In the event of a disaster, local responders may not be able to reach everyone immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere. Being prepared and understanding what to do can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. People can also reduce the impact of disasters and sometimes avoid the danger altogether. Families should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster than can occur in their area. They should also be ready to be self sufficient for at least 3 days. This may mean providing their own shelter, first aid, food, water, and sanitation. The first step is to ask the local emergency management office which disasters could strike the community. Ask for any information that would help prepare and possibly reduce the risks. Each chapter in this book covers a specific hazard and describes how to prepare and what to do when the disaster occurs. The natural hazards include floods, hurricanes, thunderstorms, winter storms and extreme cold, extreme heat, earthquakes, volcanoes, landslide and debris flows, tsunamis, and fire. The technological hazards are hazardous materials incidents, nuclear power plants, and national security emergencies, which include terrorism, chemical and biological weapons, nuclear and radiological attack, and homeland security advisory system. The next step is to review the evacuation, shelter, emergency planning and disaster supplies, and recovering from disaster (mental health and crisis counseling) chapters. Emergency planning involves creating a disaster plan, planning for people with special needs, and putting together a disaster supplies kit. Shelter includes long-term in-place sheltering and staying in a mass care shelter. General guidelines for handling animals in emergency and disaster situations are given. Local instructions for disaster preparedness may be slightly different. Always follow local instructions. It is important to get involved in local emergency preparedness and response activities by volunteering in the community, such as a Citizen Corps volunteer.