It is vital to comprehend and follow emergency preparedness measures to avoid threats and keep things in order. Our guide, ‘The 6 Steps for Emergency Preparedness,’ outlines how to prepare your family for a disaster.

What’s in the Plan?

The most effective emergency preparedness is a map of an evacuation plan. It is important to understand that it is always good to know the shortest and safest ways out of your neighborhood. This plan should be as simple as possible, with the main and backup routes in case of obstacles such as fallen trees, flooded roads, or closed highways.

Transportation is the next factor in evacuating as fast and safely as possible. Although ensuring your vehicle is always fueled and ready to go is equally important, do not over-rely on it. Think of other possibilities; maybe a neighbor or a friend is available for cooperation, or even a bus if necessary. This adaptability will reduce your risk and make you feel you have many choices, increasing your security level.

Another important component of preparedness is the security of homes and other buildings. If there is time, turn off water, gas, and electricity, and close all the windows and doors. This action helps safeguard your property and discourages would-be looters from attacking your home.

Select a meeting point—a safe place where family members can assemble after a disaster strikes. This is important because it helps confirm that all people are safe and none are missing. The place could be at a friend or relative’s house, a local landmark, or any other familiar and accessible place.

Revise and Update

Last but not least, periodic revision of the evacuation plan with all household members helps ensure that nobody is confused about what they must do during the evacuation. It is also important to practice because with disasters, the more you practice, the more confident you become in your disaster plan, thus regaining a sense of order in the chaos.

The following steps will help you be ready to face any emergency without nervousness.

1) Emergency Contact Plan

It is not easy to stay connected with loved ones during an emergency. You need a good contact plan for safety and peace of mind. Discussing necessary items is essential to an emergency preparedness plan.

• An easy-to-access list of emergency contact information, including family members, friends, neighbors, workplaces, schools, and local emergency services. 
• Instructions for during emergencies include alternatives like landlines, email, walkie-talkies, and radios if other communications are disrupted. If networks are jammed, text messaging may be more reliable. Set up a group chat for such an emergency.
• Keep contact information secure and easy to access for everyone. I recommend placing a physical copy in your emergency kit and a digital version on all phones. If you have a cloud service, keep the information there for a backup in case other methods fail. The cloud is also an excellent place to keep essential instructions for everyone.

2) Shelter Options

Knowing where you can safely hunker down is vital in any emergency. Establishing shelter options 0can mean survival.

Start by locating area shelters. These might be community centers, schools, or designated emergency shelters. Check out their locations ahead of time and know how to get there quickly. Stay informed of their capacity and services, such as food, water, and medical aid.

Understanding the policies and requirements of these shelters is key. Some might not allow pets, or they may have other rules about what you are allowed to bring into the shelter. Contact them beforehand for a list of restrictions.

If local shelters are not ideal for your family, consider shelters in more distant locations. If getting out of your immediate area is necessary, you need to know where to go. Plan for places a bit farther for longer stays if needed. Maybe a relative’s house or a friend’s place several towns away.

Having shelter information can help ensure you’re not caught off guard.

3) Building an Emergency Kit

An emergency kit is your survival lifeline. Pack it with everything you need to stay safe and comfortable.

Start by gathering the necessary survival gear and equipment needed for your survival. Include flashlights, batteries, a multi-tool, sturdy shoes, gloves, and weather-appropriate outerwear. Also include a good quality first aid kit packed with bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, and other medical supplies. If any of your family members rely on prescription drugs, it is a good idea to keep at least a one-month supply. Some doctors are sympathetic to preppers and will provide a backup supply of one or two months for your emergency kit. If you keep a backup supply, remember they are best stored in a cool, dry place, and always rotate them with your other supplies. Using and replenishing them with my regular refill guarantees my supply remains fresh. However, remember when storing backup meds, your insurance will probably not cover the additional supply.

Your kit needs several days’ worth of non-perishable food. Choose canned goods, dried fruits, nuts, and energy bars. Always check expiration dates and rotate your supplies regularly.

Water is vital; you need at least one gallon per person daily. Store your water in sturdy, leak-proof containers. If you need to rely on other water sources, purification tablets or a portable filter are great choices. A water purification straw is a handy item to keep on hand for emergencies where you are outside and unsure of finding safe water.

Personal Special Needs Items

Personal supplies and medicines are a must. Pack items like prescription meds, hygiene products, extra glasses, and any special needs items for your family members. Don’t forget a few comfort items to keep their spirits up—maybe a favorite book, toy, and easy-to-carry games like a deck of cards.

Store your emergency kit in a safe place and ensure everyone in your household knows where to find it and can carry it if needed. Being prepared means being ready to grab and go at a moment’s notice.

4) Safekeeping Important Documents

When an emergency strikes, having your family’s important papers ready to pick up and go is a must. Consider all papers you wouldn’t want to lose and make these a part of your emergency preparedness.

Gather essential documents, such as social security cards, birth certificates, and passports. These papers are difficult to replace, and you’ll need them for identity verification. Consider other important documents like property deeds, medical records, insurance policies, credit card information, and banking details. These are time-consuming to replace and should be included with your other important papers.

Invest in a fireproof and waterproof container to store your documents securely. A digital copy of these items, along with your emergency contact information, should be stored on a cloud server for easy access by all family members. A cloud service means accessing important information even if the physical copies are lost or damaged. When storing items in the cloud, scan your documents and save them in PDF format. Use strong passwords and encryption for added security.

Keep your document container close to your emergency kit to grab it quickly. Ensure family members know where it is and how to access the digital versions.

5) Keeping Informed

Being aware and staying informed gives you the edge in an emergency. There are several ways to ensure you are not caught unaware.

First, identify impending hazards specific to your area. Whether the emergency is weather-related, a terrorist attack, civil unrest, or other, knowing the threats helps you prepare better. Local news, emergency alert apps, and weather forecast services are great for this.

Locate all emergency shelters near you. Keep a list of these places where everyone in the family can find it, and map out the fastest routes to get there. Update this information regularly, as shelter locations can change based on the nature of the emergency.

Knowing which evacuation routes are safe or unsafe is a must. Local authorities often provide this information through various channels. Sign up for emergency notifications from your city or county, and follow trusted sources on social media. Keeping an emergency radio on hand is always a good idea in the event other news information gets cut off. Joining groups that track this information is a great way to keep informed in case other news notifications are disrupted.

Stay updated with credible information sources. Trustworthy local radio stations, government websites, and official apps can keep you in the loop. Avoid rumors or unverified sources that might spread panic.

When standard communications are disrupted during civil unrest, terrorist attacks, war, or other hazards, knowing where to access news is important. Here is a list of organizations that can keep you updated on amateur radio frequencies. I recommend joining one of these groups as they combine amateur radio (Ham radio) communication with survivalist and preparedness activities, ensuring members stay connected and informed when other communication methods are down.

Survivalist Groups Operating Radio Communications

6) Personal and Family Safety

Once your preparedness plans and preparations are mapped out, it’s time to make any necessary improvements. As your daily routine changes, your emergency preparedness plans must change, too. It is important to review your emergency plan steps regularly and include checking your emergency preparedness supplies.

I urge you to involve the whole family. Hold regular family meetings to review evacuation routes, emergency contacts, and shelter plans to ensure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities.

Staying in touch with your community is another important step. Seek out local emergency preparedness groups and participate in community drills. These activities help build a sense of community and shared responsibility, vital during an emergency. The adage of getting to know your neighbors is true and important in turbulent times.

Finally, stay committed to your emergency plans. Don’t put them on the back burner to do at a later date. Just a small amount of effort toward your emergency plans goes a long way in keeping your family safe.

Regular Updates and Practicing Your Plan

Your emergency preparedness plans will grow and evolve as your needs change. Include regular updates and practice sessions to keep everything current and everyone ready.

I review and update our written plans semi-annually. Changes in our family’s routine, different job locations, or new risks in our area prompt quick revisions. I like to keep things flexible and adapt to new information or lessons we learn from practice drills.

Practicing our emergency preparedness plans is super important. We schedule drills at least twice yearly so everyone knows what to do. During these drills, we simulate different scenarios to cover a range of possible situations. This can make the difference in a real emergency, reducing panic and improving response times.

I also highly recommend staying informed about new area risks and recommended best practices. We like to attend local workshops, community meetings, or training sessions whenever possible. Remaining engaged with our community enhances our preparedness. With the success of this step, we have built a good support network in our community.

Finally, I recommend regular conversations about emergency preparedness. We make it a regular part of family discussions, encouraging everyone to contribute new ideas. The more comfortable everyone is with the 6 steps for emergency preparedness plans and procedures, the better prepared we will all be.