Survival Preparedness Plan

The second step is to make your survival preparedness plan to prepare for emergency situations that might come up.

Your Family Emergency Plan

Have a meeting to discuss your emergency preparedness plan with your family. Talk to your family members about the dangers of earthquakes, severe weather, fires and other emergencies. Work together as a team and share responsibilities.



Your family should have two places to meet.

• In case of a sudden emergency, meet right outside of your home in a designated and safe place.
  
  
• In case you can't return home, have a meeting place outside the neighborhood. All family members should know the address and phone number of the meeting place (grandma and grandpa's house might be a good option).

Your family should have different ways to communicate in case of an emergency. Your plan should be shared beforehand with people who would be worried about your welfare.

In an emergency you might have a better chance making a long-distance call than to try and make a local call. It is important to have an out-of-town contact person that each family member can call if your family becomes separated.

Your family members should know this contact number ahead of time and have access to a cell phone or if a pay phone is available, have pre-paid telephone cards or coins on hand.

Here are some options for keeping in contact with friends and family if an emergency happens:

• Contact friends and family via email.
  
  
• Contact a designated family member who lives outside your area.
  
  
• Go to the American Red Cross Safe and Well website.
  
  
• Call the toll-free voice messaging service for Contact Loveones (1-866-78-CONTACT)
  
  
• Complete a change of address form from the USPS if your place of residence is changed for an extended period of time.

Complete your Survival Preparedness Checklist

• Your children should be taught how to use 9-1-1 correctly.
  
  
• Emergency telephone numbers should be posted by your telephones (police, fire, ambulance, etc.)
  
  
• For each type of emergency find the best safe spots in your home.
  
  
• Find the two best escape routes for each room in your home.
  
  
• All family members should be taught how to shut off the main water, gas and electricity at your home.
  
  
• Make sure you have adequate coverage on your homeowners insurance policy.
  
  
• Make sure you have a fire extinguisher and teach everyone in the family how to use it and were it is kept.
  
  
• Smoke detectors should be installed on each level of your home and next to every bedroom doorway.
  
  
• Learn CPR at a Red Cross training class.

Practice your Family Emergency Plan

• Smoke detectors should be checked monthly and batteries should be changed once a year.
  
  
• Your children should be quizzed every 6 months on your emergency plan.
  
  
• Practice fire and emergency evacuation drills.
  
  
• Your Fire Extinguisher(s) should be tested and recharged to manufacturers specifications.

The third step is to Be Informed

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