Emergency Plan
Everyone should have an emergency plan that is developed well in advance of any disaster that might hit their area. Some of us live in zones more prone to certain natural disasters such as tornadoes, active volcanoes, hurricaines, floods,tsunami areas, etc. At school we learn what to do if an earthquake or other disaster strikes, but families and individuals should have a plan in place that will help us cope effectively at home with an emergency.
Go over the following list with your children and spouse to cover the following:
- a contact person in or out of town.
- health information and where documents are stored.
- a meeting place to reunite with family members in case of separation.
- a person designated to pick up your child or family if you are unable to.
- decisions regarding the pets during an emergency and their priority compared to people safety. This can be a difficult conversation to have, but if you have all the standard pet safety plans in place, at least you know you have done what you can to take care of the pet.
- the decisions involving pet safety, what to do with them, and the priority of personal safety before pet safety, which can be a touchy subject for those who love their pets like family.
9-1-1 calls: Teach your family when to call these services and when to call the services in the phone book. 9-1-1 is for reporting fires, reporting crimes, and when saving a life.
During an emergency, follow your emergency plan, take your emergency kit which you should have put together ahead of time, keep a listening ear on the radio and television for alert updates and evacuation orders, stay where you are until all is safe or until evacuation is ordered.
One important mistake we make is forgetting about designated someone to pick up family members. Children should be assigned a password, in order for them to know when it is okay to go with someone else. This password should be frequently tested in order to ensure they do not forget it. They need to know they cannot share this password with anyone. Its very funny providing scenarios and seeing them handle themselves with a password, but in real life, it is not funny if they are vulnerable to leave with someone they shouldnt. Practice scenarios so they know what to do regardless of what the person tells them.
The 72-hour emergency plan is a worldwide disaster planning phrase that allows people to think of what they would need for the initial three day period and to be absolutely ready and stocked with supplies for that time period.
Having an emergency plan also includes identifying safe areas in the home in the event such as an earthquake or a tornado. Identify the most heavy furniture to drop under, how to cover your head and torso to protect from flying objects and heavy items falling, windows and outer walls to stay away from. When outdoors, keep away from trees, walls, power lines and buildings. If you are in a car, keep off of bridges, away from buildings, power lines, and park the car off the side of the road until the tremors have stopped.
Radio Stations " a decent radio should be able to pick up on AM 530 " 1710 khz, FM 88 " 108 mhz, Shortwave 3 -12 mhz with antenna.
Television Stations " VHF channels and Weather Alert channels.