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TORNADO * FLASHFLOODS * WINTERSTORM * FIRE
*HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILL*
The next time disaster strikes, you may not have much time
to act. Prepare now for a sudden emergency.
Learn how to protect yourself and cope with disaster by
planning ahead. This checklist will help you get started.
Discuss these ideas with your family, then prepare an emergency
plan. Post the plan where everyone will see it--on the
refrigerator or bulletin board.
For additional information about how to prepare for
hazards in your community, contact your local emergency
management or civil defense office and American Red Cross
chapter.
Emergency Checklist
Call Your Emergency Management Office or American Red Cross
Chapter
- Find out which disasters could
occur in your area.
- Ask how to prepare for each
disaster.
- Ask how you would be warned of
an emergency.
- Learn your community's
evacuation routes.
- Ask about special assistance
for elderly or disabled persons.
Also...
- Ask your workplace about
emergency plans.
- Learn about emergency plans for your children's school or
day care center.
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Create an Emergency
Plan
- Meet with household members.
Discuss with children the dangers of fire, severe weather, earthquakes
and other emergencies.
- Discuss how to respond to each
disaster that could occur.
- Discuss what to do about power
outages and personal injuries.
- Draw a floor plan of your
home. Mark two escape routes from each room.
- Learn how to turn off the
water, gas and electricity at main switches.
- Post emergency telephone
numbers near telephones.
- Teach children how and when to
call 911, police and fire.
- Instruct household members to
turn on the radio for emergency information.
- Pick one out-of-state and one
local friend or relative for family members to call if separated by
disaster (it is often easier to call out-of-state than within the
affected area).
- Teach children how to make
long distance telephone calls.
- Pick two meeting places.
- A place near your home in
case of a fire.
- A place outside your
neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.
- Take a basic first aid and CPR
class.
- Keep family records in a water and fire-proof container.
Back to
the Table of Contents
Prepare a Disaster Supplies Kit
Assemble supplies you might need in an evacuation. Store
them in an easy-to-carry container such as a backpack or duffle
bag.
Include:
- A supply of water (one gallon
per person per day). Store water in sealed, unbreakable containers.
Identify the storage date and replace every six months.
- A supply of non-perishable
packaged or canned food and a non-electric can opener.
- A change of clothing, rain
gear and sturdy shoes.
- Blankets or sleeping bags.
- A first aid kit and
prescription medications.
- An extra pair of glasses.
- A battery-powered radio,
flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.
- Credit cards and cash.
- An extra set of car keys.
- A list of family physicians.
- A list of important family
information; the style and serial number of medical devices such as
pacemakers.
- Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family
members.
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the Table of Contents
Emergency Plan
Out-of-State
Contact
Name__________________________________________________
City__________________________________________________
Telephone (Day)________________
(Evening)______________
Local
Contact
Name_________________________________
Telephone (Day)________________
(Evening)________________
Nearest
Relative
Name_________________________________
City_________________________________
Telephone (Day)________________
(Evening)________________
Family Work
Numbers
Father_________________________________
Mother_________________________________
Other_________________________________
Emergency Telephone
Numbers
In a life threatening emergency, dial 911 or the local
emergency medical services system number.
Police Department_________________________________
Fire Department_________________________________
Hospital_________________________________
Family
Physicians
Name___________________________
Telephone_______________
Name___________________________
Telephone_______________
Name___________________________
Telephone_______________
Reunion
Locations
1. Right outside your home____________________________
______________________________________________________
2. Away from the neighborhood, in case you cannot
return home___________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________
Telephone_____________________________________________
Route to try first____________________________________
______________________________________________________
Back to the Table of
Contents
Escape
Plan
In a fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate
your house, apartment or mobile home on a moment's notice. You
should be ready to get out fast.
Develop an escape plan by drawing a floor plan of your
residence. Using a black or blue pen, show the location of
doors, windows, stairways, and large furniture. Indicate the
location of emergency supplies (Disaster Supplies Kit), fire
extinguishers, smoke detectors, collapsible ladders, first aid
kits and utility shut off points. Next, use a colored pen to
draw a broken line charting at least two escape routes from
each room. Finally, mark a place outside of the home where
household members should meet in case of fire.
Be sure to include important points outside such as
garages, patios, stairways, elevators, driveways and porches.
If your home has more than two floors, use an additional sheet
of paper. Practice emergency evacuation drills with all
household members at least two times each year.
Back to the Table of
Contents
Home Hazard
Hunt In a disaster, ordinary items in
the home can cause injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall,
break or cause a fire is a potential hazard.
- Repair defective
electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.
- Fasten shelves securely.
- Place large, heavy
objects on lower shelves.
- Hang pictures and minors
away from beds.
- Brace overhead light
fixtures.
- Secure water heater.
Snap to wall studs.
- Repair cracks in
ceilings or foundations.
- Store weed killers,
pesticides and flammable products away from heat sources.
- Place oily polishing
rags or waste in covered metal cans.
- Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors and
gas vents.
Back to the Table of
Contents
If You Need to
Evacuate
- Listen to a battery
powered radio for the location of emergency shelters. Follow
instructions of local officials.
- Wear protective clothing
and sturdy shoes.
- Take your Disaster
Supplies Kit.
- Lock your house.
- Use travel routes
specified by local officials.
If
you are sure you have time ...
- Shut off water, gas and
electricity, if instructed to do so.
- Let others know when you
left and where you are going.
- Make arrangements for pets. Animals may not be allowed in
public shelters.
Back to the Table of
Contents
Prepare an Emergency Car
Kit Include:
- Battery powered radio
and extra batteries
- Flashlight and extra
batteries
- Blanket
- Booster cables
- Fire extinguisher (5 lb,
A-B-C type)
- First aid kit and manual
- Bottled water and
non-perishable high energy foods such as granola bars, raisins and
peanut butter.
- Maps
- Shovel
- Tire repair kit and pump
- Flares
Back to the Table of
Contents
Fire Safety
- Plan two escape routes
out of each room.
- Teach family members to
stay low to the ground when escaping from a fire.
- Teach family members
never to open doors that are hot. In a fire, feel the bottom of
the door with the palm of your hand. If it is hot, do not open the
door. Find another way out.
- Install smoke detectors.
Clean and test smoke detectors once a month. Change batteries at
least once a year.
- Keep a whistle in each
bedroom to awaken household members in case of fire.
- Check electrical
outlets. Do not overload outlets.
- Purchase a fire
extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type).
- Have a collapsible
ladder on each upper floor of your house.
- Consider installing home sprinklers.
Back
to the Table of Contents
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the
American Red Cross are pleased to provide you with this
brochure. FEMA's Emergency Public Information Program and the
American Red Cross' Disaster Education Program are nationwide
efforts to increase the ability of citizens to respond quickly
and efficiently to disasters and emergencies of all types.
For more information, please contact your local emergency
management office and your local American Red Cross chapter.
Write to FEMA, ask for "Are You Ready?"
H-34, Item #8-0908
P.O. Box 70274
Washington, D.C. 20024
Note: Graphics Omitted for on-line version (as well as notes where graphics would have been)
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