MAKE A PLAN

Creating a plan is a critical step in emergency preparedness. If you are not with your family when disaster strikes, your first priority afterwards will be reconnecting with them. Having a plan helps ensure your family members know what to do and where to go following a disaster.

Young couple using a computer,checking bills and paperwork.

It’s very possible you’ll be away from your family when a disaster strikes. Between work, school, outside activities and responsibilities, there are likely more than a few possibilities on where you and your loved ones might be. For this reason, it’s important to:

  • Know which types of disasters could affect your area
  • Know how to contact one another and reconnect if separated
  • Establish a meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find

Start building a plan by discussing these 4 important questions with your family, friends, or household.

    1. How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
    2. What is my shelter plan?
    3. What is my evacuation route?
    4. What is my family/household communication plan?
Supplies
  • Water:  Continue to build your water supply of 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days
  • Food: Continue to add to your supply of non-perishable food
  • Medicines/First Aid: Collect at least 1 week of daily medications and common first aid supplies. Include necessities like spare eyeglasses, hearing aid batteries, syringes, EpiPens
  • Chlorine bleach
EASY TASK

Download and complete a family emergency plan or use as a guide to create your own. Ready.gov offers a variety of emergency plans and guides for families, kids, and commuters. Visit www.ready.gov/plan to view or download.

Specific Needs

While building a plan, consider specific needs your family has. Do you have infants, children, or elderly family members in your household? How about pets? Do you need electricity for medical equipment? Adjust your plan with these needs in mind.

Create a Network

Work with friends and neighbors to build a network. Is there some-one who can provide child care or care for your pets/animals in an emergency? Do you have skills you can offer your neighbors?

One Step Ahead

Practice your plan with your family and network. Does each family member know the plan and have a copy of it? Do they know where to meet following a disaster in case phone, cellular, and Internet services are unavailable?