Creating an emergency plan for your home is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of your household. Natural disasters, fires, and other emergencies can strike unexpectedly. An emergency plan can mitigate risks and provide clear, actionable steps at a time when every second counts.
Here are a few tips to establish an emergency plan for your household:
Identify Potential Risks
Whether it’s earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, or wildfires, understanding the scenarios likely in your area allows you to tailor your plan accordingly.
(Be sure to check your home’s insurance policies as well to ensure your home is covered for such natural disasters!)
Establish a Communication Strategy
In an emergency, typical communication channels might be disrupted, so having a designated meeting place and a way to reach each other is important. Ensure everyone in your household knows how to contact emergency services and has a list of emergency contacts.
Gather Supplies
A well-stocked emergency kit should include water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, flashlights, batteries, and any necessary medications. If you have any pets, have supplies ready for them as well.
Practice
Have practice drills so that everyone in the house knows what to do and can act quickly under pressure. Familiarity with the plan reduces panic and ensures a more efficient response in the event of an emergency.
In the event of a fire in your home, here are a few additional things beyond practicing your escape to get you and those in your home as prepared as possible:
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- Install the right number of smoke alarms. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year.
- Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.
- Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home and know the family meeting spot outside of your home.
- Smoke is dangerous. Get low and go!
- Decide where to meet once you get outside.
- Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
- Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes catch on fire.
Work through this helpful worksheet from the American Red Cross to map out your home’s emergency exits and fire escape routes. (If you recently purchased your home, consider calling the selling agent of your property to ask for a copy of the home’s floorplan.)
Update as Needed
Changes in household members, health conditions, and even neighborhood developments can affect your plan. Keeping your emergency plan up-to-date as these changes occur ensures its effectiveness.