Prepare for hazards that could affect your area with a family disaster plan. Where will your family be when disaster strikes? They could be at work, school or in the car. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children are safe? Disaster may force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services—water, gas, electricity or telephones—were cut off?
Gather information about hazards.
Contact your local National Weather Service office, emergency management office, and American Red Cross chapter. Find out what type of disasters could occur and how you should respond. Learn your community’s warning signals and evacuation plans. Assess your risks and identify ways to make your home and property more secure.
Meet with your family to create a disaster plan.
Discuss your plan with your family. Pick two places to meet: a spot outside your home for an emergency, such as fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Choose an out-of-state friend as your “family check-in contact” for everyone to call if the family gets separated. Discuss what you would do if advised to evacuate.
Implement your plan.
- Post emergency telephone numbers by the phone.
- Install safety features in your house, such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
- Inspect your home for potential hazards (items that can move, fall, break or catch fire) and correct them.
- Have your family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and how and when to turn off water, gas and electricity in your home.
- Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services number.
- Keep enough supplies in your home for at least 3 days. Assemble a disaster supplies kit. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags. Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Keep a smaller disaster supplies kit in the trunk of your car.
Practice and maintain your plan.
Ensure your family knows meeting places, phone numbers and safety rules. Conduct drills. Test your smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once each year. Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer’s instructions. Replace stored water and food every 6 months. Contact your local National Weather Service office, American Red Cross chapter or emergency management office for a copy of “Your Family Disaster Plan”
A Disaster Supplies Kit Should Include:
- A 3-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day)
- Food that won’t spoil
- One change of clothing and shoes per person
- Prescription medicines
- One blanket or sleeping bag per person
- First-aid kit
- Battery-powered NWR and a portable radio
- Emergency tools
- Flashlight, extra batteries
- Extra set of car keys and a credit card or cash
- Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members
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