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Individual & Family Preparedness

Be Aware. Get Prepared. Take Action

CPCU launched the Be Aware, Get Prepared campaign in 2007 to raise public awareness about the importance of, and ease with which, people can achieve a basic level of preparedness for most types of emergencies. An 8-page newspaper insert and Pace bus ads were circulated throughout suburban Cook County with planned distribution targeting about 400,000 subscribers to the Pioneer Press, Daily Southtown, Landale News, N’Digo, Daily Herald and Chicago Defender. Download Be Aware in PDF format, or to request copies, please call 708-492-2000 and ask for the Community Preparedness and Coordination Unit (CPCU).

CPCU continues to encourage individuals and families to plan for protecting themselves for up to 72 hours. Recommendations include:

Develop a family communications plan to help locate and identify each family member during an emergency. In case local phone lines become jammed, include an out-of-state contact for each person to call and say they are safe. It may be easier to call out-of-state than to call in-state.

Designate a meeting place. Plan to meet inside the home if it is safe. Otherwise, plan to meet outside at a tree or on the corner. If home and community are not safe, plan to meet somewhere else, out-of town at a friend’s or family member’s house.

Create an emergency supply kit for home, office and car stocked with the following items:

  • a 3-day supply of purified water for each person (3 gallons per person)
  • ready-to-eat foods that do not require cooking
  • flashlight, battery-operated or hand-crank radio, batteries
  • first-aid supplies
  • supplies for children, pets, elderly, people with disabilities

Practice good health habits to prevent the spread of disease. Cover mouth and nose with arm or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

What You Need To Know About Pandemic Flu

CPCU continued the campaign in 2008 by developing a pandemic flu preparedness brochure, “What You Need to Know about Pandemic Flu.” This brochure will assist individuals and families in learning about and preparing for pandemic flu and includes a few basic prevention messages that also apply to annual influenza season.

Preparation is key for individuals, families and communities. If a pandemic flu were to happen today, it would severely impact your life. More than 30 percent of the population would be unable to go to work due to sickness, caring for ill family members or transportation issues. The pandemic would impact not only the workforce but also the economy and delivery of products and services needed to run households, businesses and government services. Initially, a vaccine may not be available and medications for treatment may be limited. Stores may be closed or have limited supplies.