Steps in Developing a Disaster Plan

To keep you and your family safe during an emergency you should plan in advance. Should disaster strike it could be up to three days or more before the relevant emergency services can reach you, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With the possibility of no utilities, no access to food or water and no telephones, your disaster plan will need to plan for virtually every eventuality.

Things You'll Need

• Nonperishable food items
• Medication
• Clothes
• Blankets
• First aid kit
• Flash light and batteries
• Cooking tools
• Baby care items
• Pet care items
• Prescription medication
• Important documents
• Cell phone
• Cash

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Instructions

• 1

  Hold a family meeting to discuss compiling your disaster plan. To highlight the importance of the plan, explain the dangers involved with severe weather conditions, earthquakes and hurricanes. Explain the only way the disaster plan will work effectively is if everybody knows what they are doing and you all work together as a team.

• 2

  Place emergency service phone numbers near the telephone and double check that everyone in the family, including children, knows how to use them. This will include making it clear which emergency service is appropriate for each potential situation.

• 3

  Pick two family assembly points. The first should be close to your home in cases of an emergency such as a fire. The second meeting point should be out of the immediate area. Ensure each family member is fully aware of which assembly point to attend in what emergency. Make a small map of the points and stick it to the refrigerator to serve as a reminder.

• 4

  Make a disaster supply kit. This is a collection of essential items that will enable you to care for yourself and your family for at least 72 hours following a disaster. The kit should include blankets, nonperishable food, water, a first aid kit, a flashlight and spare batteries, clothes and cooking tools. Do not forget special items such as baby food, pet care items and prescription medicine. Cell phones and cash are also necessary should you need to contact help. Make sure you have all your important documents in the kit, including your relevant insurance documents.

• 5

  Find suitable escape routes from each room in your house. Ideally, each room should have at least two exit points. Designate certain rooms or areas in your home as safe spots. For example, during a hurricane the initial damage may be to the roof, in which case your hurricane safe spot would be a basement or ground floor space. Make sure your family is aware of where the escape routes are situated and which areas are safe for each different emergency type.

• 6

  Make a communication plan. You and your family may not all be together when disaster strikes. A communication plan allows you to use one person as a contact point to let others know you are safe. Choose a contact that lives outside of your neighborhood. Give all family members a copy of this number. Make sure everyone is clear on what circumstances warrant calling the emergency contact. Store the contact in your cell phone under "ICE," which stands for in case of emergency. Emergency service personnel may check your phone for an ICE listing.

• 7

  Install smoke alarms on every floor in your home, near bedrooms if possible, and check them monthly. Change the batteries once every 12 months. Obtain relevant fire extinguishers for your home and ensure all the family are aware of how, when and where to use them.