Emergency Preparedness Resources

This resource hub gives families a clear place to begin. Use these guides to start conversations, check your home, create a household plan, and practice what everyone should do before an emergency happens. For help applying these ideas at home, explore our Oregon and Southwest Washington service regions or read answers about Home Safety Meetings.

Home Fire Safety Essentials

• Keep cooking areas attended and free of items that can burn.
• Keep portable heaters at least three feet from people, furniture, curtains, and bedding.
• Replace damaged electrical cords and avoid overloading outlets or power strips.
• Store matches and lighters where children cannot reach them.
• Keep exits, hallways, and bedroom doors easy to access.

Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Safety

Working alarms provide early warning when seconds matter. Check that your household has appropriate smoke and carbon monoxide detection, follow the manufacturer’s testing and replacement instructions, and make sure everyone recognizes each alarm sound.

• Test alarms regularly and replace batteries or units when needed.
• Never ignore or disable a sounding alarm.
• Move outside to fresh air if a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, then call 911.
• Have fuel-burning appliances and heating equipment maintained by qualified professionals.

Create and Practice a Family Escape Plan

1. Identify two possible ways out of each room when possible.
2. Choose a safe outdoor meeting place away from the home.
3. Make sure children, older adults, and anyone needing assistance have help assigned.
4. Practice the plan with the entire household.
5. Once outside, stay outside and call 911.

Build Your Household Emergency Plan

Talk through the emergencies that may affect your area and decide how your family will communicate, where you will meet, who will help children or pets, and what to do if family members are separated.

• Write down emergency contacts and keep copies in more than one place.
• Choose an out-of-area contact who can help family members reconnect.
• Know how to receive local alerts and warnings.
• Plan for medications, mobility needs, pets, and important documents.

Emergency Kit Starting Checklist

Review your kit regularly and adapt it to your household, season, and local risks.

Make the Plan Work for Everyone

Include children in age-appropriate practice, plan extra assistance for older adults or anyone with mobility or medical needs, and keep carriers, leashes, food, water, and identification ready for pets.

Read together. Talk together. Prepare together.

Our Family’s Safety Adventures is a children’s safety book series by Columbia Health & Safety. Explore 12 family read-along stories about fire safety, preparedness, everyday choices, boundaries, and trusted help.

Start with a topic that matters to your family, pause for questions, and connect the story to a small everyday habit.

Explore Our Children’s Safety Books →

Books are purchased separately on Amazon, which handles checkout and fulfillment.