The Federal Emergency Management Agency has worked with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Kennel Club, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of  the United States to develop these pet-preparedness guidelines.

Have a pet-supply kit ready, including:
• Pet food for three days in an airtight, waterproof container and bowls;
• Water for three days.
• Pet medicines and first-aid supplies.
• Collar (with ID tags firmly secured), harness or sturdy leash.
• Important documents such as registration, adoption papers, vaccination and medical records in a plastic bag or waterproof container.
• Travel crate or other pet carrier.
• Cat litter, litter box, paper towels, newspapers, plastic trash bags and cleaning supplies.
• Photos of you and your pet together for identification purposes.
• Familiar items such as toys, treats and blankets.

The single most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to take them with you if you must evacuate. Animals left behind in a disaster can easily be lost or injured. If evacuation is necessary, consider friends or family outside the area who can take in you and your pet. Other options may include a pet-friendly hotel or motel. If your only evacuation option is a Red Cross or other publicly run shelter, be aware that not all shelters are equipped or designed to accept non-service animals.

Consider boarding your animals at a kennel or veterinary hospital before going to a public shelter. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to evacuate your pet for you if you are unable to do so yourself. Talk with them about your evacuation plans and pet supply kit.

Consult your veterinarian and consider “microchipping” your pet. These permanent implants may be invaluable if you and your pets are separated.

After the disaster, don’t allow your pets to roam loose. Familiar landmarks and smells may have been changed by the disaster and your pet could become disoriented or lost.

For information on pet-friendly accommodations in your area and disaster planning, visit www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/animals.shtm.

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About the National Capital Region
The National Capital Region (NCR) encompasses the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland and Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William in Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s in Maryland, which include the municipalities of Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Rockville and Takoma Park.

Each year, many people are killed or seriously injured by tornadoes, flash flooding and other types of severe weather, despite advance warning. In 2011, there were more than 1,000 weather-related fatalities and more than 8,000 injuries nationwide.

Are you ready for severe weather?

With hurricane season starting June 1, now is the time to take steps to stay safe before, during and after severe weather.  Here are important tips:

• Follow the instructions of local and state officials.
• Listen to local radio and TV stations for updated emergency information.
• Get the latest weather information from the National Weather Service at http://www.weather.gov/.
• Purchase a NOAA Weather Radio or battery-powered/hand crank radio with a NOAA Weather Band.
• Make sure you have a safe place to go when severe thunderstorms or tornado warnings are forecast. Safe areas are the lowest level of a sturdy building away from windows, a basement or a crawl space.
• Do not drive or walk through floodwater. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Turn around and find another route if a road is flooded – it is almost always more dangerous than it appears.
• Have a family emergency plan.  Everyone should know what to do in case family members are not together when severe weather happens. 
• Evacuate immediately if advised to do so.
• Keep emergency supplies on hand, including three days’ non-perishable food and water, flashlights and batteries, first-aid kit, medicines, etc. 

For more on family preparedness for severe weather, visit Ready.gov or Listo.gov (Spanish). Additional resources are available at www.Ready.gov/severeweather.

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About the National Capital Region
The National Capital Region(NCR) encompasses the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland and Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William in Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s in Maryland, which include the municipalities of Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Rockville and Takoma Park.

The sun, water and wind can make for a great day to go cruising in a boat along a river, lake or majestic bay in a boat. For many individuals and families this is a favorite summer pastime. Boating can be safe, as well as fun, if the fundamental rules of boating are understood and observed.

The National Safety Council recommends the following tips for recreational boaters to ensure safe boating:

• Don't drink and boat. Boating while intoxicated is just as dangerous as drinking and driving. The "designated driver" system doesn't work in boating. Everyone is at risk because the boat's motion, coupled with alcohol, increases the chances of losing balance and falling overboard.
• Everyone on the boat should wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD) or life jacket. A PFD is the best protection against drowning.
• Check the weather and water conditions before leaving the shore. If it looks like storms are brewing or the water is very choppy, wait for another day to go boating.
• Limit the number of passengers in a small boat. Don't exceed the limit allowed by the boat's capacity plate. Keep in mind the size and weight of each person--equal distribution of weight will limit the possibility of capsizing.
• Have visual distress devices approved by the Coast Guard on board. Pyrotechnic red flares, orange smoke, orange distress flags, and electric distress lights must be in good working order and easily accessible.
• Use the "one-third rule" in fuel management. Use one-third of the fuel to go, one-third to get back, and keep one-third in reserve.
• Always tell someone where you will be boating, when you will be back, what your boat looks like, and other identifying information.

Recreational boating is second only to highway transportation in the number of fatalities that occur each year. Alcohol is involved in most of these accidents. Always remember: Boating and booze don't mix!

Safe Kids also recommends these tips to keep children safe near the water:

• Be sure children on boats or near open bodies of water wear the correct size and type of life jacket as approved by the Coast Guard.
• Actively supervise children in and around open water, appointing a designated watcher to provide undivided attention.
• Enroll your children in swimming lessons once they reach age 4. Teach them how to tread water, float and stay near the shore.
• Make sure children only swim in areas specifically designated for swimming.
• Teach children to be aware of uneven surfaces, currents, undertow and changing weather when swimming in open water.
• Do not allow children to operate watercraft such as Jet Skis. These are intended for adults and require special training.
• Teach children never to dive into oceans, lakes or rivers.

To ensure that you are following safe boating procedures, sign-up for a boating safety course near your home. Boaters are also encouraged to conduct an annual safety check on their vessel.

For more information and boating safety tips, visit the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety Resource Center.

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About the National Capital Region
The National Capital Region (NCR) encompasses the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland and Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William in Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s in Maryland, which include the municipalities of Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Rockville and Takoma Park.

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About the National Capital Region
The National Capital Region (NCR) encompasses the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland and Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William in Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s in Maryland, which include the municipalities of Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Rockville and Takoma Park.

We have all seen the news reports of unpredictable weather and unexpected storms that strike with little or no warning. Perhaps you have been personally affected or know someone who is a survivor of weather conditions themselves.

Weather can change in a moment’s notice. And you may only have seconds to make decisions. We all have similar needs when it comes to food, water and shelter. But in actuality, everyone, every family and every community has different requirements.

You need to go beyond the basics to understand the short and long-term specific needs of your family and then tailor an emergency plan so that it is right for you. When making your plans consider:

• Do you live alone?
• Are there elderly people or disabled people in your family?
• How do you prepare your pets?
• What do you need to know to make sure your children are prepared before, during and after a disaster?

It is also important to contact your local emergency management office to find out about local warning alerts so you have as much time as possible to put your plans into action. Visiting ready.gov and disability.gov is a great starting point that provides critical information so you are prepared when you need it most.

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The National Capital Region (NCR) is not an operational entity because emergency response is a local function. Because the NCR is a collection of sovereign jurisdictions, including cities, counties, states and the District of Columbia, this website and the efforts of the region's communicators and public information officers will focus on regional collaboration between the region’s homeland security partners to achieve a “safe and secure National Capital Region.”

Learn more about the jurisdictions in the NCR from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).

Below are the jursidictions that comprise the National Capital Region:

District of Columbia:
District of Columbia

Maryland:
Bladensburg*
Bowie  
Charles County
College Park 
Frederick
Frederick County  
Gaithersburg 
Greenbelt 
Montgomery County 
Prince George's County
Rockville 
Takoma Park 

Virginia:
Alexandria
Arlington County
Fairfax
Fairfax County
Falls Church
Loudoun County
Manassas
Manassas Park  
Prince William County

* adjunct member

On the one year anniversary of the snow and ice storm that triggered widespread, many hours-long traffic gridlock during the evening commute, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is reminding D.C. area residents to be prepared for emergencies and sign up for alerts from local governments and transportation agencies. To do this, COG recommends visiting the recently launched CapitalRegionUpdates.gov website, a “one-stop shop” with guidance and information during emergencies. 

At Capital Region Updates, residents can sign up to get emergency text alerts and view real-time news from their local governments through a regional news feed as well as traffic and transit information. During a regional emergency, the site will feature incident updates and regional officials’ recommendations on what to do. The site also has localized weather from the National Weather Service and tips on how to prepare for emergencies. 

Capital Region Updates, which was established by Fairfax County for the entire region, is one of several improvements made by regional officials since the 2011 storm.

• The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has updated its employee release policies.
• The region is creating a program with highly trained, regionally focused staff to ensure that area officials better coordinate decisions before and during major incidents. The D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency is hosting this program on an interim basis at its 24/7 Emergency Operations Center. 
• In advance of this 2011-2012 winter season, local governments have been sharing with their residents the common message to “Get where you need to be before the weather gets bad.” 

In the wake of the January 2011 storm, COG created a Steering Committee on Incident Management and Response.  The Committee’s final report, released in November 2011, made several recommendations to improve the region’s response to future emergencies. 

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About the National Capital Region
The National Capital Region (NCR) encompasses the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland and Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William in Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s in Maryland, which include the municipalities of Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Rockville and Takoma Park.