This book has been prepared for direct dissemination to the general public and is based on the most reliable hazard awareness and emergency education information available at the time of publication, including advances in scientific knowledge, more accurate technical language, and the latest physical research on what happens in disasters.

This publication is, however, too brief to cover every factor, situation, or difference in buildings, infrastructure, or other environmental features that might be of interest. To help you explore your interest further, additional sources of information have been included.

The book has been designed to help the citizens of this nation learn how to protect themselves and their families against all types of hazards. It can be used as reference source of as step-by-step manual. The focus of the content in on how to develop, practice, and maintain emergency plans that request what must be done before, during and after a disaster to protect people and their supplies in sufficient quantity for food, water, and other families to survive following a disaster in the event they must rely on their own resources.