The guidance provided is general and basic and should be supplemented with specific instructions issued by local authorities. General guidance includes keeping calm and developing a thoughtful plan before taking action; obtaining survival information and advice from radio or television; using the telephone only to report important events; having a knowledge of basic first aid; preparing to evacuate one's home quickly; developing an escape plan from the house; and keeping important papers in a safety deposit box at a bank. More detailed guidance is provided on the emergency supplies to keep on hand and what to do after a disaster. The latter guidelines pertain to personal hygiene and general cleanliness, illness, food spoilage versus food poisoning, the examination of canned goods, what to do when the freezer and/or refrigerator fails, cleanup, and sewage disposal. Separate sections of the handbook provide survival instructions for the following specific types of disasters: earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, winter storms, fire, nuclear power plant accident, and terrorism incidents. A separate section is also devoted to evacuation procedures.