Draw Up A Floor Plan Of Your Home
Use a separate sheet of paper for each floor.
Mark Two Escape Routes From Each Room
Make sure that children, especially, understand the drawing and know when it may be
safer to use one escape route from a room over another.
Post A Copy Of This Plan In Each Bedroom
Be sure to post it at eye level so children can read it easily.
Establish Two Meeting Places Outside Of The Home
Choose one spot close by -- a neighbors' yard, for example; choose another spot that is outside the immediate area, but still within
walking distance.
Communication Is Key
Choose An Out-Of-Town Contact
It may be easier to call long distance than to call across town after a catastrophic emergency, so choose a contact person
from outside your town to be in charge of communicating with family members who may be separated after a disaster.
Make sure every family member knows or memorizes this contact's phone number and has the means to call them as
well, either by carrying enough coin at all times, or by carrying a
prepaid phone card.
Keep trying
The phone system is likely to be bogged down or down altogether, but be patient and keep trying.
Find out what the emergency plans are in the places where you work, go to school, or where your children spend
their after-school time (daycare, babysitter). If there isn't a plan in existence, consider volunteering to create one. Coordinate
those plans with your home plan.
Know your neighbors. Discuss how you may work together in the event of an emergency. Assign someone to be in
charge of checking on elderly or disabled neighbors. Be aware of who may possess special skills that could come in handy in an
emergency, such as doctors or nurses, or special equipment, such as generators.
Deciding Whether To Stay Or Go
Use Your Common Sense
Deciding whether to stay or go will greatly depend upon the type of emergency you are experiencing. You should plan for both
possibilities, but understand that local authorities may not be able to direct you either way. You may have to rely on your
own common sense as well as any available information to see you through. Monitor local television or radio if possible for official
instructions, but go with your gut instinct otherwise. If told by local authorities to evacuate, do so immediately.
Staying Where You Are
There will be times when staying put is safer than evacuating. One good example is if there is the possibility of the air outside being
contaminated. If local officials indicate that this may be the case, or if you can actually see debris in the air, it is best to seal
yourself, your family, and your pets inside:
Lock doors and close windows and air vents.
Turn off fans and ventilation
Cover all door and window openings with 2-4 millimeter thick plastic sheeting
(cut slightly larger than the openings). This can be prepared ahead and should be labeled so
that it can be applied quickly with duct tape.
Move to an interior room with the least amount of doors and windows, if possible.
Know how to turn off your utilities (electricity, gas, and water) in the event that you are instructed to, or if there is damage to your home. Make
sure that other family members know how to do this as well. Keep in mind, that if you turn your gas off a professional will
need to turn it back on, and that you should not attempt to do this yourself.
Getting Out Of Dodge
Plan several alternatives in the event that evacuation becomes necessary. If the family is not together at the time, decide
upon a meeting place both within your neighborhood and outside of it where all of you can meet. Be sure to take your emergency
survival kit with you when you leave. Also, take your pets but have a plan in place in case you end up staying somewhere
that will not allow animals. Shut off utilities if instructed to do so, and lock your doors when you leave. You might leave a note to
alert others of your destination as well as your time of departure.
