When disaster strikes, whether it be natural or man-made, a family needs to plan ahead to stay safe, stay together and weather the storm. Making a family disaster plan and talking about protocol with your family before a disaster hits can help your family stay calm and safe throughout any emergency. Call a family meeting and discuss the four components of a successful family plan so that everyone in your family knows what to do in the face of a disaster. Practice your plan so you feel confident in your family's safety.
Survival Gear and Supplies
Every family should talk about having survival gear and supplies on hand. Each member of the family should have a backpack that is easily accessible, filled with at least three days of supplies of food, comfort items and hygiene items, says the Washington Military Department Emergency Management Division. Make your kits and then plan for someone to be in charge of getting the kits in case of a disaster.
Escape Route
A family's disaster plan must include appropriate escape routes from the home. Talk about safe ways to get out of the house if doorways are blocked, and install rope ladders by every second-story window in the home. Teach your children how to use the rope ladders, and make sure that every room has at least two ways to get out safely. Texas A&M urges families to draw escape route maps and refer to them often so children are familiar with the right way to get out of the home.
Meeting Place
A disaster may not strike when all of your family is at home together. Your children might be at school, parents might be on business trips or spread out through other cities and towns. A reliable meeting place is an essential component of your disaster plan. Choose someplace central, where all of your children can get to safely. Talk to your child's school about disaster safety protocol; they may already have a safe spot where children will be bussed for parents to pick them up.
Communication
Your family disaster safety plan should include a means of communication. During a disaster, power may be out, so you'll need to find alternative ways to get in touch with each other. Include a battery-powered cell phone in your survival kits. The Federal Emergency Management Agency urges everyone to carry a communication card with them in case of emergency or disaster, which lists different phone numbers and how to get in touch with your family members no matter where they are.
