Preparedness Plans

Most Important Step

 

Preparedness plans become the guide for all other disaster planning activities.

This is the hardest and most time consuming part of disaster planning is creating a family disaster plan tailored to meet your family's specific needs; however, don't overlook this step because is the most important part of your disaster planning as it becomes the guide for how your family will respond to a disaster.

Planning will help you determine what emergency supplies you will need in a disaster and how you will start the recovery process afterwards.

I have provided an easy to follow outline that covers all aspects of disaster planning.

You will find that following this outline will also help you in evaluating the special needs of each member in your household.

Planning Tips

1. Before you start creating your family disaster plan evaluate each possible hazards for your area.


2. Keep your plan realistic and do-able.


3. Your first priority should be creating a disaster communication plan.


4. Assign tasks for each family member to do during a disaster to help them focus on something other then the situation.


5. Prepare enough supplies to last at least 5 days and increase the amount as you are able.


6. Prepare a basic checklist and modify it for each type of disaster for your area.


7. Don’t forget the pets; include them in your disaster plan.


8. Be prepared to stay put and to evacuate.


9. Store emergency supplies in plastic portable containers and place them where they are easily accessible.


10. Create drill sheets that walk you through a family drill for each event.


11. Place checklists of assigned tasks, supplies, emergency contact numbers and instructions for utility shut-off with your supplies.


12. Equally as important - have a disaster recovery plan.

 

Family Disaster Plan Outline

Just follow the outline provided below and you will have covered all the major topics necessary for disaster preparedness.

I recommend starting with the Emergency Communication Plan but you can jump to the topic that interests you the most, just click of the topic heading and the link will take you to detailed instructions for that topic.

Emergency Communication Plan

• Assign a designated Place to Meet
• Know how to access the Community Warning System
• Emergency Contact List
• Create individual communication cards for each member of the family

Shelter-In-Place

• Know the safe locations and hazards of your home and business
• Have access to duct tape and heavy plastic to cover vents & windows
• Listen to local radio or news for updates
• Store extra food and have a back-up water supply
• Have first-aid kit easily accessible

Evacuation Plan

• Information about what to do when an evacuation is ordered
• Have an envelope for all your important documents should you need to evacuate
• Bug-Out Bag ready with emergency supplies

Special Needs

• Babies & Young Children
• Elderly
• Ill & Disabled

Planning for Pets

• List of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals know that most shelters don’t allow pets.
• Portable carrier
• Emergency supplies for pets
• Identification, collar, leash, and proof of vaccinations for all pets

Disaster Recovery Plan

• How to protect your property
• Stabilize Building and Environment
• Retrieval and Protection
• Damage Assessment
• Salvage Priorities
• Relief Agencies
• Insurance

 

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