|
Family Emergency Planning |
|
Emergencies may strike when your family members are away from home, so find out about plans at your workplace, school, or anywhere else you and your family spend time. After creating a household emergency plan you should take the time to review it periodically. Take the following steps to create a household emergency plan or a Family Emergency Plan: - Meet with household members and discuss the dangers of possible emergency events, including fire, severe weather, hazardous spills, and terrorism, and how to respond to each possible emergency.
- Discuss what to do in case of power outages or personal injuries.
- Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes from each room.
- Know how to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at main switches. If for any reason you do turn off natural gas service to your home, call Washington Gas to restore service. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESTORE GAS SERVICE YOURSELF.
- Post emergency contact numbers near all telephones and pre-program emergency numbers into phones with autodial capabilities.
- Teach children how and when to dial 911 to get emergency assistance and how to make long-distance telephone calls.
- Pick a friend or relative that all family members will call if separated (it is often easier to call out-of-state during an emergency than within the affected area).
- If you have pre-set capabilities on your radio, keep one of the pre-sets tuned to WTOP 1500 AM for emergency information.
- Pick two meeting places:
- A place near your home
- A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after an emergency
- Keep family records in a waterproof and fireproof safe; inexpensive models can be purchased at most hardware stores.
- Tools such as screwdrivers, cutters, and scissors; duct tape; waterproof matches; a fire extinguisher; flares; plastic storage containers; needle and thread; pen and paper; a compass; garbage bags; and regular household bleach.
|
