Family Emergency Preparedness Plan
Your best defense is preparedness - before, during and after
an emergency. Local, state and federal agencies are ready to
assist, but families should be
prepared to take care of themselves for at least three days - 72
hours - following an emergency. A Family
Emergency Preparedness Plan should help you determine what is
needed to survive many different types of emergencies. The
following guidelines will help you and your family form your
plan. Emergency preparedness is your responsibility, so be
ready!
To Be Able To Make A Family Emergency Preparedness Plan,
First You Must Do Your Homework -
♦ Determine
the hazards, both natural and manmade, that could affect you,
your family and your community. Many of these hazards are listed
in greater detail elsewhere on this site.
♦ Learn about
the Emergency Alert System and determine which of the TV and
radio stations you can receive in various locations in your
home.
♦ Know what
plans are in place at your child's school to deal with different
types of emergencies during school hours. Know what actions, if
any, school officials ask parents to take during these
emergencies.
♦ Have a
secondary place to stay until the emergency is over, in case
your home or community is affected.
♦ Become
familiar with emergency plans at work, church and other places
where your family spends time.
♦ Know what
to do if you are told to Shelter in Place, Evacuate, or just
stay alert for further instructions.
When You Have Gathered The Necessary Information, You
Are Ready To Create An Emergency Preparedness Plan
♦ Have a family
meeting and discuss emergency preparedness. Be sure all family
members know what to do during different types of emergency
situations, whether at home, work, school, or elsewhere in the
community. Be sure to plan how children will be cared for if
parents are not able to get home, or how disabled persons will
be cared for if health personnel cannot reach them.
♦ Determine the
shelter rooms in your home to use for severe weather and Shelter
in Place.
♦ Create a Disaster
Supply Kit.
♦ Be sure all
family members know the location of your shelter rooms and the
Disaster Supply Kit.
♦ Establish a
"family contact" in another town. Be sure every family member
knows the contact's telephone number. If family members are
separated during an emergency, they can call the out-of-town
contact and tell them where they are.
♦ Teach responsible
family members when and how to turn off the water, gas and
electricity at the main switches.
♦ Teach children
when and how to call 911.
To Further Aid Family Members In Getting Help Quickly When
Needed, Have Easy Access To Emergency Information
♦
Post emergency telephone numbers by the phone, including
doctors, schools, parents' work numbers, nearby relatives who
might assist young children, etc.
♦ Keep a list of
these emergency telephone numbers in your wallet.
♦ Post the zones
for home, work, school, church and other places you visit
frequently.
When You Have Completed These Steps And Your Family
Knows What To Do, Practice And Maintain Your Plan
♦ Every six months, hold
another family meeting and review your plan. Make changes as
your family's needs and circumstances change.
♦ Conduct emergency
evacuation drills of your home, so everyone knows what to do and
where to meet outside in case of a fire or other home emergency.
♦ In your Disaster Supply
Kit, replace emergency water and food supplies as needed, test
and replace batteries in radios and flashlights, and replace
outgrown clothing or outdated supplies.