Planning is the most important part of being prepared. When we’re under the stress of an emergency, a trusted and tested plan gives us the confidence to take action immediately, saving lives and protecting property. When you hear the question, “What do we do now?”….It feels good to have the answer!
GETTING STARTED
Before you start planning, you need to know what you’re planning to handle. Think about the most likely emergencies where you live or work. Consider the most common hazards in your area. Do you have household members with special needs? Look at an online map – are there nearby rail lines, highways, or industrial facilities? Do you know how local authorities will notify you of an emergency? Once you understand the full range of possible problems, you can determine how you’ll respond to each one of them.
HOUSEHOLD PLAN
Your household disaster plan is the cornerstone of your preparations. This master document contains the key information that you’ll need to travel, communicate, and take action in a wide range of emergencies. To help you get started, check out the FEMA disaster plan template, which itemizes the things you need to put in writing.
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
If your family isn’t all in the same place when an emergency happens, how will you reunite with them or let them know you’re okay? A communications plan addresses this through multiple methods of communication. Key points of a family communication plan are:
Basic contact information – Make sure everyone in your family has everyone else’s home, work/school, and cellular phone numbers, as well as home and work/school addresses.
Meeting places – Designate primary and backup meeting places if you can’t get home. Your primary location should be in your neighborhood, while the backup should be outside it.
ICE – Put In Case of Emergency contact information on each smartphone’s lock screen (there’s an app for that).
Teach everyone how to text – The way cell networks work means text messages often can get through even when voice calls fail.
Out-of-town contact – In a large-scale disaster, local communication can fail due to the volume of communication, but long-distance phone connections may still work. Designate a far-away relative or friend to serve as a message drop so you can let concerned parties know your status. Save that person as a contact on every cell phone in your family. And make sure your out-of-town contact knows you’ve picked him or her for this duty, too!
Important phone numbers – Family doctors, dentists, and specialists. Insurance agents, attorneys, and pharmacies. Veterinarians, kennels, and pet shops.
School contact information – School, preschool, and daycare phone numbers and administrator/teachers' names and phone numbers.
Work contact information – Names, addresses, and phone numbers of workplaces where any family member may work. Include names and phone numbers of supervisors.
RECORDS PLAN
There’s a saying in legal circles: if you don’t write it down, it didn’t happen. A paper trail is also critical during and after a disaster. Without critical documents, it may be difficult to file insurance claims, regain access to your home after an evacuation, or reunite with family members. Make copies of the following financial and family records and store them in a fire-resistant, waterproof container:
Prescriptions – Include eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions
Automobile titles
Tax records
Stock and bond certificates
Deeds
Wills
Trusts
Medical powers of attorney and do not resuscitate (DNR) forms
Birth certificates
Marriage certificates
Passports
Insurance policies
Household inventory (with records of key property’s serial numbers) for insurance claims
Consider renting a safe deposit box for the originals. Off-site backups are as important for paper records as they are for digital data.
Pet Preparedness Plan
Pets are an important part of a family, so they need to be included in your emergency plan. If you must evacuate your home, you should bring your pets with you. That's why planning is so important. Here's a complete rundown for emergency planning for your pets.
People with Disabilities
Anyone with a physical or developmental disability needs to consider additional issues when planning for emergencies. This includes caregivers as well. Many disabilities require additional supplies, transportation accommodations, and support agencies so that day-to-day life can continue relatively uninterrupted. Here's a detailed planning guide from FEMA for people with disabilities.
Older Adults
Older people and senior citizens need extra care and attention during emergencies. Most emergencies happen when they are not with a caregiver. The most common emergency is when an elderly falls with no one around. According to the National Council for Aging, 1 in 4 Americans 65 and older fall each year. This is the leading cause of death for this age group. It is important to be prepared for any emergency that might affect a senior.
Older people and seniors are prone to more accidents due to their vision, hearing, medication, medical conditions, surgical procedures, and the environment. In many cases, homes need to have additional considerations for elderly residents. These improvements can include non-skid rugs, grab bars, and railings in hallways, bathrooms, and entrances. Lighting may need to be brightened with new fixtures.
Vision weakens as the body gets older. Weak vision can lead to falls or other accidents. Be sure to get yearly eye exams and have your glasses or contacts checked as needed. Make sure you have copies of eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions. Your vision will keep you on track in a crisis situation.
Hearing weakens along with vision. When evacuating or giving directions, it is important to be aware of those who are hard of hearing. This way, you or somebody else can give them individualized attention if needed. If you have an older adult or senior in the family who is unable to hear well, consider a hearing aid to help them.
Diseases and chronic conditions are common as age increases. Most common conditions involve heart disease, cancer, joint pain/arthritis, and altered mental states. If you are or know someone who might have these conditions, make sure others know in case they need extra help or attention.
Medication is extremely important. Some medications can have side effects that can cause dizziness or confusion. Write down every medication you take and note if any side effects are extreme. Keep these notes up-to-date as your prescriptions change.
If you, a friend or relative is a "senior", take a look at FEMA's Disaster Guide for Older Adults.