Make a Plan

Put a plan together by discussing the questions below with your family, friends or household to start your emergency plan.

1. How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
2. What is my shelter plan?
3. What is my evacuation route?
4. What is my family/household communication plan?
5. Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit?
6. Where is my utility shut-off switch for my gas, water, and power?
7. Are my important documents in one, safe, easy to get to location?

As you prepare your plan tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities. Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets or specific needs like operating medical equipment. Create your own personal network for specific areas where you need assistance. Keep in mind some these factors when developing your plan:

• Different ages of members within your household
• Responsibilities for assisting others
• Locations frequented
• Dietary needs
• Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
• Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
• Languages spoken
• Cultural and religious considerations
• Pets or service animals
• Households with school-aged children

A personal emergency plan helps you organize critical details, such as medical information, emergency contacts and evacuation routes. It’s a simple yet essential step that empowers you to stay informed, make quick decisions and access the resources you need when it matters most.

Take the time to prepare now by documenting important information and gathering essentials for any situation. Your plan will serve as a guide to keep you safe, whether you need to shelter in place or evacuate quickly.

• Download and fill out a Personal Emergency Plan or use it as a guide to creating your own.
• Draw a floor plan of your home. Use a blank sheet of paper for each floor. Mark two escape routes from each room. Make sure children understand the drawings. Post a copy of the drawings at eye level in each child’s room.
• Build a personal network of helpers to meet your specific needs. Ask friends and neighbors to help with kids, pets or others needing assistance in your household.
• Keep a list of contact phone numbers. Memorizing phone numbers is no longer commonplace. Write them down and keep them handy.
  • Include out-of-town contacts as a central point of safety reporting. Long-distance calls may be more reliable.
  • Remember SMS texting may work when phone calls do not.

Once you have developed your plan, you need to practice and maintain it. Review and practice your plan twice a year.

• Ask questions to make sure your family remembers meeting places, phone numbers, and safety rules. 
• Conduct drills such as drop, cover, and hold on for earthquakes. 
• Test fire alarms. 
• Replace and update emergency supplies.
• Grab your emergency kit, just like you will in a real emergency, then drive your planned evacuation route. Plot alternate routes on your map in case roads are impassable. Make sure you have locations and maps saved on devices such as cell phones and GPS units and on paper.