7 Steps to Developing a Family Disaster Plan

The first thing on our emergency plan list, make sure all family members know and understand how to stay safe in case of an emergency.

Discuss and develop a plan for what each of your family members will need to do in case of an emergency or natural disaster.  For instance, where they will need to go when an evacuation is necessary, where the nearest shelter is located, it may be a local church, hotel, relative’s home, or neighbor.

Make sure to remember to include in your disaster plan all the family pets. Many shelters, hotels, friend’s home, or family will not allow pets, or be able to provide everything your pets need. So do everyone a huge favor, make sure your e prep plan includes provisions for the family cat, dog, turtle, rabbit or any other critters that depend on you.       

We absolutely must know, rehearse and review a home evacuation plan regularly. Look at it the same way as you do the batteries in your home's smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors. Ok, sometimes we forget about checking them in our home. Failing to keep them fresh and up-to-date, you do understand is a bad habit we need to break.  Subsequently, practicing our home evacuation plan will help us know exactly what to do in an emergency, and stay as prepared as possible. Now is the time to get into the habit, the life you save will most likely be that of someone you love.

Develop a family communication plan. Identify a relative or family friend in another city, or state to serve as the contact person all members of the family know to contact in the event family members find themselves separated in an emergency.

Your family’s contact list should include. Names, both land and cell phone numbers, mailing, email, and physical addresses, and remember to denote their relationship, in-laws, aunt or uncle.

It is important to remember, in many cases when a natural disaster or severe weather situation strikes. Telephone landlines and cell phones will be out of service for hours, days or even weeks at a time.  So just, be prepared for the reality of the emergency.    

Store your disaster kit in a portable container and be prepared for an evacuation.

At least 3 days of emergency food and bottled water for each person, family member and let us not forget about our pets.

Include a manual can opener, infant formulas, pet food, canned milk and many other canned foods are great survival food choices in emergencies.

Battery operated weather radio and flashlight.

First aid kit including at least three days’ worth of both family and pet medications.

Personal hygiene products, and care products.

Emergency contact information, names, landline and cell phone numbers and addresses. 

Pet supplies especially for service animals, leads, bedding and a portable kennel for shelter and moral support.

Copies of important papers such as, home and auto insurance policies, deed or mortgage, bank account information and water and light bills that will serve to verify you live where you say you do when someone asks you, and someone will ask. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, residential areas will be off limits to curious sightseers. Where only people that live in the neighborhood can pass the checkpoints and survey the damages to their home and property’s.

Cash is always best, emergency cash or credit card in the event you must evacuate. Cash is always best when no communication systems are working required to process credit or debit card transactions.

Take care to ensure your plan includes things anyone with special needs will require. Such as, walkers, walking stick or blind person’s cane, wheelchair, oxygen generator, breathing machine or cooler for at least 3 days’ worth of diabetic and other necessary medications and personal hygiene items.

Listen to the radio for important public service announcements that will contain information about what you should do, and where to go for help during an emergency. Remember, it is important to remain calm during an actual emergency. Having all the information, available to you will go a long way to help keep everyone calm and focused.

Local city, county and state agencies have disaster plans in place to deal with flooding, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricane and all other natural disasters or emergencies in the area.  Educate yourself and your family as to what the local emergency preparation plan is, keep informed and stick to the plan.

Simple steps you should consider that would reduce potential property damage and catastrophic property loss.

Look into purchasing flood, earthquake, tornado, tsunami insurance and review your insurance coverage with your home insurance agent. Increase coverage amounts to cover the replacement cost of your home's structure, systems, furnishings, and do not forget all your family members’ personnel collectibles and other content. We tend to forget about until it is too late to do anything about it other than cry and mourn the loss.

Put together a complete inventory list, creating a photo album of the all exterior views and interior high lighting specific features of your home, fence, storage shed and all contents, landscape beds and plantings, lawn and patio furnishings including all the kids outdoor toys including such things as trampoline, swing-set and swimming pool and accessories. Remember, to inventory all contents that have monetary and sentimental value. Pay special attention to the furniture in each room, kitchen, dining, living, bedrooms including any games, systems and additional components.