Are You Prepared?
Survival Needs
American Red Cross
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2-week supply water for home: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation,
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Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
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Flashlight
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Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
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Extra batteries
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First aid kit
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Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
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Multi-purpose tool
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Sanitation and personal hygiene items
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Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
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Cell phone with chargers
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Family and emergency contact information
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Extra cash
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Emergency blanket
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Map(s) of the area
Fast Facts About Radiation Emergencies
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
In a radiation emergency, get inside, stay inside, and stay tuned.
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
During a radiation emergency, the most important steps you can take are to get inside or take shelter, stay inside to reduce your exposure to radiation, and stay tuned for further instructions on what to do.
Where to go in a radiation emergency
External Link Disclaimer (video, 1:35)
Frequently asked questions about radiation emergencies
Potassium iodide (KI) specifically blocks the uptake of radioactive iodine into the thyroid gland. Only take KI on the advice of a medical doctor, public health, or emergency management officials. Taking too much KI or taking KI when it is not recommended can have serious health risks.
Learn more about radiation emergencies
FDA's role
The FDA plays a critical role in protecting the United States from chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and emerging infectious disease threats.
The FDA’s roles in radiological and nuclear emergency preparedness and response include:
Facilitating the development and availability of medical countermeasures (MCMs) that can be used to diagnose, prevent, protect from, or treat conditions including those that result from radiation exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
What are medical countermeasures?
Ensuring the safety and security of FDA-regulated products that may be impacted, or used to respond to public health emergencies. This includes ensuring food safety and medical product safety when manufacturing facilities are in an area impacted by a disaster.
Working with medical product sponsors to clarify regulatory and data requirements necessary to rapidly advance development of products essential to supporting response efforts. Also see Guidance for industry below
Protecting consumers against fraudulent products - Unfortunately, during emergency situations, fraudulent products claiming to prevent, treat or cure conditions associated with the emergency almost always appear for sale. The FDA monitors for fraudulent products and false product claims related to radiation and nuclear protection and takes appropriate action to protect consumers.
Conducting research to develop the tools, standards, and approaches to assess MCM safety, efficacy, quality, and performance and to help translate new technologies into innovative, safe, and effective MCMs. For example, FDA research includes an ongoing project to develop models of radiation damage in lung, gut, and bone marrow organs-on-chips and use these models to test candidate MCMs to treat such damage.
Leading the Advisory Team for the Environment, Food and Health, a federal interagency group of subject matter experts in radiological health and related matters. Also see Advisory Team below.