OSPREY ZERO ENCYCLOPEDIA
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Natural hazards21 guides
Severe storms
Damaging winds
Shelter inside a sturdy building away from windows when damaging winds threaten.
Severe stormsEmergency guideHail
Get indoors and stay away from windows during hail.
Severe stormsEmergency guideLightning
When you hear thunder, move into a substantial building or enclosed hard-top vehicle immediately.
Severe stormsEmergency guideThunderstorm
Go inside a substantial building or a fully enclosed hard-top vehicle when thunder is heard.
Severe stormsEmergency guideTornado
If a tornado warning covers your location, shelter now in a basement or small interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
Severe stormsTropical weather
Hurricane
Check your evacuation zone and the current order.
Tropical weatherEmergency guideStorm surge
If a storm-surge evacuation order covers you, leave for a safe location outside the surge zone before roads close.
Tropical weatherEmergency guideTropical storm
Treat tropical storm warnings seriously: dangerous flooding, surge, wind and tornadoes can occur.
Tropical weatherWinter
Extreme cold
Get into a warm, dry place, replace wet clothing and add dry layers.
WinterEmergency guideIce storm
Avoid travel on icy roads and keep away from ice-laden trees and power lines.
WinterEmergency guideWinter storm
Stay indoors and postpone travel during dangerous snow, ice or blowing snow.
WinterHeat & dry conditions
Flooding
Geological
Coastal & ocean
Mountain
Volcanic
Fire & air
Home, fire & buildings4 guides
Fire
Air & gas
Backup power
Utilities & infrastructure6 guides
Electricity
Water
Boil-water advisory
Use bottled water or bring clear tap water to a rolling boil for 1 minute, then cool it; above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes.
WaterEmergency guideDo-not-drink advisory
Use commercially bottled or officially approved water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, ice, formula and pets.
WaterEmergency guideDo-not-use advisory
Do not drink or use tap water for any purpose while a do-not-use advisory is in effect.
WaterEmergency guideWater disruption
Find the current water advisory for your address and follow its exact wording.
WaterEmergency guideWater outage
Check the utility notice to learn whether water service is interrupted and whether an advisory applies.
WaterMedical & first aid4 guides
Resuscitation
Adult hands-only CPR
If an adult suddenly collapses, is unresponsive and is not breathing normally or is only gasping, call emergency services, get an AED and start chest compressions.
ResuscitationEmergency guideUsing an AED
For an unresponsive person who is not breathing normally, call emergency services and begin CPR.
ResuscitationAirway
Injury
Public health1 guides
Infectious disease
Chemical, radiation & industry3 guides
Chemical
Radiation
Conflict & civil disruption3 guides
Conflict
Civil disruption
Civil unrest
If violence or dangerous crowd movement is near you, leave the immediate area by a safe route or shelter in a secure place if travel is unsafe.
Civil disruptionEmergency guideEmergency restrictions & martial law
If officials announce a curfew, movement restriction, state of emergency, or martial law, find the actual order from the authority that issued it.
Civil disruptionEvacuation & shelter2 guides
Evacuation
Shelter
Preparedness4 guides
Planning
Kits & supplies
72-hour emergency kit
Start with at least three days of safe water, ready-to-eat food, essential medicines, lighting and communication supplies.
Kits & suppliesPreparedness guideGo bag
Pack a portable bag with the essentials you need to leave quickly: medicines, documents, contact information, water, food, light, phone power and weather-appropriate clothing.
Kits & supplies