In Arkansas, nobody wants to think about experiencing a natural disaster like a tornado, flood, ice storm or house fire. What would you do if you found yourself in an emergency situation?
It’s important to plan ahead. Especially if you have a disability, or are a caregiver for someone who does. We’ve put together a checklist that can help you prepare for the worst.
Emergency Preparedness Checklist (English)
Lajraak Kein Jerbal Nan Idriñ (Marshallese) – Our emergency preparedness checklist in Marshallese
Lista de verificación de Preparación para Emergencias (Spanish) – Our emergency preparedness checklist in Spanish
Feeling Safe, Being Safe – A personal emergency plan workbook. Many individuals and families are unprepared to respond to emergency situations and natural disasters. Emergency management professionals promote personal preparedness planning as a best practice measure. Feeling Safe, Being Safe tools show how to make a personal plan and emergency kit. Click the links below to access these tools.
Feeling Safe, Being Safe Tool (English)
Sentirse Seguro, Estar Seguro Herramienta (Spanish) – Our Feeling Safe, Being Safe workbook in Spanish
Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Resources
Protect yourself from contracting ANY virus by practicing healthy habits!
- Wash hands often
- Keep your distance from others in public
- Stay home if you are sick
Use these resources to help be prepared or get information from a professional:
- Influenza (Flu, the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness. Flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk.
- Coronavirus (Covid, COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) is a viral respiratory disease. SARS is an airborne virus and can spread through small droplets of saliva in a similar way to the cold and influenza.
- If you are experiencing illness you think may be symptoms of influenza (the flu) or coronavirus (Covid) and your situation is NOT critical, please stay at home and call your primary care physician for further instruction.
- Is this an Emergency? If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
- If you want to get the Flu (influenza) shot, make your plan and find a location. To find more information on Influenza (the flu) click here. You can get the shot at many local pharmacies or healthcare clinics, including your local health unit of the Arkansas Department of Health. See this map for more information https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/health-units.
Arkansas Department of Health
https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/
Influenza/Flu Info https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/influenza
Call 501-661-2000 or 800-462-0599
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
About Coronavirus/Covid https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
About Influenza/Flu https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm
Call 800-232-4636
Severe Weather Emergency Preparedness Resources
Severe weather can happen anytime, in any part of the country. Severe weather can include hazardous conditions produced by thunderstorms, including damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail, flooding and flash flooding, and hurricanes.
- Get ready for severe weather www.ready.gov/severe-weather
- Tornado survivors say having a plan on where to take cover saved their life. Where will you take cover? https://www.ready.gov/tornadoes
- Learn what to do before, during & after a flood by visiting: ready.gov/floods
- Know what to do before, during, and after a hurricane by visiting https://www.ready.gov/hurricane-toolkit
Winter/Cold Weather Emergency Preparedness Resources
Stay safe when extreme winter weather is possible! Prepare now. Know your area’s risk for winter storms. Be ready in case your community is without utilities or other services for long periods of time. Here are some resources that may be helpful:
CDC – Preparing for Winter Storm
CDC Be Ready for Winter Weather Infographic
Red Cross Winter Storm Safety List
Additional Emergency Resources
You can go to Ready.Gov at anytime to obtain emergency preparedness information. Other links:
https://www.ready.gov/individuals-access-functional-needs
Be Informed video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u6vo9Q-Uq4
Build a kit video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJuDXorO9_g
Make a plan video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TybjwGLHA88&feature=youtu.be
Emergency Contacts
FEMA Region VI
FRC 800 North Loop 288
Denton, TX 76209
(877) 336-2627
Follow FEMA Region 6 on Twitter: @FEMARegion6
Region VI=Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, & Texas
American Red Cross
401 S. Monroe St.
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 748-1000
Red Cross Toll Free: 1 (800) 733-2767
Red Cross Shelters | Central Arkansas Now
http://centralarkansasnow.com/red-cross-shelters/
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM)
Building 9501
Camp Joseph T. Robinson
North Little Rock, AR 72199
(501) 683-6700
https://www.adem.arkansas.gov/
Follow ADEM on Twitter: @AR_Emergencies
ADEM Emergency Management Coordinators Webpage
Local Emergency Management Coordinators A document with a list of local coordinators – find your county and get to know your local coordinator. Make sure they know you and about your specific needs in an emergency or in an evacuation.
ADEM Area Coordinators (Arkansas Emergency Managers) Visit the ADEM website to learn more. The list below is current as of 01/10/2024.
Central Area (Counties: Marion, Baxter, Searcy, Stone, Van Buren, Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, White, Perry, Pulaski, Lonoke, Prairie, Saline, Grant)
Clay Bewley
(501) 683-6700
Northwest Area (Counties: Benton, Carroll, Boone, Washington, Madison, Newton, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Pope, Sebastian, Logan, Scott, Yell)
Brad Thomas
(501) 683-6700
Northeast Area (Counties: Fulton, Randolph, Clay, Izard, Sharp, Lawrence, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Craighead, Poinsett, Mississippi, Woodruff, Cross, Crittenden, St. Francis, Lee)
Jeff Jones
(501) 935-3094
Southwest Area (Counties: Polk, Montgomery, Garland, Hot Spring, Sevier, Howard, Pike, Clark, Little River, Hempstead, Nevada, Miller, Lafayette, Columbia)
Cecil McGee
(501) 683-6700
Southeast Area (Counties: Monroe, Jefferson, Arkansas, Phillips, Dallas, Cleveland, Lincoln, Desha, Ouachita, Calhoun, Bradley, Drew, Union, Ashley, Chicot)
LeeAnn Smith
(870) 534-1534
Additional Helpful numbers and links:
United Way Fort Smith Area: Sign up to volunteer or Donate: https://unitedwayfortsmith.org/
Arkansas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: http://www.arvoad.org/
Salvation Army: (479) 783-6145
Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT)
10324 Interstate 30
Little Rock, AR 72209
501-569-2000
https://www.arkansashighways.com/
I Drive Arkansas, call or text 501-569-2374, or visit https://www.idrivearkansas.com/
Smart 911
Plan Ahead for Any Emergency! Give 9-1-1 the information they need to help you fast.
With Smart911, you can provide 9-1-1 call takers and first responders critical information you want them to know in any kind of emergency.
When you call 9-1-1, your Smart911 Safety Profile displays on the 9-1-1 screen and the 9-1-1 call takers can view your addresses, medical information, home information, description of pets, service animals, vehicles, and emergency contacts. You can provide as much or as little information as you like.
Don’t Get Left Behind!
During a disaster, at-risk individuals with access and functional needs require additional help before, during, and after an incident. With Smart911, at-risk individuals can sign up and share their medical and access and functional needs requirements with their community’s emergency managers. This online portal of at-risk residents helps emergency managers better plan and identify residents in need of assistance during a disaster.
Residents provide any information they wish to share during emergency planning, response, and recovery efforts. Participation in the access and functional needs registry is strictly voluntary and participants are encouraged to provide the following:
Full name, address, and contact information
Caregiver contact information
Medical conditions and medications
Nature of disability
Pets, service animals, livestock
Home power and utility information
Access to vehicle and ability (or inability) to evacuate
Communities across the country rely on Smart911 to better protect at-risk residents when large-scale emergencies and disasters strike. Don’t get left behind and sign up for Smart911’s access and functional needs registry.
Smart911 is a national service meaning your Smart911 Safety Profile travels with you and is visible to any participating 9-1-1 center nationwide.
SIGN UP NOW, click this link to go to the registration page for Smart 911
https://www.smart911.com/smart911/registration/registrationLanding.action
Your safety profile is free, private, and secure. Add as much or as little to your profile as you want. It’s up to you, and your information will only be seen if you ever have to call 9-1-1.