Family Disaster Plan

Families should be prepared for all hazards that could affect their area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross and the National Weather Service urge every family to develop a family disaster plan.

Where will your family be when disaster strikes? They could be anywhere - at work, at school, or in the car. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children are safe? Disaster may force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services - water, gas, electricity, or telephones - were cut off?

Follow these basic steps to develop a family disaster plan.

III.

Implement your plan.
(1) Post emergency telephone numbers by phones; (2) Install safety features in your house, such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers; (3) Inspect your home for potential hazards (such as items that can move, fall, break, or catch fire) and correct them; (4) Have your family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity in your home; (5) Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services number; (6) 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 case of an evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags. Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep a smaller disaster supplies kit in the trunk of your car.

IV.

Practice and maintain your plan.
Ask questions to make sure your family remembers meeting places, phone numbers, and safety rules. Conduct drills. Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries two times each year. Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer’s instructions. Replace stored water and food every 6 months. Contact your local National Weather Service office, American Red Cross chapter, or local office of emergency management for a copy of “Your Family Disaster Plan” (L-191/ARC4466).

DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT

Assemble the following items to create kits for use at home, the office, at school and/or in a vehicle:

Water - three gallons for each person who would use the kit and an additional four gallons per person or pet for use if you are confined to your home
Food - a three-day supply in the kit and at least an additional four-day supply per person or pet for use at home. You may want to consider stocking a two-week supply of food and water in your home.
Items for infants - including formula, diapers, bottles, pacifiers, powdered milk and medications not requiring refrigeration
Items for seniors, disabled persons or anyone with serious allergies—including special foods, denture items, extra eyeglasses, hearing aid batteries, prescription and non-prescription medications that are regularly used, inhalers and other essential equipment.
Kitchen accessories - a manual can opener; mess kits or disposable cups, plates and utensils; utility knife; sugar and salt; aluminum foil and plastic wrap; re-sealable plastic bags
A portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra, fresh batteries
Several flashlights and extra, fresh batteries
A first aid kit
One complete change of clothing and footwear for each person - including sturdy work shoes or boots, raingear and other items adjusted for the season, such as hats and gloves, thermal underwear, sunglasses, dust masks
Blankets or a sleeping bag for each person
Sanitation and hygiene items - shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, comb and brush, lip balm, sunscreen, contact lenses and supplies and any medications regularly used, toilet paper, towelettes, soap, hand sanitizer, liquid detergent, feminine supplies, plastic garbage bags (heavy-duty) and ties (for personal sanitation uses), medium-sized plastic bucket with tight lid, disinfectant, household chlorine bleach
Other essential items - paper, pencil, needles, thread, small A-B-C-type fire extinguisher, medicine dropper, whistle, emergency preparedness manual
Entertainment - including games and books, favorite dolls and stuffed animals for small children
A map of the area marked with places you could go and their telephone numbers
An extra set of keys and ids - including keys for cars and any properties owned and copies of driver's licenses, passports and work identification badges
Cash and coins and copies of credit cards
Copies of medical prescriptions
Matches in a waterproof container
A small tent, compass and shovel

Consider preparing a Disaster Supplies Kit for your pets. For more information please visit: www.redcross.org/preparedness/cdc_english/kit.asp