Be Ready on Paper – Put Your Emergency Plan in Writing

Amy Hannold, FamilyTimeandMoney.com

Emergencies can occur at any moment. Our best chance for survival and protection of further damage is to be prepared – in writing. You can not only protect your family by being prepared, but you are able to make a difference in the lives of others when you’re not in chaos over your own circumstances.

Ready.gov:

http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html

Ready.gov is the best and most user-friendly emergency preparedness resource. This website will lead you through the process of putting your plan in writing. Ready.gov advocates that we “Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed”. Here are some of the resources you can download, complete and refer to. You can complete them online or print them and fill them out by hand.

Family Emergency Plan: Communicate now how your family will reach each other and where you will go in the event of an emergency. Make copies once you’ve completed them (for your emergency kit, automobile, work, and vital contact people)

http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/familyemergencyplan.pdf

Family Communication Plan: This form identifies and establishes communication plans should an emergency occur while the family is separated.

http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/family_communications_plan.pdf

Adult Folding Wallet Card: An emergency plan, to carry with you in your wallet.

http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/fep_download/FamEmePlan_Adult.pdf

“QuickShare” Your Emergency Contact Information, The Email Text Option: Complete this form online. Your information will be transferred into a text format which you then email to those who need this information. Ready.gov suggests that families complete the Family Emergency Plan to be best prepared; the Email Text option is not as comprehensive.

http://ready.adcouncil.org/beprepared/quickshare.html

“Readiness U”: Communicating With and Including Children in the Emergency Preparedness Process: Children, with their caregivers, can find emergency preparedness information at this website. Features are written in an easy to understand language, with the help of Sesame Street Characters and other kid-friendly activities.

http://www.ready.gov/kids/home.html

Sesame Workshop has an entire “Let’s Get Ready” website devoted to explaining emergency preparedness to young children. Printable activities, video segments, and more can be found here:

http://www.sesamestreet.org/ready

In our next segment, we will review resources which will help families prepare an emergency kit.