Create a Family Disaster Plan
- Mark escape routes from each room on a floor plan of your home.
- Establish a place to meet in the event of an emergency (e.g., the next door neighbor’s house or the neighborhood grocery store parking lot).
- Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another.
- Complete a contact card for each family member. Have family members keep these cards handy in a wallet, purse, backpack, etc. include contact names, phone numbers, meeting places and any other important information you see fit.
- Utility Shut-off and Safety
- Contact the utility companies for shut-off requirements (natural gas, water, electricity, etc.) and be sure to record the information.
- Insurance and Vital Records
- Annually review existing property, health and life insurance policies and obtain additional coverage as needed.
- Accomplish this before a storm season – insurance companies may not issue/change policies during a storm season.
- Consider purchasing flood insurance to reduce your risk of flood loss if you live in a flood prone area.
- Document important information about your personal property for insurance purposes. This includes taking photos of high value items.
- Store important documents such as insurance policies, deeds, property records, and other important papers in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box away from your home. Make copies of your important documents to put in your disaster supplies kit.
- Consider saving money in an emergency savings account that could be used in a crisis. Keep a small amount of cash or traveler’s checks at home in a safe place where you can quickly access them in case of evacuation.
