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Disaster can strike quickly and without
warning. During an emergency, the more you
have planned ahead of time, the calmer and
more assured you and your family will be.
These six steps will help you through the
process: Talk,
Plan,
Learn, Check
Supplies, Tell,
Practice
Talk
Talk with your family about disasters that
can happen where you live.
Talk with your family about why you need to
prepare for these events. Calmly explain the
potential dangers, and plan to share
responsibilities and work together as a
team. Make sure every family member knows
their particular responsibilities. Designate
an alternate in case a person is not there
at the time.
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Plan
Plan where to meet after a disaster. Choose
two places:
- Right outside your home, in case of
a sudden emergency such as a fire.
- Outside your neighborhood, in case
you cannot return home or are asked to
evacuate your neighborhood.
After determining your meeting places,
you should also:
- Determine the best escape routes
from your home. Find two ways out of
each room. Also, determine the best two
escape routes out of your
neighborhood/community.
- Ask an out-of-town friend to be your
"family contact". After a disaster, it's
often easier to call long distance.
Other family members should call this
person and tell them where they are.
Everyone must know your contact's phone
number.
- Find out how to care for your pets.
Many shelters do not allow them because
of health regulations. For more
information on how to care for your
pets, visit our Animal Safety section on
www.redcross.org.
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Learn
Each responsible family member should learn
how and when to turn off utilities such as
electricity, water and gas. Ask someone at
the fire department to show you how to use
the fire extinguisher you store in your
home.
Learn about your community's disaster
warning signals: what they sound like and
what you should do when you hear them.
Learn where the safe spots are in your home
for each type of disaster.
Learn about the disaster plans at your
business, your child's school or daycare
center, or other places where you and your
family spend time.
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Check Supplies
Review your disaster supplies and replace
water and food every six months.
Visit the Build a Kit page for more
information.
Check batteries in smoke alarms every year
and make sure one is installed on each level
of your home.
Check if you have adequate insurance
coverage for each disaster.
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Tell
Tell everyone in the household where
emergency contact information is kept. Make
copies for each member of the family to
carry with them. Be sure to include an
out-of-town contact. It may be easier to
call out of the area if local phone lines
are overloaded or out of service.
Tell your children how and when to call 911
or your local Emergency Medical Services
number for help. Post emergency telephone
numbers by phones.
Complete the information on an Emergency
Contact Card and make copies for each member
of your family to carry with them. Be sure
to include an out-of-town contact on your
Contact Card. You may be able to reach
someone out of town when local phone lines
are out of service or overloaded.
Download an American Red Cross Emergency
Contact Card.
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Practice
Conduct fire drills and practice evacuating
your home twice a year. Drive your planned
evacuation route and plot alternate routes
on a map in case main roads are impassible
or gridlocked. Practice earthquake and
tornado drills at home, school and work.
Commit a weekend to update phone numbers,
disaster supplies and review your plan with
everyone.
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Chemical or Airborne
Hazards
When there is concern about a potential
exposure to a chemical or other airborne
hazard, local officials will advise you to
"shelter-in-place." This is unrelated to
taking shelter on the lowest level of your
home in case of a natural disaster like a
tornado. To shelter-in-place:
Close and lock all windows and exterior
doors.
Turn off all fans, heating and air
conditioning systems.
Close the fireplace damper.
Get your disaster supplies kit and make sure
the radio is working.
Go to an interior room without windows that
is above ground level. In the case of a
chemical threat, an above-ground location is
preferable because some chemicals are
heavier than air, and may seep into
basements even if the windows are closed.
Using duct tape, seal all cracks around the
door and any vents into the room.
Listen to your radio or television for
further instructions. Local officials may
call for evacuation in specific areas at
greatest risk in your community.
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