness efforts and provides you with this site to access the latest public health information.

How Connecticut is preparing

In Connecticut, the Center is working closely with local, state and national partners to ensure the continued availability of critical health care services during a large-scale disaster. Connecticut is leading the way in supporting the preparedness of the nation's health care infrastructure with:

• Plans to ensure there are equipment, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for hospitals to treat the sick and injured.
• Improved emergency communication systems to ensure all involved with the disaster response are kept informed.
• A network of volunteer health care professionals to assist in a medical response where needed.

Personal preparedness

But what about you? A recent survey by the National Center for Disaster Preparedness reports that almost 63 percent of American families do not have even a basic emergency plan. Many parents are unfamiliar with the emergency response plans at their children's schools and have not designated a central family contact to ensure that every member of the family is accounted for during a disaster.

Preparing for a disaster requires asking yourself and your family a number of questions and taking the time to figure out the answers.

• Would you be able to assist a disabled relative or neighbor?
• Are you a pet owner, and do you need to make arrangements for the care of your animal during a disaster?
• What do you need in your emergency kits for home, for work and for travel?

“PEACE of Mind” Personal/Family Preparedness Plan

The Center is offering you a tool that will assist with developing and maintaining your personal preparedness plan. This simple form (pdf;176KB) (en español) can be displayed in a prominent location in your home and will serve as an ongoing reminder of the need for you and your family to be prepared. It can provide you with peace of mind—reassuring you that appropriate steps have been taken to be ready for an emergency.

Click here to download your emergency preparedness kit checklist.

Please contact us at ecp@ynhh.org for more information on how you can obtain and complete the “PEACE of Mind” checklist. Not sure how to create your own preparedness plan? For detailed instructions to help you get started, see our brochure on Personal/Family Preparedness Plan (pdf;147KB)
(en español).

If you do your part to prepare, you help our state and national resources stretch to meet the demands of the disaster. Questions? Please call us at (203) 688-3224.