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Be 2 Weeks Ready

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Oregon has experienced a recent cycle of emergencies and disasters, including floods, drought, wildfires, ice storms, excessive heat and a pandemic. These disasters illustrate why being prepared can make a big difference. 

A large part of OEM's mission is to empower people to be as prepared as possible in an emergency because once a disaster strikes, the time to prepare has passed. That's why individuals, families and communities should take steps to "Be 2 Weeks Ready." 

Being 2 Weeks Ready means having an emergency plan and enough supplies for you and everyone in your household to survive for at least two weeks following a disaster. This may sound overwhelming, but you're probably more prepared than you think! This Be 2 Weeks Ready program is designed to help you start from where you're at and build your self-reliance and community preparedness step-by-step.

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Build Preparedness: the Be 2 Weeks Ready tool kit


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The Be 2 Weeks Ready tool kit - all units and activities  


The Be 2 Weeks Ready program is available through our comprehensive tool kit. The tool kit contains eight units that provide essential information and practical steps to ensure you are prepared for emergencies:


  1. Preparing to Prepare
  2. Your Emergency Plan
  3. Food Plan
  4. Water Plan
  5. Waste and Hygiene Plan
  6. Shelter Plan
  7. First-Aid Plan
  8. Emergency Management 

The tool kit also includes 30 engaging activities designed to enhance your readiness and understanding. Activities can be performed alone, or with a group lead by their local program coordinator.

Do one unit at a time, at your own pace. By the end of the program, you’ll be confident and prepared when the next disaster strikes.

For information on how to become a program coordinator or to find a program near you, email community.preparedness@oem.oregon.gov

To receive announcements and updates about the Be 2 Weeks Ready program, click here.

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Be 2 Weeks Ready tool kit now available in American Sign Language (ASL)!

The Be 2 Weeks Ready tool kit now includes an American Sign Language (ASL) version. The ASL version includes 40 videos covering all units and activities. These resources are designed for our deaf and hard-of-hearing audience members to ensure they can access vital information. You can find the ASL version organized by unit on the Be 2 Weeks Ready YouTube channel.  



Watch Introduction

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Unit 1: Preparing to prepare header


Unit 1: Preparing to Prepare

A disaster can happen anywhere, at any time. Think about how prepared you’d be if an earthquake happened and your household had to survive weeks without running water, working toilets and functioning appliances. In this section, you’ll record your thoughts for later use.


Unit 1



Activities 1 - 4 



ASL Videos


Unit 2: Your Emergency Plan header


Unit 2: Your Emergency Plan

Preparedness begins by thinking about what each person in your home might need and understanding the risks you might encounter. The goal is to make sure everyone in your household is ready. When everyone is prepared for unexpected situations, it can save lives and make it easier to go back to your usual routine faster.


Unit 2



Activities 5 - 9 



ASL Videos


Unit 3: Food plan header


Unit 3: Food Plan

Making a food plan is a key step to being 2 Weeks Ready. You and your household, including service animals, pets and large animals, need food to survive any emergency. With a food plan, you’ll know how to gather and store two weeks’ worth of non-perishable food and how to prepare it without electricity or gas.


Unit 3



Activities 10 - 13 



ASL Videos


Unit 4: Water Plan header


Unit 4: Water Plan

Hydration matters, especially in times of stress. A water plan shows you how to gatherand store enough water for 14 days and make it safe to drink without modern conveniences.


Unit 4



Activities 14 - 18 



ASL Videos


Unit 5: Waste and Hygience Plan


Unit 5: Waste and Hygiene Plan

A waste and hygiene plan is essential to maintain healthy living conditions during disasters. Studies show damage to sewer and wastewater infrastructure is likely to take much longer to recover than other types of infrastructure, such as drinking water supplies.


Unit 5



Activities 19 - 21 



ASL Videos


Unit 6: Shelter Plan header


Unit 6: Shelter Plan

A shelter plan helps you prepare for a variety of safe locations following a disaster. Whether you shelter inside or outside your home, in a community shelter, or with family and friends, you need to be prepared to shelter for up to two weeks following a disaster.


Unit 6



Activities 22 - 24 



ASL Videos


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Unit 7: First-Aid Plan

After a disaster, the emergency medical system will be in high demand and help may be delayed. Learning how to treat different injuries and illnesses can prepare you and the people you care about and help save lives. You are the help until help arrives.


Unit 7



Activities 25 - 27 



ASL Videos


Unit 8: emergency management header


Unit 8: Emergency Management

Emergency management agencies at the federal, state, tribal and local levels help protect people and places during disasters. Emergency managers partner with the public to help everyone Be 2 Weeks Ready. Building prepared communities means knowing what support you may or may not receive from emergency managers and first responders after a disaster and planning accordingly. Know where to go when the official response doesn’t meet all your needs.


Unit 8



Activities 28 - 30 



ASL Videos