Is your family prepared for any sudden catastrophic event or natural disaster? Where would you go? What will you bring with you? How can you stay in touch with each other in case you got separated? By planning, you can minimize the risks your family will face during the face of a tragedy. Who knows, you might be able to save lives.
One way to help protect human lives, especially your family’s, is to have a proper evacuation plan. While some say that you cannot be completely prepared for an emergency, there are always ways to minimize risks. Read on to know how to develop an evac plan with your loved ones.
Listen to your local officials
First, it is necessary to know and understand the systems that your local government has regarding occurring or impending disasters or public emergencies. Being aware of such information can help you determine all the potential threats you’re likely to face and understand how you can evacuate.
To be updated with the latest evac plans and systems, sign up for alerts from national and local organizations. Most of these alerts are text messages and alarms for urgent situations. You may also receive phone calls or spoken messages on your cable TV. Respect the experts’ warnings and follow their tips. They are not experienced in their field just for nothing.
Keep all essential details
Before you could construct your evac plan, you need to have all emergency phone numbers on your note. Take note that this might depend on your local and national. You can note them on paper or print out an emergency contact number worksheet and post it on your fridge or anywhere visible. Emergency hotlines are not only helpful during a natural disaster but also in everyday emergencies.
One number that always comes in handy is the emergency hotline 911. The hotline is ideal for responding to traffic accidents, life-threatening situations, fires, elevator rescues, and more. Other entities to get hotlines from are your local hospitals or doctors, local police department, local fire department, and coast guard.
Pack your emergency bag/kit
Having an emergency kit or bag is another smart way to keep your loved ones safe in times of emergencies or disasters. On top of everything, it is recommended to have at least three days’ worth of water, food, and medications in your kit. You should have one gallon of drinking water for every person, enough supply of nonperishable food such as protein bars and canned veggies. In packing for medications, be sure to keep them in their original prescription bottles.
For electronics, pack extra battery packs and at least one universal phone charger for your phones and other devices. It’s also ideal to buy a satellite hotspot so you can still connect with others wherever you are, either via text or voice call. Be sure to purchase a hand-crank radio, a LED flashlight, and a metal whistle.
Moreover, pack clothes for every family member that’s enough for three days. Choose pieces that can be worn in layers or are lightweight. Also, keep all your important documents in a waterproof bag. Even if you have their scanned copies on a flash drive, it’s best to keep the original prints and photocopies on hand.
Plan meeting points and evac routes
The next thing to plan with your family is your potential meeting points. It’s ideal to have one or two backup meeting points. If you live near the beach or in the coastal, find a place on the higher ground in case of tsunami alerts. Be sure that every member of your familiar knows the meeting places and how to get there by foot or driving.
Apart from meeting points, you should also discuss your evac routes. This is useful if the common routes are not available during disasters like floods and earthquakes. Look for alternative walking paths or roads that you can take, either walking, driving, or riding a bicycle. Familiarize everyone with the new routes. Lastly, ensure all your vehicles are sufficiently fueled to reach your meeting places.
Evacuation plans are designed to help people such as yourself to be prepared for any emergency. And by creating on with your family, you can act efficiently and quickly to get your loved ones into safety. Kindly keep in mind that the list above are just a few tips for you to follow, and we still encourage you to learn more about emergency preparedness. You can check out more guides online or guidelines from your local government.
Meta title: Smart Preparation for an Emergency Home Evacuation
meta desc: Natural disasters can happen anytime and anywhere, and the best way to protect your family from them is to be prepared. Learn how to develop an effective evac plan.
