By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations

United States

Lay Person List

• Create a disaster preparedness plan.
• Identify all major types of disasters. Learn the terminology around the severity levels of each disaster, as preparedness plans will need to change based on severity. Also identify less common disasters that have happened in your region and nearby regions in the past.
• Create a disaster preparedness plan per disaster- even if a certain type of disaster is unlikely to happen in your area. Due to climate change, different types of disasters are happening in areas that have never had a history of it before. These are the most deadly because people don’t expect or prepare for them. Also, if you are traveling you might get caught up in a disaster- create a separate plan for a case like this where you don’t have access to your home.
• Create a disaster preparedness kit. Being completely prepared for every scenario can cost money- make a wish list of items you’d eventually like to add to your kit. See how many items you can DIY.
• Hold the attitude of helping neighbors in disaster situations. In many parts of the world, as well as the history of the US, neighbors support each other during times of disaster. Combat “prepper” culture’s “every man for himself” attitudes and pro-gun beliefs.