Emergency Preparedness

Family Emergency and Disaster Planning

Disaster can strike quickly and without warning.  It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home.  Are you prepared with the knowledge of what to do if basic services - water, electricity, or telephones - were cut off?  Families can - and do - cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together as a team.  Knowing what to do is your best protection and your responsibility.  Prepare yourself and your family by creating a disaster plan.  A well prepared family plan should address the following: 

• Emergency supplies
• Family communications and escape routes
• Insurance and vital records
• Safety skills

Emergency Supplies

Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three days.  Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need in an evacuation.  Store these supplies, in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as back-packs, duffle bags, or covered trash containers.  Include:

• A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won't spoil.
• One change of clothing and footwear per person, and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.
• A first aid kit that includes your family's prescription medications.
• Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries.
• An extra set of car keys and a credit card or cash.
• Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.
• An extra pair of glasses.
• Keep important family documents in a fire safe and waterproof container. 

Family Communications and Escape Routes

• In the event of a disaster, your family may not be together.  It's important to plan how you will contact one another.
• Complete a contact card for each family member, and have them handy in a wallet, purse, backpack, etc.
• Have one or two escape routes planned for every room of your house, as well as established meeting places near the home or immediately outside the area.

Insurance and Vital Records

• Review existing property, health, and life insurance policies for the amount and extend of coverage to ensure that you have in place what is required for you and your family for all possible hazards. 
• Make copies of important documents for your disaster supplies kit.

Learn First Aid and CPR

•  Take a First Aid and CPR class. 

Remember to...

• Confine or secure pets.  
• Call your family contact -- do not use the telephone again unless it is 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.