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Get your entire family involved in the emergency planning process. Discuss why you need to prepare for disaster and the types of disasters most likely to occur to your home and in our
geographic region. Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team. Disaster preparedness
planning can be educational, fun and lifesaving.
Communicate
Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen and what to do in each
type of situation. Also determine how you will communicate with one another in the event of a disaster.
Learn
- Tune into local TV and radio stations following alert message from the Emergency Alert System. Follow instructions from emergency management officials.
- Learn about your community’s disaster warning signals, what they sound like and what you
should do when you hear them. (Siren tests occur on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month.)
- Familiarize yourself with your city and county’s emergency action plan. Click here for
resources.
- Make sure you know your children’s school disaster plan.
Designate a Meeting Place
Pick two places to meet and make sure everyone knows the addresses and phone numbers:
- Immediately outside your home in case of a sudden emergency like a fire.
- Outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.
Determine Evacuation Routes
Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Determine the best two escape routes out of
your home, neighborhood, from your children’s school, day care center, your workplace or anywhere you
family members spend time.
Know Emergency Phone Numbers—including your out-of-state contact
- Ask an out of state friend to be your family contact. After a disaster, it’s often easier
to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where
they are. Everyone must know your contact’s phone number.
- Post emergency telephone numbers by the phone and make copies for each member of the family
to carry with them.
- Teach your children how and when to call 9-1-1.
Build or Purchase a Disaster Kit
Put together your own disaster kit or purchase a
disaster kit Either way, your disaster kit should contain essential supplies to see you
through a minimum of three days. It should be checked and updated every six months. Get Trained
Learn Basic First Aid, CPR and other safety
training. Someone’s life may depend on it.
Senior and Special Need Planning
Older adults, senior parents or people with disabilities may have special needs
that need to be considered in your disaster plan.
- Set up a buddy system to check on one another in the event of an emergency or arrange for
someone to check on you.
- If you have home health care service, plan ahead with your agency for emergency procedures.
- Teach those who may need to assist you in an emergency how to operate necessary equipment.
Remember Pets
Because of health regulations, many shelters do not allow pets.
Prepare
now for the day when you and your pets may have to leave your home. Other Disaster Recovery Plan Considerations
- Make sure you or someone in your family knows how to turn off your utilities such as
electricity, water and gas.
- Confirm that you have adequate disaster insurance coverage.
- Ensure the frame of your house is bolted to the foundation.
- Conduct a home hazard hunt to
minimize damage to your home and to people who may be inside your home during a disaster.
Practice and Review
Practice your evacuation plan twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and
plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassible or gridlocked. You should review your
disaster plan periodically to make sure information is updated. |
