FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN

Discuss the types of emergencies that might arise – natural or man-made.  Include children where appropriate.

Discuss what you might have to do in case an emergency occurs while you’re at home.  Where and how would you take shelter inside your home?  Do you know which parts of your home are safest under various circumstances (tornado, power outage, chemical spill)?

Discuss plans if you are separated from one another.

Communications – select an out-of-town contact (or out of state) who you would call to report in; make cards with all important phone numbers, e-mail addresses, pager numbers.  Give them to each family member to keep with them.  Give them to school, to work, and to your contact.  Know your area’s EAS (Emergency Alert stations – WTOP, Channel 31) and listen to them for instructions.

Establish a meeting place.   If you must evacuate your home, where would you meet?  If you are separated from one another and cannot return home, where would you meet?  Do you have alternate shelter arrangements that would also include your pets? 

Know your utility systems.  Do you know how to turn off the electricity at the main power box?  Do you know where the main water cut-off is and how to do it?  Do you know where and how to turn off natural gas?  (Caution:  Natural gas should never be turned off unless specifically directed to do so by the power company.  It takes a professional to turn it back on.)  Do you have the necessary turn-off tools? 

Practice and Review – evacuation; shelter in place; separation

Know the plans for your school, your work, your neighborhood.  Know who might need help in an emergency (the elderly, the mobility-impaired, the ill). Consider how you might help others.  Consider taking CPR or First Aid courses.