Family Disaster Plan
Families should be prepared for all hazards that could affect their area. NOAA’s National Weather Service, FEMA, and the American Red Cross urge every family to develop a family disaster plan.
Weather-Related Injury and Fatality Statistics
Where will your family be when disaster strikes? They could be anywhere—at work, at school, or in the car. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children are safe? Disaster may force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services—water, gas, electricity, or telephones—were cut off?
Follow these basic steps to develop a family disaster plan:
- Gather information about hazards and meet with your family to create a plan.
- Implement your plan. Contact your local National Weather Service office, Emergency Management, and American Red Cross for community warning signals and evacuation plans.
- Discuss your information and pick two meeting places: one outside your home for sudden emergencies and another outside your neighborhood. Choose an out-of-state “family check-in contact” for separated family members.
- Post emergency phone numbers by each phone.
- Install home safety features—smoke detectors, CO alarms, and fire extinguishers.
- Inspect your home for hazards (items that can move, fall, break, or catch fire) and correct them.
- Have everyone learn basic safety: CPR, first aid, how to use a fire extinguisher, and how to shut off utilities.
- Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local EMS number.
- Keep enough supplies for at least three days. Assemble a disaster supplies kit in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers and keep important documents in a waterproof container. Store a smaller kit in your vehicle.
- Copy essential legal documents, IDs, deeds, titles, and banking information onto two encrypted flash drives—one for yourself and one stored off-site with a trusted family member or friend.
- Practice and maintain your plan. Review meeting places, numbers, and safety rules. Conduct drills. Test smoke detectors monthly and change batteries twice a year. Recharge fire extinguishers per manufacturer guidance. Rotate stored food and water every six months.
- Create Your Emergency/Disaster Plan (Ready.gov)
A Disaster Supplies Kit Should Include:
- Three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and non-perishable food.
- One change of clothing and footwear per person.
- One blanket or sleeping bag per person.
- A first aid kit, including prescription medications.
- Emergency tools such as a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and flashlight with spare batteries.
- Extra car keys and a credit card or cash.
- Special items for infants, seniors, or individuals with disabilities.
