Many of the actions recommended in Part I of this handbook to help you
prepare for and live through a nuclear attack--such as learning the
warning signals, stocking emergency supplies, taking a course in
emergency skills, and knowing how to fight fires at home--also would
help you in case a major natural disaster occurs in your area. If you
are prepared for nuclear attack, you are also prepared to cope with most
peacetime disasters--disasters that kill hundreds of Americans every
year, injure thousands, inflict widespread suffering and hardship, and
cause great economic loss.

Part II of this handbook (pages 69-86) is intended to help you prepare
for those natural disasters that may occur in your area, and tell you
the right actions to take if they occur. Chapter 1 (pages 71-74) gives
general guidance applicable to various types of natural disasters.
Succeeding chapters give special advice on floods, hurricanes,
tornadoes, winter storms, and earthquakes.

* * * * *




CHAPTER 1

GENERAL GUIDANCE


There are certain things you can learn and do that will help you get
ready for, and cope with, almost any type of natural disaster.