Tips to Help You and Your Family
Prepare for an Emergency

Preparedness tip #1
Take a minute to imagine there is an emergency, like a fire in your home an
you need to leave quickly. What's the best escape routes from your home?
Find at least 2 ways out of each room. Now write it down-you've got the
beginning of a plan.

Preparedness tip #2
Pick a place to meet after a disaster. Designate 2 meeting places. Choose
one right outside your home, in case of a sudden household emergency, such
as a fire. The second place you choose needs to be outside your
neighborhood, in the event that it is not safe to stay near or return to
your home- e.g., pick a friend's house, a church, a shopping mall.

Preparedness tip #3
Choose an emergency contact person outside your area because it may be
easier to call long distance than locally after a local/regional disaster.
Take a minute now to call or e-mail an out of town friend or family member
to ask him or her to be your family's designated contact in the event of an
emergency. Be sure to share the contact's phone number with everyone in
your family. During an emergency, you can call your contact who can share
with other family members where they are, how they are doing, and how to get
in contact with you.

Preparedness Tip #4
Complete an emergency contact card and make copies for each member of your
family to carry with them. (or use our Family Communication/Emergency Plan
form on this website). It may be easier to reach someone out of town if
local phone lines are out of service or overloaded. you should also have at
east one traditionally wired landline phone, as cordless or cellular phones
may not work in an emergency. Visit www.redcross.org or www.ready.gov for
sample emergency contact cards.

Preparedness Tip #5
Dogs may be man's best friend, but due to health regulations, most emergency
shelters cannot house animals. Find out in advance how to care for your
pets and working animals when disaster strikes. Pets should not be left
behind, but could be taken to a veterinary office, family member's home or
animal shelter during an emergency. Also be sure to store extra food and
water for pets. For more information, visit the Animal Safety section on
www.redcross.org or visit the Humane Society Web site at www.hsus.org.

Preparedness Tip #6
Go through your calendar now, and put a reminder on it-every six months-to
review your emergency plan, update telephone numbers, and check supplies to
be sure nothing has expired, spoiled, or changed. Also remember to practice
your fire escape or other disaster plans.

More preparedness tips will follow in the coming weeks-stay tuned....