ABC - EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
READY PROGRAM/DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Your Family Disaster Plan

Emergencies and Disasters may strike with little or no warning, we should be prepared for what may come. A simple family disaster plan, may save your life, or that of a loved one. Developing a family disaster plan before an emergency or disaster strikes will insure you have the knowledge and ability to protect yourself and your family. During an emergency or disaster the emergency response forces in your community may become overwhelmed answering calls for service. Each individual who can take care of themselves, allows response forces to focus on others who are not so fortunate. A family disaster plan, will also allow other family members who may not be affected by the Emergency or Disaster, peace of mind, in knowing their family members know what to do.

Rest assured knowing your emergency response forces are there for you when you need them, we are not asking you to "go it alone" when an emergency or disaster hits by asking you to take care of yourself, if you need help we will be there, one of the greatest and easiest contributions you can make to your community in time of need, is being prepared!

Developing a family disaster plan is a small investment that will pay great dividends if you ever need to use it. The following are some suggested steps you should take when developing your plan.

STEP #1 Know your hazards

You must understand the hazards you face in your community, talk to your local fire department, review these pages, talk to your insurance agent, or research what has happened in the past in your community. A great source of information are the established members of your community who have lived there for many years. You must also have an understanding of warning terminology, when it is broadcast across the emergency alert system or via the media. This includes weather "Watches" and "Warnings", Hazardous Materials "Evacuations" and "Shelter in Place" and The Homeland Security Advisory System.

STEP #2 Inspect your home for hazards

Once you know what hazards you face, you can begin to plan for them. The first thing you need to consider is home safety. Take a walk through your home and look for things that may either be hazardous or may become hazardous during an emergency, for example, heavy items placed on top of cabinets may fall during an earthquake or severe storm, and injure someone, or consider locking household chemicals up in an area away from pets and children. You may also look for fire hazards, such as exposed wiring, and check your smoke detectors to see if they work appropriately. (Most local fire departments will either provide or help you install smoke detectors, most may even help you asses your home for hazards).

STEP #3 Family Evacuation Plan

This is probably one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your family, is have a family evacuation plan. This plan must have two locations pre-set, one immediately outside your home far enough away that you are safe from the house, but not to far so you can get to it quickly, such as the corner of the yard, neighbors front porch, or mailbox. You would plan to meet at this location if your smoke detector began to sound. The second meeting place should be in another part of town, in the event your home is not accessible and the area around it is not accessible.

STEP #4 Family Communications Plan

This is the peace of mind step, and is vital. Each Family should have a communication plan, so if they are separated they will have a means to reunite. Pick a family member or friend who lives in another area or out of town, which requires a long distance phone call to make contact. During emergencies and disasters phone systems may become crowed, and it is usually easier to call long distance than it is to call locally. This out of town relative or friend should be informed they are the contact person, and each family member should have their telephone number written down and hopefully memorized. If you become separated from your family, you should attempt to make contact with the out of town relative or friend and let them know where you are, they can then coordinate with the other family members to reunite, and at least inform everyone of their condition.

STEP #5 Prepare a Disaster Supplies Kit

Each family should develop a disaster supplies kit. This kit should have enough non-perishable food, and enough bottled water for each family member for three days, it should also include a battery operated radio, with extra batteries, extra medication, cash, copies of important family documents, flashlight with extra batteries, along with a variety of other items. Visit our disaster supplies kit page for detailed information.

STEP #6 Practice Your Plan - Regularly

Once you have developed a plan, practice it with your family! Make a day of being prepared, conduct a home fire drill, take a trip to your second meeting area, call your out of town friend or relative and let them know you are testing your plan. Review your disaster supplies kit and insure you have everything you need. Update parts of your plan as you need to, and make sure your whole family knows your plan well!

If you have any questions about family disaster plans, please email ready@abcem.net