Family Emergency Preparedness Plan

Friday, 23 September 2011 10:01

NEWS RELEASE

Campbell County Office of Emergency Management

P.O. Box153

Alexandria, KY  41001

For more information contact:

William R. Turner, Director

859-635-1111

Family Emergency Preparedness Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alexandria, KY — September 19, 2011  — September is National Disaster Preparedness Month and the Campbell County Office of Emergency Management reminds citizens that disasters happen anytime and anywhere. William R. Turner Director of the Campbell County Office of Emergency Management warns that “When disaster strikes, you may not have much time to respond.” Turner continued “We watch news reports about areas of the country hit by disasters, have you ever wondered if your family is prepared for such an emergency? If a flood, earthquake, tornado, winter storm or other disaster strikes your home and family, do you know what to do? Any number of natural disasters can strike here in Kentucky, thus the need to be prepared. A Family Emergency Preparedness Plan can protect your family.”

Answering these four questions will tell you if your family is prepared to handle an emergency situation:

• Do you have a family emergency plan for emergency and disaster situations?
• Do you have emergency supplies on hand, including flashlights, batteries, a radio, water, and non-perishable foods?
• Do you have a safe or shelter area designated in your home to go to during an emergency?
• Does every member of your family know what to do in case of an emergency?

If you can't answer yes to these questions, it's time to sit down with the whole family and develop a Family Emergency Preparedness Plan.

Emergency preparedness isn't only about supplies, but they are a big part of being ready and knowing what to do when a disaster strikes. Here is a list of essentials items that you should have packed and stored in a safe place in your home in case you need them:

• Plenty of bottled water
• Non-perishable food items
• Manual Can opener
• Clothing and shelter items like blankets and sleeping bags
• Toilet paper and wipes for clean up
• First aid kit
• Flashlights, a portable radio, and lots of batteries
• Infant and pet supplies, if necessary
• All medications, and glasses or contact lenses
• Implements for preparing and cooking food, as well as plates, and utensils
• Water Proof Matches
• Copies of your bank and credit cards, driver's license, and other ID cards
• Cash

Make sure you have enough supplies, particularly food and water, for at least three days. Allow at least one gallon of water per day for each family member.

Prepare your auto, with an emergency supply of food and water, a first aid kit, jumper cables, flares, and blankets or sleeping bags to keep warm.

Here’s what to consider when making your emergency plan and what details to include:

• Make a list of the disasters that it makes sense to plan for, based on where you live; consider tornadoes, earthquakes, excessive heat, fire, floods, forest fires, ice and snow, hazardous materials accidents and terrorism threats, as appropriate.
• Come up with an evacuation plan for the most likely emergencies.
• Decide on how family members will communicate with each other if separated when disaster strikes; establish an alternate meeting place for the family in the event of an emergency where the family can’t not return home.
• Come up with a plan to protect yourself at home, in case of a tornado or an earthquake; include shutting off utilities when necessary. All adult members of the family should know how to turn of utilities.
• Develop an escape route plan; draw it out on paper.
• Make plans for pets in emergencies; keep vet records on hand, along with identification tags, a carrier, leash, and food.

Now that you've got supplies and a plan, does everyone in the family know what to do? Make sure that each family member, from adults to children, know what to do in an emergency, including where to go and what responsibilities, they have. For instance, make sure everyone is aware of whose job it is to take care of the pets and who’s in charge of shutting off the gas line, electricity, and water.

Once everyone knows his or her role in each emergency plan — whether it's for a house fire or a natural disaster, stage a couple of drills. This way, if disaster strikes, you’ll know that your emergency plan works.