Create An Emergency Plan

  • Meet with household members. Discuss with children the dangers of fire, severe weather, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and other emergencies.
  • Discuss how to respond to each disaster that could occur.
  • Discuss what to do about power outages and personal injuries.
  • Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes from each room.
  • Learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at main switches.
  • Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones.
  • Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1.
  • Instruct household members to turn on the radio for emergency information.
  • Pick one out-of-state and one local friend to call if separated by disaster (it is often easier to call out-of-state than within the affected area).
  • Teach children how to make long distance telephone calls.
  • Pick two meeting places. 1) A place near your home in case of a fire, and 2) A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.
  • Take a basic first aid and CPR class.
  • Keep family records in a water and fire-proof container.