Preparedness: Making a Plan

Submitted by Lorene Bartos, UNL Extension Educator

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Are YOU Ready? Many families have an emergency kit for their home and/or car which is a great start to being prepared. The next step to being prepared is having a plan. The step to work on this week is Making a Plan.

When making the plan all family members should be included. Have a meeting place and phone contacts.

* It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

* Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.

* You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether—be patient.

You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance.

Talk to your family about what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call or emergency workers may go door-to-door.

Review the meaning of a weather watch and warning. Know what to do in case of an emergencies such as fire, tornado, or floods. Have a practice fire drill with your family. Draw up the escape plan.

Keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supply kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster. Go www.ready.gov Click on Ready America and then on Family Emergency plan for a form to fill out and keep.

For more information visit www.ready.gov or www.eden.Isu.edu/npm or call 1-800-BE-READY(237-3239).

Now is the time to get ready. The time you take may save your life and others. Are YOU ready?