Did You Know?

MAKING A PLAN

When making a plan, it is important to include your entire family, including any caregivers for your children. Make sure that you plan on sharing responsibilities and work together as a team. This is especially great for kids because it empowers them rather than scares them. A plan is so important because if there is a situation where you do need to leave your home, everyone can remain calm because everyone knows their job!

Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen in your community. Explain what to do in each case, i.e., earthquake, fire, severe weather.

Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so make sure you plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations.

Familiarize yourself with the emergency plans of your child’s school.

When making a plan you need the following:
Remember to always remain calm.
Create an emergency phone numbers list including an out of town contact.
Know the best way to evacuate your home.
Create an escape route and practice it.
Consider: If we get separated, where should we meet. You should choose 2 meeting places depending on the situation. If you are all at home, if you are not all at home.
Who will get the children? This is important if you have more than one child. Think about how your home is laid out. Can one person get to both children? If your kids are younger, you might want to have one parent get one child and the other parent get the other child.
Depending on how much time you have to leave, who will get the supplies?
If you have pets, make sure you make a plan for them too.

Suggested Topics for Family Discussion in the event of any emergency including earthquake and fire

As you make your plans imagine living under these three possibilities:

• Your house suffers some damage, broken windows, fallen plaster, minor roof damage. Some of your utilities have been disrupted but you can stay in your home.

• Your house is so badly damaged that it is unsafe for occupancy. You must not stay in your home but could camp out in your backyard or a nearby shelter.

• Your entire neighborhood had been declared unsafe and you must relocate a distance from home for a period of time, possibly two weeks.


1. How can we prepare ourselves at home?
2. In the event of an earthquake, what are potential dangers in our home.
3. Have a plan and rehearse it. After talk about how it went and if you need to make some changes. Escape route, where do we all meet.
4. Are we prepared to evacuate our home in less than 30 minutes?
5. Is there an emergency shelter location in our neighborhood?
6. Which out of state relative or friend will you use as a contact?
7. How much ready cash should we keep in our home? Banks and ATMs will not be working.
8. What is our plan if an earthquake strikes while at work, school, a Saturday night?
9. What emergency supplies do you need?
10.Where should you keep your emergency supplies?


Remember to include your family in all of your planning and discussions!

Safety Tips

Here is a list of several safety tips (not in any particular order) for you and your family. Read them over and see how many you can implement in your life!

• The most important thing to remember in the even of an earthquake or other emergency situation is to remain calm.

• The three basic actions recommended by the American Red Cross when you begin to feel an earthquake are to drop to the floor, take cover and hold on.

• Always keep at least ½ a tank of gas in your car.

• Your emergency kit should include food, water, first aid, search and rescue equipment, lighting, comfort and sanitation products to sustain each person for at least 3 days.

• Keep your emergency kit in a place that is easily accessible such as in a coat closet or under your bed.

• Always keep a pair of tennis shoes and water in your car.

• Keep all your important documents such as insurance (including medical, home and car), birth certificates, doctor’s name, medical records and passport in one place for easy access.

• Keep cash on hand in small bills.

• Have an out of state contact person.

• Make an evacuation plan with your family. Discuss it and practice it once every 6 months to a year.

• Anchor heavy furniture to the wall.

• Never hang anything over a baby’s crib.

• Change the batteries in your flashlight once a year. OR purchase a battery less flashlight which never needs batteries.

• It is recommended that you have enough supplies on hand for 2-3 weeks including food and water.

• Have an emergency kit in your car.

• Secure TV’s and furniture with earthquake safety straps.

• Use museum putty under precious collectibles to secure them.

• If you feel an earthquake starting and you are in your house, get over in the corner of the room away from windows, large mirrors and shelves.

• Never light candles after an earthquake.

• Make sure your water heater is strapped in place securely.

• The recommended amount of water you should keep on hand is one gallon, per person, per day.

• If you are taking medication you should have an extra month on hand at all times.

• If you wear glasses, you should have an extra pair on hand at all times.

• It is important to know where your home’s shut off valves are for your gas and water. Know how to turn the gas and water off at your home.

• Keep a gas shut off tool next to your gas line.

• Always check expiration dates on food. Even emergency food rations and water have expiration dates – usually 5 years.

• Rotate food that you are storing every 6 – 8 months.

• The most dangerous hazard after an earthquake is fire.

• If you are driving while an earthquake hits, pull to the side of the road and avoid buildings and trees.

• Call your local fire department and ask them where the closest emergency shelter is.

• If an earthquake hits while you are in bed, DO NOT get out of bed until the ground stops shaking.

• Know the evacuation plan at your child’s school.

• Have a battery-operated or solar powered radio or television on hand for the latest emergency information.

• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.