The best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Print out the checklists and information sheets below and keep copies in an easy-to-reach location for immediate reference.

Make a Plan

After a major disaster, it is unlikely that emergency response services will be able to immediately respond to everyone's needs, so it's important to be prepared. The Make a Plan checklist will help you and your family prepare for an emergency.

  • For more information on what to include in a pet plan and kit, see the Animal Care and Control website
  • To stay connected with your family after a locally declared disaster, register yourself on the Safe and Well website , which is a service provided by the American Red Cross. Through this site, you can post messages to your family and they will know that you are safe and well.

Build a Kit

After a major disaster the usual services we take for granted, such as running water, refrigeration, and telephones may be unavailable. The Build a Kit checklist will enable you and your family to be self-sufficient for at least three days.

Be Prepared at Work

This checklist will help you in the event that a disaster strikes while you are at work.

  • To ensure that you continue to be paid and receive payroll information in a timely fashion following a disaster, Enroll in Direct Deposit and Paystub Online today .
  • For information on opening a bank account, call 211 for the Bank on San Francisco program.

DSW Job Categories and Examples of Duties

This one page document provides an overview of what to expect as a disaster service worker.

Phone tips from 72hours.org

  • Plan for how you will communicate with loved ones after a disaster.
  • Long-distance phone lines often work before local phone lines, so identify an out-of-state contact and provide this person with the contact information of people you want to keep informed of your situation. Share this information with your family and friends locally.
  • Avoid making non-urgent phone calls after a disaster – even if phone lines are un-damaged, increased phone traffic can jam phone circuits. Cordless phones or phone systems require electricity; make sure you have a backup phone that requires no electricity.
  • Keep coins in your Go-bag. Payphones may work before other phone lines.
  • Don’t count on your cell phone - increased traffic on cell phone networks can quickly overload wireless capacity.
  • Record an outgoing message on your voicemail so that callers can be re-assured of your safety status.
  • Learn how to use text messaging. It uses a different part of the cell phone network and it might be possible to send and receive text messages when voice channels for mobile phones and land lines are jammed.
  • Register your email addresses and wireless devices (mobile phones, pagers and PDAs) at AlertSF.org . When possible, the City will send text alerts about potential hazards and/or post disaster information. Examples include tsunami warnings and local disaster shelter locations.
  • After an earthquake, check all your telephones to be sure they have not shaken off the hook and are tying up a line.

Additional Resources

Additional Training

Employee Payroll Services

Department of Human Resources Emergency Plans