Departments | Emergency Management Agency | Creating a Family Plan
Creating a Family Plan
Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how
you will contact one another and review what you will do in different
situations.
- It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to
call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position
to communicate among separated family members.
- Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number
and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.
- You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system
may be down altogether, but be patient.
Create a Disaster Plan
- Meet with your family and discuss why
you need to prepare for disaster. Explain the dangers of fire,
severe weather, and earthquakes to children. Plan to share responsibilities
and work together as a team.
- Discuss the types of disasters
that are most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case.
- Pick two places to meet:
1. Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like
a fire.
2. Outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home. Everyone
must know the address and phone number.
- 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.
- Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Plan how to take
care of your pets.
Complete This Checklist
- Post emergency telephone numbers by phones (fire, police, ambulance,
etc.).
- Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local
Emergency Medical Services number for emergency help.
- Show
each family member how and when to turn off the utilities (water, gas,
and electricity) at the main switches.
- Check if you have adequate
insurance coverage.
- Get training from the fire department
for family members on how to use the fire extinguisher (ABC type), and
show them where it's kept.
- Install smoke detectors on each
level of your home, especially near bedrooms.
- Conduct a home
hazard hunt.
- Stock emergency supplies and assemble a Emergency
Supplies Kit.
- Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class.
- Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways
out of each room.
- Find the safe places in your home for each
type of disaster.
Practice and Maintain
Your Plan
- Quiz your kids every six months or so.
- Conduct fire
and emergency evacuations.
- Replace stored water and stored
food every six months.
- Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s)
according to manufacturer's instructions.
- Test your smoke
detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
In An Emergency
- Confine or secure your pets.
- Call your family contact--do
not use the telephone again unless it is a life-threatening emergency.
- Check on your neighbors, especially elderly or disabled persons.
- Make sure you have an adequate water supply in case service is
cut off.
- Stay away from downed power lines.
Check for Damage in Your Home
- Use flashlights. Do not light matches or turn on electrical
switches, if you suspect damage.
- Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell
gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows, and
get everyone outside quickly.
- Shut off any other damaged utilities. (You will need a professional
to turn gas back on.)
- Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline, and other flammable
liquids immediately.
Moving Vehicles
In a moving vehicle
- If there is an explosion or other factor that makes it difficult
to control the vehicle, pull over, stop the car and set the parking
brake.
- If the emergency could impact the physical stability of the
roadway, avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards.
- If a power line falls on your car you are at risk of electrical
shock, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.
- Listen to the radio for information and instructions as they
become available.
In a High-Rise
Building
- Note where the closest emergency exit is.
- Be
sure you know another way out in case your first choice is blocked.
- Take cover against a desk or table if things are falling.
- Move away from file cabinets, bookshelves or other
things that might fall.
- Face away from windows and
glass.
- Move away from exterior walls.
- Determine if you should stay put, "shelter-in-place" or
get away.
- Listen for and follow instructions.
- Take your emergency supply kit, unless there is reason to
believe it has been contaminated.
- Do not use elevators.
- Stay to the right while going down stairwells to allow
emergency workers to come up.
