If an emergency strikes, will you and your family be ready? While we cannot prepare for every possible outcome, we can prepare our families for a proper response to emergencies or disasters. It is essential to have a safety plan that details what your family should do in the event of an emergency and a steady supply of the necessary tools. For everything you need to complete your emergency preparations, read out safety checklist below.

Make a Plan and Stick to It

Every family should have a plan for each type of emergency. Whether it is fire, flood, hurricane, or tornado, every member of the family should be familiar with escape routes and specific responsibilities. These plans should be reviewed and practiced regularly. Your family should know what to do in the event of an evacuation, who to call in specific situations, and how to use everything in your family’s emergency kit.

Items to include in your family plan could involve floor plans/escape routes, emergency telephone numbers, choosing emergency meeting places, and discussions about which parts of the house are safest during which types of emergencies.

Educate Yourself

There are quite a few things the members of a family should educate themselves about for emergency situations. For example, adults should know how to shut off all the electronics, appliances, and utilities to the house. Your family should also familiarize themselves with your community’s emergency plan, including shelters and evacuation plans. Be sure to know the correct radio frequencies or other method to receive emergency information as well.

It is also a good idea to have at least one person in the household learn CPR and first aid. This can become an invaluable tool in the event of an emergency.

Create (and Maintain) an Emergency Kit

You and your family should assemble emergency supplies in easy-to-reach containers. They should be waterproof, if possible. Your emergency kit should include water (one gallon per person, per day), non-perishable food, changes of clothing, blankets, first aid kit/extra medication, flashlights, extra batteries, a radio, extra cash/keys/credit cards, and a list of important numbers for emergencies.

While not necessary, you can make two of these emergency kits. One can be placed in the house and the other in your car, in case you must evacuate quickly. You can also divvy up supplies into smaller backpacks, etc. to make transporting supplies outside of the house easier.

Store Away Important Documents

Important documents will become even more important after disaster strikes. Things like extra cash, birth certificates, house/insurance policies, etc. will be invaluable after the emergency. You can find durable, waterproof, and fireproof safes to help keep your documents safe. You can also make copies of important documents to keep in your emergency preparedness kit; just in case.

By staying prepared, you and your family can be ready to get through an emergency like professionals. The most important thing to do is educate yourself, never panic, and always be prepared with the checklist we’ve provided.