Make a Plan

When we leave from home to go to work or run errands, we take for granted that, at the end of our day, we’ll be able to return home to unwind, relax, and talk about our day with family, friends and neighbors. Have you ever considered the possibility of not being able to return to your home due to a disaster? What happens if your family is not together when disaster strikes?

Making a plan means working on a family communications plan. For example, if local phone lines are busy, it might be easier to call long distance. Choose a family member or friend that lives in another state and use them as a family reporting contact. People living in another state will be less likely to be involved in the same disaster so their phone lines should be clear. Make sure your family knows the number and review, or even practice, with them when this should be used.

Check with your child’s school or daycare to see if they have a plan. Questions to ask include: how would they communicate with you in an emergency; are they prepared to shelter-in-place; and do they have extra food or water if necessary. Additional questions relating to any of the “Get a Kit” items would also be appropriate.

To get additional information on developing a plan, go to the http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan website. You’ll find tips on personal preparedness and some business planning tips as well. Other examples can be found at www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/commplan.shtm. The Ready.gov website will walk you through a plan specific for your family or personal situation. It will ask for some basic information and is a good start for getting prepared. A copy of a Family Emergency Plan that you can fill in and print or save it as a PDF on your computer can be found at http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Family_Emegency_Plan.pdf.