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Meet with your family and discuss why you
need to prepare for an emergency. Discuss the types of disasters
that are most likely to happen and what to do in each situation.
Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team.
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Keep it simple. A disaster is an
extremely stressful situation that can create confusion. The best
emergency plans are simple enough so that everyone can remember
the important details.
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Plan where your family will meet. Meeting
places should include locations both near your home ( in case of a
sudden emergency such as a fire) and outside of your immediate
neighborhood ( in case you can not return home or need to
evacuate) Notify caregivers, babysitters and your child's school
about your plan.
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Plan how your family
will communicate. Consider asking a relative or friend who lives
outside of your area to be your family contact. In a disaster,
local telephone service may be disrupted, but long-distance lines
are more likely to be open. For this reason, an out-of-town
contact may be better able to communicate among separated family
members. Everyone should know the contact's name, address and
telephone number.
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Take a Basic first Aid and CPR Class.
Contact our local
American Red Cross for more
information.
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Post emergency contact numbers near all
telephones. Pre-program emergency numbers into phones that have
auto-dial. Teach children how and when to dial 9-1-1 to get
emergency assistance.
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Prepare to evacuate your home. If you
need to vacate your home because of a fire or other emergency,
have a plan to get out quickly and safely:
1. Review escape
routes with your family and practice escaping from each room.
2. Make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut, and that
security gratings on windows have a fire safety opening so they
can be easily opened from the inside.
3. Learn how to turn
off the water, gas and electricity at main switches. If for any
reason you turn off natural gas service to your home, call your
gas company to restore service. Do not attempt to restore service
yourself.
4. If your residence has more than one level,
consider getting escape ladders.
5. When escaping fire,
teach family members to stay low to the floor.
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Prepare to evacuate the area. If
authorities ask you to evacuate, have a plan for you and your
family to leave the area:
1. Identify ahead of time where
your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate
neighborhood.
2. If you do not have a car, plan alternate
means of evacuating.
3. If you have a car, keep a half tank
of as in it at all times in case you need to evacuate.
4.
Plan several escape routes in case certain roads are blocked or
closed. Remember to follow the advice of local officials during
evacuation situations.
5. Take your emergency supply kit.
6. Take your pets with you, but remember that only service
animals may be permitted in public shelters. You can find more
information about what to do with your pets in an emergency on the
Be Prepared page.
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Keep family records in a waterproof and
fireproof safe. Inexpensive models can be purchased at most
hardware stores.
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Ask about emergency plans at places where
your family spends time. This could include work, daycare and
school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create
one.
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Practice and maintain your plan.
Practicing your plan will help you instinctively make the
appropriate response during an actual emergency. Review your plan
periodically and make changes as needed.
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Take a
Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT) class. |
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Family Emergency Plan Template
(Download) |
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Business Emergency Plan Template
(Download) |
Biological Threats
