Official sources and key numbers
Last reviewed:
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Key numbers — United States
| Service | Number | Purpose / verified |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 911 | Emergency dispatchVerified 2026-11-04 |
| Poison Control | 1-800-222-1222 | Poison exposure adviceVerified 2026-11-04 |
| 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | 988 | Mental health and suicide crisis supportVerified 2026-11-04 |
| FEMA | 1-800-621-3362 | Disaster assistance helpline, not emergency dispatchVerified 2026-11-04 |
| Red Cross | 1-800-733-2767 | General help and inquiries, not emergency dispatchVerified 2026-11-04 |
| 211 (local help) | 211 | Local community services; availability varies by areaVerified 2026-11-04 |
| Disaster Distress Helpline | 1-800-985-5990 | Call or text for disaster-related emotional support, not emergency dispatchVerified 2026-11-06 |
Official sites we reference
Ready.gov
https://www.ready.gov/FEMA
https://www.fema.gov/U.S. Fire Administration
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/National Weather Service
https://www.weather.gov/National Hurricane Center
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/USGS
https://www.usgs.gov/AirNow
https://www.airnow.gov/NHTSA
https://www.nhtsa.gov/FDA
https://www.fda.gov/USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/Consumer Product Safety Commission
https://www.cpsc.gov/American Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org/988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
https://988lifeline.org/Poison Control
https://www.poison.org/National Fire Protection Association
https://www.nfpa.org/National 911 Program
https://www.911.gov/211
https://www.211.org/Germany · BBK
https://www.bbk.bund.de/EN/Home/home_node.htmlCISA
https://www.cisa.gov/SAMHSA
https://www.samhsa.gov/
Cited guidance pages
Ready.gov
https://www.ready.gov/power-outagesU.S. Fire Administration · Home fire escape plans
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prepare-for-fire/home-fire-escape-plans/NHTSA · Driving in severe weather
https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/driving-in-severe-weatherNHTSA · Winter driving tips
https://www.nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tipsNational Weather Service · Weather safety
https://www.weather.gov/safetyNational Weather Service · Thunderstorm safety
https://www.weather.gov/safety/thunderstormNational Weather Service · Flood safety
https://www.weather.gov/afc/FloodSafetyNational Weather Service · Severe weather safety
https://www.weather.gov/ama/severesafetyUSGS · What should I do during an earthquake?
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-should-i-do-during-earthquakeAirNow · When smoke is in the air
https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/when-smoke-is-in-the-air/AirNow · Fires and your health
https://www.airnow.gov/air-quality-and-health/fires-and-your-health/Ready.gov · Water
https://www.ready.gov/waterFDA
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/power-outages-key-tips-consumers-about-food-safetyFDA · Protect food and water during storms
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/protect-food-and-water-during-hurricanes-and-other-stormsReady.gov · Food
https://www.ready.gov/foodCDC · Cardiac arrest
https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/cardiac-arrest.htmlCDC · First aid for seizures
https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/first-aid-for-seizures/index.htmlCDC · Chemical emergencies
https://www.cdc.gov/chemical-emergencies/response/CDC · Shelter in place
https://www.cdc.gov/chemical-emergencies/response/shelter-in-place.htmlCDC · After a tornado
https://www.cdc.gov/tornadoes/safety/stay-safe-after-a-tornado-safety.htmlCDC · After an earthquake
https://www.cdc.gov/earthquakes/safety/stay-safe-after-an-earthquake.htmlAirNow · Be smoke ready
https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/be-smoke-ready/CDC · Practical skills
https://www.cdc.gov/prepare-your-health/take-action/practical-skills.htmlCDC · Carbon monoxide
https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.htmlCISA
https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/disinformation_stops_with_you_infographic_set_508.pdfReady.gov
https://www.ready.gov/be-informedNational Weather Service
https://www.weather.gov/alertsCDC
https://www.cdc.gov/disability-emergency-preparedness/communication-resources/coping-easy-read.htmlReady.gov · Kids
https://www.ready.gov/kids/be-ready-kidsSAMHSA
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/disaster-distress-helpline988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
https://988lifeline.org/Germany · BBK
https://www.bbk.bund.de/EN/Home/home_node.htmlGermany · BBK
https://www.bbk.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/EN/Mediathek/Publikationen/ratgeber-englisch_download.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=12Ready.gov · Financial preparedness
https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness- https://www.ready.gov/kit
- https://www.ready.gov/plan
- https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/anatomy-of-a-first-aid-kit.html
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/
- https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/zctas.html
- https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/
Prep Notes citations
- https://www.ready.gov/kit
- https://www.ready.gov/plan
- https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/how-to-create-and-store-an-emergency-water-supply.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/drinking-water-advisories-an-overview.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/keep-food-safe-after-emergency.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/psa-toolkit/boil-water-advisory.html
- https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires/be-smoke-ready/
- https://www.ready.gov/car
International household guidance
Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/emergency-kits.htmlCzechia
https://www.72h.gov.cz/en/emergency-suppliesDenmark
https://www.brs.dk/en/prepared/European Union
https://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/policies/preparedness/guidelines_population_preparedness_en.pdfFinland
https://www.suomi.fi/guides/preparedness/how-to-prepare-for-incidents-and-crises/general-instructions-on-preparedness-home-emergency-supplies-and-on-what-to-do-in-different-situationsFrance
https://www.info.gouv.fr/upload/media/content/0001/05/7f65dbb18642830b679cf048b0de025a801d93d1.pdfJapan
https://www.bousai.go.jp/common2026/pdf/Urgent_Request_for_Stronger_Pre_Disaster_Preparedness_Public.pdfLatvia
https://www.sargs.lv/sites/default/files/2020-06/brochure.pdfLithuania
https://lt72.lt/maisto-atsargos/?lang=enLuxembourg
https://letzprepare.public.lu/dam-assets/images/guide-letzeprepare/hcpn-campagne26-checkliste-accessible-en.pdfNetherlands
https://www.denkvooruit.nl/informatieboekjePoland
https://www.gov.pl/web/poradnikbezpieczenstwa/plan-na-kryzysUnited Kingdom
https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/be-ready-for-emergencies/United States
https://www.ready.gov/kit