There are lots of things to talk over with your family. If you have a plan, and all family members are well-informed of it, everyone is much more likely to get safely through an emergency. Important things to discuss:
Escape routes. Draw a floor plan of your home, and discuss the two best ways to get out of each room. Using a blank sheet of paper for each floor, draw each route in a different colored marker or colored pencil. Make sure that everyone in the house has a clear understanding of the escape routes, especially your kids – make them copies of the escape route and hang them in an easily accessible place at kid’s-eye level. Discuss where you’ll meet once you all get outside.
In the event that your family isn’t together during a crisis, make sure each family member has been provided with a contact card. These cards contain important phone numbers and information regarding who to contact in an emergency situation. Keep them in wallets, purses, cars, and backpacks. It’s even a good idea to keep a copy on file at your child’s school. Make sure there is an out-of-state contact on the card that a family member can contact to let someone know they’re safe. And if you have designated a meeting place somewhere in your community, write the phone number to that place as well.
Family members who are responsible enough (and who can physically handle the task) should be taught how to shut off utilities. If your home has a gas meter, ask your gas company to show you how to turn the meter off; there are assorted procedures for different meter configurations. Important: never try to turn the gas back on by yourself – always leave this up to a professional.
Natural disasters can affect your water supply or quality. In most cases, the water can be shut off at the valve where the water enters your house. Show everyone in the household where this shutoff valve is. Check it periodically, because such valves can rust shut or only partially close; if you encounter such a problem, the valve should be replaced. Label the valve with an easily recognizable, easy-to-read weatherproof tag. Important: in the event of a natural disaster, don’t drink the water until you hear that it’s safe for consumption.
Electric sparks can be dangerous in the event of a gas leak – they can ignite and cause a fire. To shut off your electricity, locate your home’s circuit box. Make sure each circuit is clearly labeled and teach all responsible parties how to shut them off. Important: always shut off all individual circuits before shutting off the main breaker.
It is vital that your whole family knows how to operate a fire extinguisher, and how to administer basic first aid and CPR. Many communities have programs available to teach people of all ages these skills – most of which are free or available for a nominal fee. Even if you’ve taken a class, it’s important to review with the family every so often to keep your skills sharp.