Family Emergency Plan

Air Date: 12/15/2003

Do you know what to do in the event of a disaster or emergency? What if you are separated from your family when a disaster or an emergency strikes? Where will you go? How will you be able to find or contact your family? By planning ahead, you’ll know exactly what to do.

Be prepared to assess the situation, use common sense and whatever you have on hand to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Think about the places where your family spends time: school, work and other places you frequent. Ask about their emergency plans. Find out how they will communicate with families during an emergency. If they do not have an emergency plan, consider helping develop one.

Four Steps to Safety

Find Out What Could Happen to You

• Contact your local emergency management office, such as Red Cross, before a disaster occurs--be prepared to take notes.
• Ask what types of disasters are most likely to happen. Request information on how to prepare for each.
• Learn about your community's warning signals: what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them.
• Ask about animal care after a disaster. Animals are not allowed inside emergency shelters because of health regulations.
• Find out how to help elderly or disabled persons, if needed.
• Find out about the disaster plans at your workplace, your children's school or day care center, and other places where your family spends time.

Create a Disaster Plan

• Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster. Explain the dangers of fire, severe weather, and earthquakes to children. Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team.
• Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case.
• Pick two places to meet:

  • Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
  • Outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home. Everyone must know the address and phone number.
• Ask an out-of-state friend to be your "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact's phone number.
• Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Plan how to take care of your pets.

Complete This Checklist

Emergency Supplies

The basics of survival: water, food and clean air are essential, but some of the following items may make a time of crisis more comfortable.

Basic Supplies

• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery powered radio and extra batteries
• Plastic garbage bags, ties and toilet paper for personal sanitation
• First aid kit
• Map of the area for evacuation or for locating shelters
• A whistle to signal for help
• Moist towelettes

Clothing and Bedding

If you live in a cold weather climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies once a year to account for growing children and other family changes.

Have at least one complete change of warm clothing and shoes per person including:

• A jacket or coat
• Long pants
• A long sleeve shirt
• Sturdy shoes
• A hat and gloves
• A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person.

Tools

• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or a print out of this information
• Mess kits, or paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
• Cash or traveler's checks, change
• Non-electric can opener, utility knife
• Paper towels
• Fire extinguisher: small canister, ABC type
• Tube tent
• Pliers
• Compass
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic storage containers
• Signal flare
• Paper, pencil
• Medicine dropper
• Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water

Sanitation

• Toilet paper, towelettes
• Feminine supplies
• Personal hygiene items
• Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)
• Plastic bucket with tight lid
• Disinfectant
• Household chlorine bleach

You can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to purify water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.

Important Family Documents

Keep copies of important family records such as insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.

Practice and Maintain Your Plan

• Quiz your kids every six months or so
• Conduct fire and emergency evacuations
• Replace stored water and stored food every six months
• Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.

Other Ways To Keep Safe

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Working with neighbors can save lives and property. Meet with your neighbors to plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster until help arrives. If you're a member of a neighborhood organization, such as a home association or crime watch group, introduce disaster preparedness as a new activity. Know your neighbors' special skills (e.g., medical, technical) and consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as disabled and elderly persons. Make plans for child care in case parents can't get home.

If Disaster Strikes...

• Remain calm and patient. Put your plan into action.
• Check for Injuries
• Give first aid and get help for seriously injured people.
• Listen to Your Battery-Powered Radio for News and Instructions
• Check for Damage in Your Home
  • Use flashlights. Do not light matches or turn on electrical switches, if you suspect damage.
  • Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the water heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows, and get everyone outside quickly.
  • Shut off any other damaged utilities. (You will need a professional to turn gas back on.)
• Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline, and other flammable liquids immediately.

Remember to...

• Confine or secure your pets.
• Call your family contact--do not use the telephone again unless it is a life-threatening emergency.
• Check on your neighbors, especially elderly or disabled persons.
• Make sure you have an adequate water supply in case service is cut off.
• Stay away from downed power lines.

Additional Resources

Ready.gov

American Red Cross

Nevada Division of Emergency Management

450 Edison Way Reno, Nevada 89502 (775)858-5700 Fax (775)858-5720