Helpful Hints for Creating an Emergency Plan

Emergency Communication Plan

List the out of town person or persons your family or household will contact by

telephone or email to check on each other should a disaster occur. List their

phone number(s) and email address(es).

Suggestions

• Your contact person should live far enough away that they would unlikely be directly affected by the same event, and they should know that they are the contact person for your family.

• Make sure every household member has the email address(es) and telephone number(s) (work, pager, and wireless telephone) of the contact person and each other.

• Leave these contact numbers at your children’s schools, your workplace, and with close friends and family.

• Inform your family about what to do if telephones are not working; they need to be patient and try again later or, if able, try email. Many people flood the telephone lines when emergencies happen, but email can sometimes get through when calls cannot.

Establish a Meeting Place for Your Family

Name two predetermined meeting places away from your home.

Suggestions

• Having predetermined meeting places away from your home will save time and minimize confusion should your home be affected or if the area is evacuated.

• Two meeting places should be established –one close to home and one further away from home –in the event that the area around your home is not safe.

• For a disaster, such as a house fire, a meeting place just outside the home should be identified.

• For other disasters that require evacuation, a meeting place outside the local area should be established.

• Arrangements should be made to stay with a family member or friend in case of an emergency.

• Pets should be included in your plan.

• Persons with pets should check with their veterinarian in advance for information on shelters and “pet friendly” hotels.

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit

If you need to evacuate your home or are asked to “shelter in place” (staying where you are), having some essential supplies on hand will make you and your family more comfortable. Prepare a disaster supplies kit in an easy to carry container, such as a duffle bag or small plastic trash can. What should you include in this kit?

Basic Requirements

Food supplies that do not require extensive preparation and that you and your family usually eat (e.g. canned soups, crackers, cereals, etc.)

At least 3 gallons of bottled water per person (one gallon of water per person for at least 3 days) in your household or workplace

Special needs items for any member of your household, such as infant formula or items for people with disabilities or older people

First aid supplies and a first aid reference book, such as First Aid First

Other items to include

• Activated charcoal
• Adhesive tape
• Antiseptic ointment
• Adhesive bandages of assorted sizes
• Blanket
• Cold pack
• Disposable gloves
• Gauze pads and roller gauze of assorted sizes
• Hand cleaner
• Plastic bag
• Scissors and tweezers
• Small flashlight and extra batteries
• Syrup of Ipecac
• Triangular bandage
• Change of clothing for each household member
• Sleeping bag or bedroll for each household member
• Battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries
• Simple tools, such as a wrench to turn off utility valves, duct tape, and scissors, as well as heavy duty work gloves

• Cash and copies of essential family documents
• birth and marriage certificates
• passports
• licenses
• insurance policies
• life insurance beneficiary designations
• copy of your will
• power of attorney

• (These documents should be kept in a safe location outside your home, such as in a safe-deposit box or home of a friend or family member, who lives out of town.)

• Usual prescriptions that you or members of your family ordinarily use; check expiration dates on medications and be sure to renew supplies as needed

Check all perishable and dated items at least twice a year, such as batteries, medications, and first aid supplies.

At the workplace a disaster, as well as a first aid kit should be checked more frequently to assure that they are full of supplies.