Second - What are you planning for?
- Prepare a List of potential emergencies that you might face, and how to respond to each item on your list.
Third - All emergencies have some things in common, it is these common effects we should try and prepare for. Educate you and your family on some universal responses to a wide range of emergences.
- Teach children how and when to use the emergency numbers.
- Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones, including:
- Local police
- Fire Department
- Ambulance Service
- Gas Company
- Electric Company
- Develop a contact list (family information) for each member of your family, including:
- Work
- School
- Cellular
- Teach children how to make long distance telephone calls.
- Pick one out-of-state and one local contact for family members to call if separated by disaster (it is often easier to call out-of-state than within the affected area).
- Give your family information to your contacts.
- Make a list of radio stations for emergency information.
- Pick two meeting places where you can meet in the event of an incident that makes it impossible for you to get home.
- A place near your home in case of a fire.
- A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.
- Learn how your children's schools will handle emergency situation.
- Discuss what to do about personal injuries.
- Draw a floor plan of your home.
- Mark two escape routes from each room.
- Mark where the main utility switches and valves are located.
- Mark the location of emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and emergency supplies.
- Teach your family how to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at main switches.
Fourth - Prepare a bug out bag and a vehicle emergency kit.
Fifth - Develop a plan to evacuate or shelter in place depending on the circumstances.
Sixth - Begin establishing you food, water, and supplies cache.
Seventh - Start increasing you knowledge base, your skill abilities, and assemble a library of technical and reference material.