During an emergency, the more you have planned ahead of time, the calmer and more assured you and your family will be. These six steps will help you through the process:

1. Talk
2. Plan
3. Learn
4. Check Supplies
5. Tell
6. Practice

Commuters

Chemical or Airborne Hazards

Talk

Why Talk About a Family Disaster Plan?
 
Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services, such as water, gas, electricity, or telephones were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away.
 
Families can and do cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together as a team. Knowing what to do is your best protection and your responsibility.
 
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Plan

Plan where to meet after a disaster. Choose two places:

1. Right outside your home, in case of a sudden emergency such as a fire.
2. Outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate your neighborhood.

After determining your meeting places, you should also:

• Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room. Also, determine the best two escape routes out of your neighborhood/community.
• Ask an out-of-town friend to be your "family contact". After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact's phone number.
• Find out how to care for your pets. Many shelters do not allow them because of health regulations. For more information on how to care for your pets, visit the Animal Safety section on www.redcross.org.

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Learn

Each responsible family member should learn how and when to turn off utilities such as electricity, water and gas. Ask someone at the fire department to show you how to use the fire extinguisher you store in your home.

• Learn about your community's disaster warning signals: what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them.
• Learn where the safe spots are in your home for each type of disaster.
• Learn about the disaster plans at your business, your child's school or daycare center, or other places where you and your family spend time.

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Check Supplies

• Review your disaster supplies and replace water and food every six months. Visit the Build a Kit page for more information.
• Check batteries in smoke alarms every year and make sure one is installed on each level of your home.
• Check if you have adequate insurance coverage for each disaster.

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Tell

Tell everyone in the household where emergency contact information is kept. Make copies for each member of the family to carry with them. Be sure to include an out-of-town contact. It may be easier to call out of the area if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service.

Tell your children how and when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services number for help. Post emergency telephone numbers by phones.

Complete the information on an Emergency Contact Card and make copies for each member of your family to carry with them. Be sure to include an out-of-town contact on your Contact Card. You may be able to reach someone out of town when local phone lines are out of service or overloaded.

To download an American Red Cross Emergency Contact Card, click here.

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Practice

Conduct fire drills and practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassible or gridlocked. Practice earthquake and tornado drills at home, school and work. Commit a weekend to update phone numbers, disaster supplies and review your plan with everyone.
 
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Commuters

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to be prepared for emergencies. They can occur quickly and without warning, so planning is a crucial first step toward a calm and effective response. The American Red Cross has worked with the U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Transit Administration and the American Public Transit Association to develop information to help you prepare for emergencies while commuting.
 
Planning
Contact Information Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by an emergency:

• Make sure people close to you know how to reach you and you know how to reach them.
• Designate an out-of-town friend or relative to be the contact point for your family. In an emergency, it may be easier to call long distance as local phone lines may become overloaded.
• Write down your contact information and encourage each member of your family to do the same. Keep it current and keep it with you. Information may include:
  • Your transit system telephone number and Web site address: ___________
  • Local transit police (non-emergency): ___________
  • Local transit police emergency number: ___________
  • Your emergency phone number: ______________
  • Family emergency phone numbers: ____________ _____________ ____________
  • An out-of-town contact: Name________________________ Phone number ___________
  • Your family emergency meeting place: ______________________

Meeting Place

• Identify a location outside your neighborhood where your family can meet if your home is effected or the area is evacuated.

Alternate Modes of Travel

• Take time now to learn alternate routes and ways to get where you need to go. There are often multiple ways to reach a destination.
• Keep a local map with you in case you need to walk or take another form of transportation.

Information

• For more information on how to prepare your family, home and business for emergencies, contact your local American Red Cross chapter, your local transit authority and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at www.ready.gov

Prepare and Practice

• Ask your employer if there is an emergency plan for your workplace and incorporate it into your personal plan.
• Occasionally review, update and practice your preparedness plans.
• While commuting, carry with you a small flashlight, dust mask and a pair of protective gloves.

 
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Chemical or Airborne Hazards

When there is concern about a potential exposure to a chemical or other airborne hazard, local officials will advise you to "shelter-in-place." This is unrelated to taking shelter on the lowest level of your home in case of a natural disaster like a tornado.To shelter-in-place:

1. Close and lock all windows and exterior doors.
2. Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.
3. Close the fireplace damper.
4. Get your disaster supplies kit and make sure the radio is working.
5. Go to an interior room without windows that is above ground level. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed.
6. Using duct tape, seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room.
7. Listen to your radio or television for further instructions. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

 
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