Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Disaster Preparation and Recovery
Preparing for a disaster can reduce the fear, anxiety and losses that disasters cause. A disaster can be a natural disaster, like a hurricane, tornado, flood or earthquake. It might also be man-made, like a bioterrorist attack or chemical spill. You should know the risks and danger signs of different types of disasters. You should also have a disaster plan. Be ready to evacuate your home, and know how to treat basic medical problems. Make sure you have the insurance you need, including special types, like flood insurance.
No matter what kind of disaster you experience, it causes emotional distress. After a disaster, recovery can take time. Stay connected to your family and friends during this period.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
It sits within Disasters.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Make a PlanDepartment of Homeland Security
- Recovering from a DisasterGeneral Services Administration
- Which Natural Disasters Should You Prepare For?American Red Cross
Related Issues
- Are You Looking for Food for Yourself or Your Family After a Disaster?Food and Nutrition Administration
- Be Prepared: Pet Safety in EmergenciesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Build a KitDepartment of Homeland Security
- DisasterAssistance.govDepartment of Homeland Security
- Emergency Communications TipsFederal Communications Commission
- Emergency Disinfection of Drinking WaterEnvironmental Protection Agency
- EvacuationDepartment of Homeland Security
- FDA Offers Tips about Medical Devices and Natural DisastersFood and Drug Administration
- Get Prepared Before a Disaster or Emergency Strikes (Financial Plan)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Guidelines for Cleaning Safely after a DisasterCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Guidelines for Staying Safe at a Disaster ShelterCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- How to Make Water Safe in an EmergencyCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Keep Food Safe after a Disaster or EmergencyCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Managing Chronic Conditions after a Natural DisasterCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- People with Disabilities (Disaster Preparation)Department of Homeland Security
- Reunification of Family in the US and US Territories (Disaster Aid)American Red Cross
- Safety Messages for Pregnant, Postpartum, and Breastfeeding Women During Natural Disasters and Severe WeatherCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- ShelterDepartment of Homeland Security
- Tips for Returning Home Safely after a DisasterFederal Emergency Management Agency
- What to Do to Protect Yourself during a Power OutageCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: DisastersNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Rescue Work, Disasters, Disaster Planning, Disaster Victims, Relief Work. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Disaster Preparation and Recovery, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.