Have a Plan for When Disaster Strikes

More than 2,000 homes were lost during the fires that swept Southern California in October. Thousands of families had to leave their homes. Many had less than an hour to flee. They had to make quick choices about what to take with them.

Floods, tornadoes and fires can strike in a matter of seconds.

Every family needs to have a disaster plan to protect their family and save important documents. Do not wait until disaster strikes.

The Red Cross, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) can help. They give advice on their web sites. That advice is summed up here.

General planning

• Plan now – Meet with your family. Explain the dangers of fire and severe weather to children. Explain what to do in each case.
• Post contact numbers – Place the phone numbers of the local police, emergency service and fire department in a visible place.
• Pick two places to meet – Gather right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire. Gather outside your neighborhood if you cannot return home. Everyone in your family must know the address and phone number of your meeting place. Have an out-of-state contact person that everyone in your family can call.
• Remember your pets – Have a plan for evacuating your pets.
• Save documents – Find the originals of all important financial and family documents. They include checking and savings account numbers, birth and marriage certificates, wills, deeds, tax returns, insurance policies and stock and bond certificates.
• Keep the originals in one safe place that you can get to quickly. You can buy fireproof boxes or fireproof safes for home use. However, the best place to store documents and family photos is at a bank in a safety deposit box. You can rent a box for a small fee. Make copies to keep at home.

For a fire

• Plan for quick evacuation – Put in smoke alarms. Change the batteries once a year. Develop two escape routes out of your home and neighborhood. You may need to get a rope ladder for upper floors. Know where the fire exits are located if you live in an apartment. For advice, call your local fire department.
• Family fire drills – Practice family escapes. Make sure everyone knows all of the escape routes.

For a flood

• Know where everyone will be – Where will your family be if it floods? Find out about the disaster plans at places where your family spends time.
• Prepare for special needs – If infants, elderly, or handicapped individuals are present, know what their special needs are if you stay at home, if you evacuate or go to a shelter.
• Plan for your pets – Most emergency shelters do not allow pets.

For a tornado

• If you are indoors when a tornado comes – Go to a basement. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room (closet, hallway). It should be on the lowest level, away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls.
  Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows.
• If you are in a vehicle, trailer or mobile home – Get out immediately, and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or storm shelter.
• If you are outdoors – Lie flat in a nearby low area and cover your head with your hands. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. Watch for flooding and flying debris.