Ceate a home escape plan This plan will tell your family how to evacuate your building in the case of an emergency. Determine a pre-designated meeting spot and make sure to have at least two ways to exit your building. Hold evacuation and fire drills every month. If you need to escape from second or third floor windows, use rescue ladders.
Have a family discussion about what you should do during an emergency, where would you go, what would you need, and where would you meet.
Make sure children know when to call 9-1-1.
Plan a place to stay. Ensure that you have a place to stay in case you are evacuated from your home. Make plans with at least one inner-city and one outer-city friend or relative who can help you and your family in an emergency. Keep the contact information for these friends or relatives in your 72-hour kit.
Gather your family's emergency contact information. It is important that you are able to get ahold of the members of your family during an emergency or disaster. For each family members you should record their full name, work or school location, home address, phone numbers (home, cell, and work), and email address. Though phone landlines and mobile networks may be overloaded during a disaster, often a text message will go through.
Risk Assessment Understand the potential hazards in your area. These can include natural disasters like floods, wildfires or tornadoes as well as human-made emergencies such as chemical spills or power outages.
Emergency Plan Develop a comprehensive plan for yourself and your family or household. This plan should include evacuation routes, designated meeting points, communication methods, and responsibilities for each member. Practice this plan regularly.
Emergency Supplies Stock up on essential supplies that can sustain you and your family for at least 72 hours. Build an emergency kit
Stay Informed Stay informed about potential threats through local news, weather alerts, and official channels.
Learn Skills Learn basic first aid and CPR skills. Knowing how to administer first aid can be crucial in emergencies where medical help may be delayed. First Aid Courses
Secure Your Home Take steps to secure your home against potential hazards. This may include reinforcing windows and doors, securing heavy furniture, and installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
Financial Preparedness Keep some cash on hand in case of power outages or other emergencies where electronic payment systems may be unavailable. Review your insurance policies to ensure adequate coverage for potential hazards in your area.
Adaptability Be prepared to adapt your plans and responses based on the specific circumstances of each emergency. Flexibility and quick thinking are key during crisis situations.
Make Connections Building relationships with the people around you can reduce stress and create community resilience. Neighbors are often nearby when an emergency, disaster or unexpected situations occur. Knowing your neighbors makes it easier to ask for help when you need it or offer help to those who need it most.
Pet Preparedness Having an emergency pet plan can reduce stress for you and your pet. Here are some things to think about when making your plan. Pet Preparedness
