Your Family Emergency Preparedness Plan
Does your family know what to do if there's a natural disaster? Create an emergency plan so that you're prepared for the most likely emergencies in your part of the country.
When you hear about areas of the country ravaged by disaster, do you stop to wonder if your family would be prepared in such an emergency? If a flood, earthquake, tornado, or other disaster strikes your home and family, would you know what to do? Any number of natural disasters can strike, but your risk for certain disasters will depend on where you live. An emergency preparedness plan can protect your family and prevent panic and potential tragedy.
Can Your Family Handle a Disaster?
Answering these four questions will quickly tell you if your family is prepared to handle an emergency situation:
Emergency Supplies You Need
Emergency preparedness isn't only about supplies, but they are a big part of being ready when disaster strikes. Here is a list of essentials that you should have packed and stored in a safe place in your home in case you need them:
Plenty of bottled water
Prepare your car, too, with an emergency supply of food and water, a first aid kit, jumper cables, flares, and blankets to keep warm.
Making Preparations for an Emergency Plan
Now that you have supplies, you need a plan in place. Evaluate your risk for certain disasters, and plan accordingly. People in the south or east of the United States might not worry much about earthquakes, while people on the west coast may not be too concerned with tornadoes — and a tornado emergency plan is very different from an earthquake or hurricane emergency plan. Some emergencies require that you take shelter in your home, others that you immediately evacuate. Your emergency plan should take into account the most likely disasters you could face
Here’s what to consider when making your emergency plan and what details to include:
Make a list of the disasters that it makes sense to plan for, based on where you live; consider tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, excessive heat, fire, floods, wildfires, ice and snow, and nuclear and terrorism threats, as appropriate.
Come up with an evacuation plan for the most likely emergencies, say a hurricane, wildfire, or flood.
Decide on how family members will communicate with each other if separated when disaster strikes; establish a meeting place for the family in the event of an emergency.
Come up with a plan to protect yourself in your home, in case of a tornado or an earthquake; include shutting off utilities when necessary.
Develop an escape route plan; draw it out on paper.
Plan for any family members with special needs.
Make plans for pets in emergencies; keep vet records on hand, along with identification tags, a carrier, leash, and food.
Family Roles in Your Emergency Plan
Now you've got supplies and a plan. But does everyone in your family know what to do? Make sure that each family member, from adults to kids, understands what to do in an emergency, including where to go and what responsibilities, if any, they have. For instance, make sure everyone is aware of whose job it is to wrangle the pets and who’s in charge of shutting off the gas line, electricity, and water.
Once everyone knows his or her role in each emergency plan — whether it's for a house fire or a natural disaster, stage a couple of run-throughs. This way, if disaster does strike, you’ll know that your emergency plan runs smoothly, safely, and effectively.
When you hear about areas of the country ravaged by disaster, do you stop to wonder if your family would be prepared in such an emergency? If a flood, earthquake, tornado, or other disaster strikes your home and family, would you know what to do? Any number of natural disasters can strike, but your risk for certain disasters will depend on where you live. An emergency preparedness plan can protect your family and prevent panic and potential tragedy.
Can Your Family Handle a Disaster?
Answering these four questions will quickly tell you if your family is prepared to handle an emergency situation:
- Do you have a family emergency plan for bad weather, fire, and other emergency situations?
- Do you have emergency supplies on hand, including flashlights, batteries, a radio, water, and non-perishable foods?
- Do you have a designated safe area in your home to go to during an emergency?
- Does each member of your family know what to do in case of an emergency?
Emergency Supplies You Need
Emergency preparedness isn't only about supplies, but they are a big part of being ready when disaster strikes. Here is a list of essentials that you should have packed and stored in a safe place in your home in case you need them:
Plenty of bottled water
- Non-perishable, low- or no-salt food items
- Can opener
- Clothing and shelter items like blankets, sleeping bags, and a tent
- Toilet paper and baby wipes for clean up
- First aid kit
- Flashlights, a portable radio, and lots of batteries
- Infant and pet supplies, if necessary
- All medications, and glasses or contact lenses
- Implements for preparing and cooking food, as well as plates, and utensils
- Matches stored in a water-tight box
- Copies of your bank and credit cards, driver's license, and other ID cards
- Cash
Prepare your car, too, with an emergency supply of food and water, a first aid kit, jumper cables, flares, and blankets to keep warm.
Making Preparations for an Emergency Plan
Now that you have supplies, you need a plan in place. Evaluate your risk for certain disasters, and plan accordingly. People in the south or east of the United States might not worry much about earthquakes, while people on the west coast may not be too concerned with tornadoes — and a tornado emergency plan is very different from an earthquake or hurricane emergency plan. Some emergencies require that you take shelter in your home, others that you immediately evacuate. Your emergency plan should take into account the most likely disasters you could face
Here’s what to consider when making your emergency plan and what details to include:
Make a list of the disasters that it makes sense to plan for, based on where you live; consider tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, excessive heat, fire, floods, wildfires, ice and snow, and nuclear and terrorism threats, as appropriate.
Come up with an evacuation plan for the most likely emergencies, say a hurricane, wildfire, or flood.
Decide on how family members will communicate with each other if separated when disaster strikes; establish a meeting place for the family in the event of an emergency.
Come up with a plan to protect yourself in your home, in case of a tornado or an earthquake; include shutting off utilities when necessary.
Develop an escape route plan; draw it out on paper.
Plan for any family members with special needs.
Make plans for pets in emergencies; keep vet records on hand, along with identification tags, a carrier, leash, and food.
Family Roles in Your Emergency Plan
Now you've got supplies and a plan. But does everyone in your family know what to do? Make sure that each family member, from adults to kids, understands what to do in an emergency, including where to go and what responsibilities, if any, they have. For instance, make sure everyone is aware of whose job it is to wrangle the pets and who’s in charge of shutting off the gas line, electricity, and water.
Once everyone knows his or her role in each emergency plan — whether it's for a house fire or a natural disaster, stage a couple of run-throughs. This way, if disaster does strike, you’ll know that your emergency plan runs smoothly, safely, and effectively.
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