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It's important to have a family communication plan so that family members know how to contact each other when an emergency strikes.

For example, the plan could say that each family member calls or e-mails the same friend or relative. During a disaster, it's sometimes easier to make a long-distance call than a local one, so you may wish to select an out-of-state relative or friend as the central point of contact.

Visit Ready.gov, a website of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to learn tips on how to develop an emergency plan for unexpected situations, including how to reach your state or local government.

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Put together a kit of emergency supplies that will allow you and your family to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Recommendations from the American Red Cross and Ready.gov include a two-week supply for home and a three-day supply for evacuation of water (one gallon per person per day) and nonperishable food. Other items to have in your emergency kit are a flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, first-aid kit, family medications (seven-day supply), a whistle to call for help, dust masks, a wrench or pliers, important personal documents, emergency contact information, cell phones and chargers, cash, blankets, and more.

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Listen for instructions on the radio or television. Obey emergency officials’ instructions. Call a designated family contact person, and then do not use the phone again unless necessary. Check on your neighbors, especially those who are elderly or disabled.

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Terrorist acts could include the following:

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Terrorist acts could include the following:

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Biological attack, in which germs or other substances that can make people sick are released into the air or food supply.

Chemical attack, in which a toxic gas, liquid, or solid that can poison people or the environment is released.

Nuclear blast (i.e., an explosion), in which radioactive materials that can contaminate air, water, and ground surfaces are released.

Radiation threat, in which an explosive device is set off, distributing radioactive materials over a targeted area.

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Terrorism is what we call the intentional injuries that are planned and carried out for political or social reasons. The United States experienced terrorism with the attack on the World Trade Towers in New York City and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001, when airplanes were hijacked and flown into those buildings.

According to the FBI, "The unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives is terrorism."

It is important to distinguish terrorism, which cause intentional injuries, from natural disasters, which create unintentional emergencies.

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If you live in a state such as California, which is prone to earthquakes, make sure that your house is bolted to its foundation and that bookcases and other heavy furniture are bolted to the wall. Buildings that collapse and objects that fall cause the greatest number of injuries when earthquakes occur. If an earthquake occurs while you are in a building, stand in a doorway or get under a piece of sturdy furniture to protect your head. If you're outdoors, move away from buildings, trees, and power lines. After the earthquake, be on the lookout for electrical or gas lines that may be broken and pose a danger. Stay out of damaged buildings.

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Another kind of disaster that nature can throw at you, but one that's unrelated to weather conditions, is an earthquake. Earthquakes are ground-shaking events caused when pressure that has built up underground and along geologic faults is suddenly and violently released.

The magnitude (intensity) of an earthquake is a measure of how much energy it releases. It's that sudden release of energy that makes earthquakes so dangerous. The magnitude of an earthquake is expressed as a number on the Richter scale. An increase of 1 magnitude unit represents a tenfold increase in amplitude or force. In other words, an earthquake with a magnitude of 2 is actually 10 times stronger than an earthquake with a magnitude of 1. The seismic waves of a magnitude 6 earthquake are 10 times greater than those of a magnitude 5 earthquake.

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Stay inside during a blizzard, if possible. If not, wear protective clothing, including a water-resistant jacket and boot, as well as a scarf and gloves. If you drive in areas where blizzards are possible, carry emergency blankets, food, and water in the car in case you get stranded.

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When a severe winter storm has winds of at least 35 miles per hour and blows snow around so that visibility is reduced to one-quarter mile or less for at least three hours, it is called a blizzard.

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Try to get inside a building if a tornado approaches. Stay away from windows during a tornado to avoid glass that may implode (break and fly inward rather than outward). The safest place to be is in a basement or storm cellar. If that option is not available, go to an interior room and cover yourself with a blanket or mattress to protect your head. If you are outside and cannot get to shelter, lie down in a low-lying area, like a ditch, and cover yourself with a blanket. Protect your head with your arms and hands.

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A tornado is a rotating funnel-shaped column of wind. Tornadoes are described as weak, strong, or violent. A weak tornado may have winds of 110 miles per hour, while a strong tornado may have winds of 200 or more miles per hour. Like a Category 4 or 5 hurricane, violent tornadoes can destroy buildings.

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Stay inside during a storm. If that is not possible, take shelter where you can but avoid standing under tall structures and trees, because they attract lightning. Do not use computers, telephones, or televisions during a severe thunderstorm.

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A severe thunderstorm is characterized by hail equal to or greater than 3/4" in diameter or winds of at least 58 miles per hour.

Even if it's not severe, a thunderstorm is still a potential killer. Lightning during thunderstorms can strike and kill or severely injure a person. Severe thunderstorms also have the potential of producing a tornado with little or no advanced tornado warning.

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If a flood is predicted, move furniture and valuables to a safe location, such as an upper floor of your home. Be prepared to evacuate, if instructed to do so. Before you leave your home, turn off the utilities, such as electricity or gas. Never walk, swim, ride a bike, or drive a car through flood water, because you could drown or be electrocuted. Flooding can pollute local water supplies, so stick with bottled water until you're told that the tap water is safe to drink.

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A sudden, large amount of water covering what was once dry land is a flood.

A flood typically caused by heavy rainfall and characterized by a large volume of water that usually lasts a short time is a flash flood.

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The National Weather Service (NWS) issues warnings when hurricanes are getting close to shore. If a hurricane watch is issued, board up your home's windows and doors and bring indoors items such as bikes or lawn chairs that might blow away in the strong winds. If a hurricane warning is issued, seek shelter and follow evacuation instructions from the NWS.

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An intense storm with heavy rain and strong winds that begins over the waters of the Tropics is a hurricane. Hurricanes are categorized on a scale of 1 to 5, according to the intensity of their winds and the height of the sea waves that result.

A Category 1 hurricane may have winds between 74 and 95 miles per hour and waves that are 4 to 5 feet high. Generally, a Category 1 hurricane causes little damage to most buildings. In contrast, a Category 5 hurricane has winds greater than 155 miles per hour and waves as high as 18 feet above normal. It is considered catastrophic because it can destroy buildings and cause massive flooding.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website holds a wealth of information about dangerous weather conditions plus pictures, forecasts, and tips on what to do in emergencies. It is a great Web resource.

The next few screens provide a quick summary of some of the worst weather situations possible and tips for surviving them.

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On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the city of New Orleans, causing the levees that held back the Mississippi River to break and thereby flood the city. Katrina was graded by the National Weather Service as a Category 4 hurricane, one characterized by winds that travel at 131 to 155 miles per hour.

Thousands of people lost their homes; they fled the city and lived in emergency shelters. Three months after the hurricane, almost 6500 people were still missing, and more 1000 people were known to have lost their lives as a result of Katrina.

When a disaster like a hurricane strikes, it's important to be prepared and to know what to do in order to protect yourself and your family. The first step is to understand the kinds of disasters that someone may experience and how to be prepared for or what to do during each one. These events include a variety of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, and other forms of emergencies, such as terrorist attacks.

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Reliable sources of information come from the following:

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Reliable sources of information come from the following:

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Healthcare professionals, such as doctors and dentists

Government organizations

Health-related organizations, such as the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and the American Lung Association

Library resources, such as encyclopedias, nonfiction books on health, and health and medical journals.

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Learn and share with others how to play it safe by checking out safety laws, regulations, and guidelines for driving a car, riding a bike, and participating in sports or recreational activities. You will fill in a worksheet recommending five websites that you think provide the best information on how to stay safe and avoid injury.

Choose one of the following two topics: 1. safety on the road; 2. sports safety. Spend some time surfing the Internet to find websites that you think provide reliable and useful information. For example, if you select safety on the road, you might search for laws and injury-prevention information on cars, bicycles, and motorcycles. Check out the National Safety Council’s site for an example of a good source.

As you're searching, think about why some sites are better than others; is it because the organization that sponsors the website is trustworthy? Is the author of the information an expert in the field? Does the site present information clearly? Is the site’s purpose  is to inform, not to sell something? Make a list of the reasons why you think the websites you find are good or not so good. Check out at least six sites, because you must decide which five sites are best.

Remember to use your health skills to identify reliable sources of information.

Quick skill review: accessing information

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blizzard a very heavy snowstorm with winds of up to 45 miles per hour

earthquake sudden earth movement caused by abrupt release of accumulated stress

flash flood a sudden flood characterized by high volume of water and short duration; a flash flood can reach peak volume within a few minutes

flood a sudden, large amount of water covering what was once dry land

hurricane an intense storm with heavy rain and strong winds that begins over the waters of the tropics

severe thunderstorm a storm with hail equal to or greater than 3/4" in diameter or winds of at least 58 miles per hour

terrorism a violent attack, often against civilians, which is meant to advance a political, religious, or social ideology

tornado a violent, destructive, counterclockwise wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud

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Describe ways to prevent unintentional injuries in daily life.

List reliable sources of safety information.

Explain what to do to stay safe during natural disasters or acts of terror.

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Have you ever imagined what you'd do if you suddenly found yourself in a dangerous situation? What would you do if you came upon a house that was on fire, and you could hear someone crying for help inside? How would you perform if you were the driver of a school bus when the roads suddenly turned slick and dangerous from an unexpected ice storm?

Although we'd all like to act like heroes who save imperiled lives during such tense situations, heroes who confront danger successfully are often the ones who are prepared and know what to do when danger strikes.

Danger isn't confined to dramatic events like burning buildings, earthquakes, or acts of terrorism. Even commonplace events—from driving to the grocery store to playing soccer after school—are potentially dangerous. This lesson contains information that will help you know how to be prepared and show you what to do to keep yourself and others safe, both in daily life and in truly scary situations.