Meeting Locations:

• Near Home: Choose a safe place just outside your home, like a mailbox or a specific tree. This is for situations like a fire where you must leave the house quickly. 

• Outside Your Neighborhood: Select a second, safe, and accessible place outside your neighborhood, such as a library or community center. This is a backup if you cannot get back to your home or community due to road closures. 

Evacuation Plan:

• Know Your Routes: Identify at least two ways to exit your home and practice these routes with your family. 

• Transportation: Plan how you will get to your meeting location. 

Emergency Supplies Kit:

• Water and Food: Pack enough non-perishable food and water for at least three days. 

• First Aid & Medications: Include a first-aid kit, prescription medications, and any necessary medical equipment. 

• Important Documents: Keep copies of vital documents like insurance policies, identification, and medical records in a waterproof bag. 

• Other Essentials: Add a battery-operated radio, a flashlight, cash, and any necessary supplies for pets or people with special needs. 

Special Needs Considerations:

• Address the specific needs of children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and pets in your plan and kit. 

Practice Your Plan:

• Hold regular family meetings to review the plan. 

• Practice elements of your plan, like evacuation drills, to ensure everyone knows what to do. 

• Update your plan regularly to reflect changes in family needs and local risks. 

Communication Plan:

• Out-of-Town Contact: Designate an out-of-town friend or relative as a central contact. They may be easier to reach during a widespread disaster than local contacts. 

• Emergency Contact List: Create a list of phone numbers for family members, neighbors, and other important contacts. 

• Texting Preference: In an emergency, communication lines can be overloaded. Encourage family members to text, not talk, to leave lines open for emergency services.