| Emergency planning is something that no one really | | | | well. It is very rare that everyone you love will be in |
| wants to think about. However, the reality is that | | | | the same place at once, and emergencies will |
| today it is important to make plans that will work in | | | | probably occur when one of more of your family |
| the face of any emergency. The bottom line is that | | | | members is gone. Therefore, you need to discuss |
| many times we just do not know what is going to | | | | plans with your family, and make sure that you stick |
| happen, so it is always best to have a plan. | | | | to them. First of all, your plans should include |
| First of all, your emergency planning should be geared | | | | situations where you will remain at home and |
| towards each situation that you are going to be in. | | | | situations where you will leave. That way, your family |
| Remember that emergencies do not occur at times | | | | can decide whether to come home or to meet you |
| that are convenient for you and fit into your | | | | at another location. |
| schedule. Therefore, having several emergency plans | | | | For situations where you will be leaving home, have a |
| is always a good idea. | | | | safe point where your family can all meet together. |
| An emergency plan for your place of work is crucial. | | | | You should have a number of these, based upon the |
| Base this around the emergency plan that your | | | | type of emergency and how large it is. For instance, |
| employer has set down for you. However, remember | | | | have a spot near your home to use as a meeting |
| that in the face of a real emergency, you need to do | | | | place in the event of an emergency in your home, |
| what is best for you and for your family. Therefore, | | | | such as a fire. That way, your family can all converge |
| keep a small emergency pack in your work place. Be | | | | in the same area, which should be within site of your |
| sure to include a change of clothes, good shoes, | | | | home. |
| bottled water, and a flashlight. | | | | You should also have a neighborhood gathering point. |
| If an emergency occurs, you should have a good | | | | This can be someone else's home, or even a |
| idea of what the emergency is, and whether it is | | | | neighborhood park. If family members return to your |
| safest to stay at work or head home. Keep in mind | | | | home gathering site, and no one is there, they can |
| that you might not be able to drive, so know how to | | | | go to the neighborhood gathering point. Include |
| get home both driving other routes, and walking if | | | | instructions in your emergency plan about how you |
| need be. Often, in an emergency, you will need to | | | | will leave notes or information at the neighborhood |
| walk a long distance. Therefore, think about this | | | | gathering point, if you are moving on, so that your |
| route ahead of time. | | | | family can meet you. From that point, it is a good |
| Your emergency plan for traveling should be | | | | idea to have a community gathering point. This should |
| extensive, but should be such that it can be changed | | | | be a place in the center of town where all of your |
| at a moment's notice. A good thing to have is an | | | | family members can gather if they need to find you. |
| emergency kit that you can keep in your car. Keep | | | | Also, it should be a place where information can be |
| extra clothes, flashlights, food and water, as well as | | | | left for one another, if you need to move on. |
| medical supplies and emergency radios in a kit that | | | | Lastly, you should have an overall gathering point for |
| you can access no matter where you are. This will | | | | your family, if the emergency is such that you need |
| help you to be prepared in the event of an | | | | to leave town. This can be the town where your |
| emergency. | | | | grandparents live, or some other place that is |
| The emergency planning for your home should be | | | | accessible by highways, but away from where you |
| the most thought out. Keep an emergency pack near | | | | currently are. This can be a place for your entire |
| the door if you need to evacuate your home quickly. | | | | extended family to gather in the event of an |
| This should include high protein food, bottled water, | | | | emergency. It can also be a place where everyone |
| first aid kits, a flashlight and an emergency radio, and | | | | can wait for the family to gather, before you decide |
| any special supplies you might need, such as | | | | what to do next. |
| medicines. Also, keep copies of important documents, | | | | Remember that cell phones, land lines, and electricity |
| such as birth certificates and passports, in this kit as | | | | might not work during an emergency. Therefore, be |
| well. The goal should be to have a kit that you can | | | | sure to have an emergency plan that everyone in |
| grab as you leave the house, and hypothetically the | | | | your family can follow. If everyone understands what |
| kit can contain everything you need to survive in an | | | | to do in an emergency, there will be no question |
| emergency situation. | | | | about it, and everyone will be able to survive. |
| Your plan must include a strategy for your family, as | | | | |