Emergency Preparedness - A Plan of Action!
Posted: Wednesday, September 03, 2008
by Lorrie Streeter
Survival Street
Most people at some time in their life will be faced with an emergency situation. It could be the result of a fire, flood, lightning or sever electrical storm, earthquake, mudslide, avalanche or various other forms of disaster situations. An emergency plan will help you and your family or colleagues know what to do in case of an emergency. Every household, school and business needs an emergency plan.
When making your emergency plan, consider the following guidelines.
Family Preparedness:
- Have a 72-hour emergency survival kit by the door for easy access (an extra one in the trunk of your car is also a good idea)
- Safe exits from your home (consider doors, windows, stairs – never elevators) and neighbourhood – practice once a month so it will be an automatic response when an emergency does occur
- A meeting place to reunite with your family members or roommates
- A designated person to pick up your children should you be unavailable to do so
- A place for your pet(s) to stay
- Contact person(s) close-by and out-of-town (include name, address and phone number)
- Pertinent health information (consider keeping a copy in your 72-hour emergency kit)
- Location of fire extinguisher (know how to use it), water and gas shut-off valves, electrical box, floor drain (keep a wrench near for turning off valves)
- Possible risks in your region
School Preparedness:
- Safe exits from your school building
- Possible transportation of children out of the neighbourhood (buses or parent vehicles)
- Prearranged meeting places to reunite children with their family members
- A coordinated group of contact persons to relay information between parents and school personnel
- Phone number parents are encouraged to call specifically for emergency information
- The location of your fire extinguishers (school staff should know how to use them)
- Possible risks in your region
Business Preparedness:
- Have a 72-hour emergency survival kit by your desk or within easy reach
- Safe exits from your building and neighbourhood (never use the elevator)
- The location of building fire extinguishers (personnel should know how to use them)
- Possible risks in the region
- Building codes and regulations
- Internal and external resources and capabilities
- Take your pet(s) with you - leaving them in a "safe place" is not the best option
- Try relatives, friends, kennels, vet clinics, motels or campgrounds that allow pets
- Keep a copy of your list of possible shelters in your Emergency Kit
- If you know of a possible disaster situation or severe storm brewing, keep your pets with you
- Make sure your pets are wearing collars and identification tags
An emergency situation does not have to be a disaster. Be Prepared - Before Disaster Strikes!
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Great article, Lorrie. Some very good informative advice and suggestions. We can never take emergency preparedness for granted. Being proactive makes so much more sense than reactive. We should all have learned our lesson from Katrina--I think New Orleans did.SandraThank you for your input. I must agree wih you. Common sense tells us that no one can really expect to be exempt from facing a disaster. It is better to prepare for one than wish you had.
Hi Lorrie, these are great tips. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. Welcome to SearchWarp! God Bless you! TeresaThank you for your comment and the heart-warming welcome!
Very helpful piece, Lorrie. I can see how unprepared our family is right now! Thanks for the free information. ~Garswa
Lorrie all excellent suggestions. people have a false sense of security especially those who live in Florida and have cement block homes or evacuate to government shelters. They just do not understand storm surge, intensity, wind and every other factor. Their hurricane code windows just maybe the only thing left after the storm. Yet, being a Contingency Plan Owner, I find little to no interest in preparation. They depend on their government. How sad,a s the people in New Orleans found out.Good job.
Unfortunately, too many people seem to have to find out the hard way.
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