You and your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to plan in advance: how you will get to a safe place; how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations. Below are some key steps in developing an emergency preparedness plan. This section also includes information on developing preparedness plans for specific groups of people.
- Give family members the phone number of an out of town contact who may not be affected by the emergency. They can call the contact to coordinate communications with your family.
- Choose a familiar local place where your family can meet. Choose an additional out-of-town location in case you’re evacuated.
- Plan for the needs of children, the elderly and pets.
- Learn your community’s evacuation routes and sheltering plans
- Know the emergency plans for your workplace, your children’s school, daycare, etc. Add that information to your family plan.
- Practice your plan with household members. Make sure everyone knows what to do in different kinds of emergencies.