- RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service)
- Ham radio operators who work under the authority of the local government and are activated by emergency officials. See ch. 19.
- Radioactive fallout
- Radioactive dust and particles that fall from the sky after a nuclear explosion, starting at around 10 minutes or more. Protect yourself under cover, as far inside as possible, for at least 24 hours. See ch. 15.
- Ready.gov
- FEMA's preparedness website, also available in Spanish (ready.gov/es). See ch. 1.
- Recovery position
- The person is laid on their side so the airway stays open if they vomit. It is used when they are breathing but unresponsive, or when you cannot watch them all the time. See ch. 7.
- Red Flag Warning
- An NWS warning of extreme fire conditions (wind, dryness). Do not light any open fire. See chs. 4 and 10.
- Ridgepole
- The main pole or rope that forms the ridge of a shelter or a tarp. See chs. 5 and 17.
- Rip current
- A narrow channel of water flowing from the beach back out to sea. Do not swim against it: swim parallel to the shore and then return at a diagonal. See ch. 13.
- Rotating outages
- Controlled, rotating power cuts that the grid operator orders the utility companies to carry out when demand exceeds generation, so the entire grid does not collapse. See chs. 9 and 23.
- Rule of 3
- A popular reminder for setting priorities (air, shelter, water, food). It is not an exact medical fact: real times vary a lot. See ch. 1.
- Run, Hide, Fight
- Official recommendation in an active shooter situation: run if you can; if not, hide and barricade; fight only as a last resort. Keep your hands visible when police arrive. See chs. 9 and 25.
