Developing Your Family Disaster Plan

A few things to consider when creating your own family emergency plan.

• Discuss the type of hazards that could affect the family. Know the home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, wind a tornados.
• Determine if the home is located in a storm surge evacuation zone. If so, know exactly where to go to reach safe shelter, and know how to get there.
• If the home is located outside a storm surge evacuation zone, and the home is well constructed, its residents still need to have a hurricane plan.

• Locate a safe room or the safest areas in the home for each hurricane hazard. Sometimes the safest areas may not be in the home, but within the community.
• Determine escape routes from the home and a designated meeting place nearby.
• Designate and out-of-state contact so all family members have a single point of contact.
• Make a plan now for what to do with pets if the family needs to evacuate. Most hurricane shelters do not accept pets
• Post emergency telephone numbers. Make sure children know how and when to call 9-1-1.
• Review insurance coverage – flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.
• Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a disaster supply kit.
• Monitor a NOAA weather radio for official, real-time weather information.
• Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.

Fore more information on developing your family disaster plan, click here.