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Prepare your Family for Disasters
Families can – and do – cope with disaster by preparing in
advance and working together as a team. Create a family disaster plan including a communication plan, disaster supplies kit and an evacuation plan.
Knowing what to do is your best protection AND your
responsibility.
Find out what could happen to you
Contact your American Red
Cross chapter or local emergency management or civil defense office — 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 disaster.
Animals may not be allowed inside
emergency shelters due to health
regulations.
- Find out how to help elderly or
disabled persons, if needed.
- Next, find out about the disaster
plans at your workplace, your
children’s school or daycare center
and other places where your family
spends time.
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Make a 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:
1. Right outside your home in case of
a sudden emergency, like a fire.
2. 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.
- Write down all of these contact numbers and information on the family emergency contact card. Download here.
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Complete this checklist
- Post emergency telephone numbers
by phones (fire, police, ambulance,
etc.).
- Teach children how and when to call
911 or your local Emergency Medical
Services number for emergency help.
- Make sure each adult in your home knows how and when to turn off the utilities (water, gas, and electricity) at the main switches.
- Check if you have adequate insurance
coverage.
- Get training for adults in your home on how to use the fire extinguisher (ABC type), and show them where it's kept.
- Install smoke detectors on each level
of your home, especially near
bedrooms.
- Conduct a home hazard hunt.
- Stock emergency supplies and
assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit.
- Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR
class.
- Determine the best escape routes
from your home. Find two ways out
of each room.
- Find the safe spots in your home for
each type of disaster.
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Practice your plan
- Test your smoke detectors monthly
and change the batteries at least once
a year.
- Quiz your kids every six months so
they remember what to do.
- Conduct fire and emergency
evacuation drills.
- Replace stored water every three
months and stored food every six
months.
- Test and recharge your fire
extinguisher(s) according to
manufacturer’s instructions.
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