Emergency Preparedness

The Livingston County Hazard Mitigation Plan provides information about the types of hazards that affect or have the potential to affect Livingston County. Top hazards in our county include:

• Severe weather
• Tornadoes
• Winter weather/Ice storms
• Flooding
• Extreme Temperatures

Prepare for everywhere! If you travel or visit other areas often, learn the hazards affect that area as well.

• If you visit areas that experience hurricanes or earthquakes which are not common in Michigan, learn what to do before you go.

Do you live near an area that may see greater impact from a disaster, like in a low-lying flood zone? Is your home near train tracks or a highway where a transportation accident may affect your neighborhood? Consider the area you live in and identify hazards you should plan for.

Getting prepared includes gathering enough food, water, and supplies for your home that will last for several days. There are lots of different emergency kits you can prepare in advance, so you have supplies readily available at the time of an incident. Consider the unique needs of all family members, including babies, seniors, and pets. Information below is just a suggestion. You may find that your family needs more. Check the supplies in your kits at least twice a year. Remember, when you set your clocks, check your stocks. Re-evaluate your needs and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

Basic Emergency Supply Kit

• After an emergency, you may need to survive at home for several days before help arrives. A Basic Emergency Supply Kit is a collection of supplies you keep in your home in case you need to shelter-in-place and stay home for a length of time. These supplies should last your family for several days.
• Supplies should be stored in an airtight container, protected from elements and pests.
• Store your kit in an easy to access location at the time of an emergency.
• Example lists of what to include in your Home Emergency Kit can be found at Ready.gov, MIReady, and the CDC.

Emergency Go-Kit

• A Go Kit is a small emergency kit, typically a backpack, that’s easy to take with you in case you need to leave your home right away.
• Every family member should have a Go Kit.
• Pets should have a Go-Kit, too!
• An example list of items to include in a Go-Kit can be found at Ready.gov.

Car Emergency Kit

• No matter the distance you regularly drive, create an emergency kit for your vehicle with items you may need if you experience an emergency while on the road.
• Plan long trips carefully, listening to the radio or television for the latest weather forecasts and road conditions.
• Example lists of what to include in your Car Kit can be found at Ready.gov and MIReady.

Pet Emergency Kit

• Many households consider pets to be a member of the family. Prepare your pets for disasters and consider their unique needs.
• For more information on how to prepare your pets for a disaster and for example lists of what to include in a Pet Kit visit Ready.gov and MIReady.

Prepare your family for an emergency by developing a written emergency plan. LCHD works to protect the health of the community and can provide you with valuable information on how to best keep your family safe during emergencies. Your family should prepare for a disaster at any time. Whether it be a natural disaster, disease related, or an event of terrorism, you should have a plan.

• Every household should have a written emergency plan and all household members should know the plan. Create a binder with your plan and keep it in a secure location within your home.
• Plan ahead in case your family is not home when an emergency strikes and can’t access your emergency binder. Store your emergency plan on a cloud system or email a copy to yourself.
• Some resources that can assist you with creating a family emergency plan include: MIReady Family Preparedness Guide, MIReady Family Preparedness Plan Template, and Ready.gov.
• Some family members may have additional needs, be an older adult or a pregnant person or infant and may need extra considerations.

Emergency alerts allow officials to push out urgent, life-saving information to residents in a short amount of time. Residents should sign up to receive alerts before a disaster strikes and know where to get local emergency information. Learn ways to get further tech ready for an emergency.

Emergency Alerts

• Emergency alerts keep residents and travelers informed on potentially hazardous situations involving weather, traffic, and other emergencies. Residents are encouraged to sign up to receive LivCo Alerts through the county’s free notification system. Landlines are automatically added to the system to receive tornado warnings only.
• To learn about the other types of notifications you may receive during emergencies from Michigan Public Safety Officials, visit MIReady.gov.

Emergency Public Information

• In addition to posting emergency information and alerts to our website, LCHD also shares press releases and Facebook posts. Your city, village, or township office may also share information through their websites or social media accounts, as well as your local police and fire responder agencies.

Other sources for emergency information in Livingston County include:

• Livingston Emergency Management Facebook
• Livingston Emergency Management Twitter
• WHMI

Natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and emergencies can have widespread and even long-lasting impacts on supplies, services, and the public health and health care systems. Don’t wait for an emergency to happen to prepare. Use the time before and between events to gather essential supplies, learn self-help skills, and build the self-confidence you need to respond quickly and constructively in a crisis.

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle by choosing nutritious foods, exercising regularly, drinking water, and getting regular sleep. Avoid smoking, drugs, and other factors that can harm your health.
• Get involved in your community to improve preparedness efforts for your area.
• Stay up to date with vaccinations.
• Plan for your healthcare needs if you rely on regular medical support or treatment (ex., insulin, prescription medications, dialysis, breathing treatments, or oxygen use). During a disaster, you may not be able to readily access your normal providers or resources. Prepare by making a list of products, medical devices, medications, treatment instructions, and prescriptions to keep in your kit. Include your doctors and providers on your emergency phone list.
• Learn what other actions you can take now to protect your health later with information from the CDC.
• Learn how to shut off the utilities to your home.

• Use safe water after a disaster or emergency.
• Listen to authorities and stay informed about whether you should stay and shelter in place, or if you should evacuate.
• Carbon monoxide (or CO) is a silent killer. You cannot see it, smell it, or taste it. CO is produced by running a vehicle engine, or using a generator, furnace, grill, or space heater. Learn how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Prevent food poisoning. Prolonged power outages can also affect food safety. Perishable foods, such as meats, seafood, and dairy, are unsafe to eat after being in your refrigerator when the power has been off for four hours or more.

• Cleaning up after a disaster takes time, patience, and precautions. Learn how to take steps to clean up safely after a disaster and reduce your risk of exposure to things like mold, bacteria, and other health hazards.
• Learn what to do to ensure the water you are consuming or using for food prep and hygiene purposes is safe.
• Learn about disaster food safety and what food items may be safe to keep, and which should be thrown away.
• Take care of your mental and emotional health when coping with a disaster or traumatic event.