NPM 2010:
Make a Plan
An essential part of being prepared for an emergency is creating a plan of action for your family. When a disaster occurs, your family may not be together so you'll want a plan for: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.
If your family is separated when a disaster occurs, family members should know how to contact one another. It is also important to designate an out-of-town friend or relative to serve as the point person to assist with communications among separated members of your family. Additionally, make sure that each family member knows how to send and receive text messages. If a disaster disrupts network connections, text messages may be able to get through even when phone calls cannot. Click here for a wallet folding card to customize with your important contact information.
When creating your plan, remember to consider your family's specific circumstances. Ask about the emergency plan at your workplace and find out if your neighborhood or apartment building has any plan in place. If not, volunteer to help create one. If you have children, find out what your child's daycare or school plans to do in case of an emergency.
To begin creating your plan, use the online Family Emergency Planning Toolkit.
