for all types of disasters. While there are many ways to prepare for a disaster and different considerations that you may want to do for each type of hazard we just discussed, there are some general considerations and preparation that every person and family should do. The first step is to make a plan. It is important to know how your family will respond to a disaster and how to reconnect if your family gets separated during an evacuation. Making a disaster plan is a great way to plan all of these details out. Disaster plans should be detailed and may include information on contact information, important medical information on each individual, emergency meetup locations, where your emergency kit is located, and any consideration for pets or service animals you may own. While making a plan is the first step, it's also important to remember to practice your emergency plan so that everyone knows how it works before the real thing happens. If you're wondering how to get started, linked under this module are some links and resources to more detailed information on how to make a disaster plan and some fill-in-the-blank templates. It's also important to build a kit. After a disaster or emergency happens, you may need to survive on your own for several days. An emergency kit is important and it should be stocked with everything that you need. Another option to a stationary emergency kit is an emergency go-bag for an easy-to-grab backpack or duffel bag with basic supplies in the event of an evacuation. We'll cover more specific details and what to put in an emergency go-kit in Module 6. Texas also has emergency registries, which are emergency or voluntary registries in Texas that you may qualify for depending on your need. The first is the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, or the STEER database, which is a voluntary registry that if you qualify, you yourself can sign up for. We'll discuss in more detail what the STEER registry is next module. Texas also has something called the HHS Empower Registry, which is not something you yourself can sign up for but tracks data on Medicaid and DME that is power-dependent so that way plans and first responders know who may need some additional assistance in the event of a power outage. When you're doing disaster preparedness, it's also important to think about any and all assistive technology you may have. Assistive technology, or AT, may be lost, damaged, or unable to be charged during an emergency or a disaster due to power outages and unexpected evacuations. If you rely on AT, try to have plans in place. Think about things like keeping extra batteries or backup power. Think about if your AT is a communication-based, having paper copies to aid in communication if it happens to get lost, damaged, or is uncharged. And finally, make sure to keep information on your AT with your disaster go-bag. In the next module, as I said, we'll discuss the state of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, or the STEER database, and who actually qualifies for it.

emergency plan

emergency kit

Texas STEER database

assistive technology

HHS Empower Registry