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The Need to Make Plans

As we watch the news, it’s easy to see emergencies and disasters as something that happens to other families, not to ours. This is flawed thinking and deep down, we know this to be true. Many emergencies and disasters are out of our control. What we do have control over, however, is how we plan beforehand to deal with them should they appear at our own front door.

Emergency Planning
How to Make Effective Family Plans

While it’s easy to assume that most family members will know what to do in any given emergency, this assumption can lead to disaster. Deliberate planning can be the difference between safe and unsafe, and in some situations between life and death.

Deliberative Planning

Deliberate planning is a process that focuses on making decisions through dialogue with all affected by the outcome. With all your family members present, discuss what you feel are the disasters and emergencies that could potentially affect your family with the goal of crafting plans for each threat you feel your family should be prepared for. This planning process ...

  • allows each person an opportunity to be in on the conversation.
  • allows each person an opportunity to offer opinions and ideas.
  • results in various family emergency plans that answer each threat.
  • results in plans that all involved agree with and, more importantly, fully understand.
  • results in written plans that are stored in an agreed upon location where all can find them for easy reference.

Make an additional copy of each emergency plan and place them inside your grab & go binder.

Emergency Planning
Places to Start

Emergency Plans

Safety plans for your family, your home, and specific emergencies.

We’ll focus on plans to keep both your family and your home safe. Use them as a guide and make them your very own. Most plans will benefit all families, but not all. For instance, if you don’t have a pet, then pet evacuation is not something you need to think about. Can you think of other emergency plans that would be beneficial for your family? If so, add them to your list as well.

Emergency Plans

We’ll focus on plans to keep both your family and your home safe. Use them as a guide and make them your very own.

Most plans will benefit all families, but not all. For instance, if you don’t have a pet, then pet evacuation is not something you need to think about. Can you think of other emergency plans that would be beneficial for your family? If so, add them to your list as well.

Home-Centered Plans
Disaster-Specific Plans
Best Storage Location

Once written and understood, make two copies and file:

  • Grab & Go Binder
  • Another agreed-upon location
Practice Your Plans
  • Home plans: Schedule drills at least once per year.
  • Make sure everyone remembers what to do.
  • Have pets practice traveling in carriers.