Specifications

15
FAMILY EMERGENCY PLANNING
Protect yourself by planning ahead. The following check-
list will help you get started. Discuss these ideas with oth-
ers, and then prepare an emergency plan. Post the plan
where everyone will see it.
• Meet with household members to discuss the dangers
of fire, severe weather, earthquakes and other emer-
gencies. Explain how to respond to each.
• Find the safe spots in your home for each type of dis-
aster.
• Discuss what to do about power outages and personal
injuries.
• Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape
routes from each room.
• Show family members how to turn off the water, gas
and electricity at main switches when necessary.
• Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones.
• Teach children how and when to call 911, police and
fire.
• Instruct household members to turn on the radio for
emergency information.
• Pick one out-of-state and one local friend or relative
for family members to call if separated during a disas-
ter (it is often easier to call out-of-state than within the
affected area).
• Teach children your out-of-state contact’s phone num-
bers.
• Pick two emergency meeting places. 1) A place near
your home in case of a fire. 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 waterproof and fire-proof con-
tainer.
• Find out which disasters could occur in your area.
• Ask how to prepare for each disaster.
• Ask how you would be warned of an emergency.
• Learn your community’s evacuation routes.
• Ask about special assistance for elderly or disabled
persons.
• Ask your workplace about emergency plans.
• Learn about emergency plans for your children’s
school or day care center.
For additional information about how to prepare for haz-
ards in your community, contact your local emergency
management or civil defense office and American Red
Cross chapter.