You can’t predict a severe weather emergency, so preparing for one is your best line of defense. Below, we will detail the basics of a family preparedness plan that considers a scenario in which your family is not together. For example, you might be at work while your children are at school.

Family Emergency Plan

Every family emergency plan should define three critical locations:

• Neighborhood meeting place
• Out-of-neighborhood meeting place
• Out-of-town meeting place

Give these locations to every immediate family member, caretakers, and other important people, like grandparents or your “in case of emergency” family friend. Having these understood meeting places will come in handy if you need to evacuate your home, neighborhood, or town.

You should also detail the following information:

• School and work locations and contact info
• Pet emergency plans
• Important medical information
• Out-of-town contact that you can rely on for shelter if you need to evacuate your city or state

Ready.gov has an excellent printable form to keep all your emergency information in one place.

Family Emergency Kit

Keep a family emergency kit in a waterproof and airtight container. Here are the basics to include:

• One gallon of water per day, per person
• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery powered radio
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• Whistle
• N95 masks
• A compact tent or plastic sheets and duct tape
• Baby wipes and trash bags (for personal sanitation)
• Diapers (if you have an infant)
• Manual can opener
• Local maps
• Portable chargers with backup batteries for cell phones
• Prescription medication and information
• All relevant location and contact information on a laminated card or in a waterproof baggie.
• Important documents (birth certificates, medical records, passports, etc.) in a fireproof box

Children who are old enough to understand the concept of an emergency should know where the emergency kit is, who to call, and where to go. Little ones should, at the very least, be familiar with their emergency contact if someone else needs to pick them up from school.

Practice your emergency plan with the family, so everyone knows what to do severe weather strikes.

IMAGINE EARLY EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE

Here at Imagine, we take your emergency preparedness plans very seriously. Contact us today to give us your plan and we will do everything in our power to ensure it is followed.