Creating a family plan in case of disaster can mean the difference between life and death. If a hurricane, tornado or earthquake strikes, will you know what to do? What if your family isn't together when something happens? How will you find each other?

That's why it's important to be prepared. Even if an emergency never happens, having a plan in place can give you some peace of mind.

• Create the plan with your family and go over it regularly. Everyone will be affected by an emergency, and there may be things you haven't thought of.
• Write down the plan and keep it on the fridge. For instance, if there is a tornado, children must know where in the house to go if they cannot escape in time.
• Have essential supplies - such as flashlights, radios, batteries, first aid kits, emergency supplies and bottled water - in one location in your home, such as a closet or the basement. Be sure everyone knows where you keep these. Remember, you may not have running water, electricity or even the ability to get to a store.
• Check your supplies for expiration dates. Some supplies have a shelf life.
• Designate meeting places both outside your home and outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home.
• Practice the plan. Do this several times a year in different types of weather.
• Choose a contact person outside of your area, preferably a relative or friend in another state or region. If your family is separated, each member can call this contact person, who can verify that everyone is safe. Also, long distance calls are more likely to get through than local calls. Give your contact person information for your home, car and health insurance policies - as long as this person is someone you completely trust.
• Create and laminate cards with the emergency contact's information. Insist that everyone in your family carry these cards at all times.
• If they don't have cell phones, give your children pre-paid calling cards.
• Make sure your family understands the community's warning signs, such as alarms used for tornados.
• Make plans for the pets. Emergency shelters often don't allow pets because of health concerns. The only exceptions are service animals, like seeing-eye dogs. If you have enough warning, keep your pet at a kennel, vet or relative's house. Have proof of your pet's immunizations for the animal shelter.
• Find out what the community plan is for emergencies, such as where local shelters are located. Plan how you would get there. Always follow the advice of local and state officials when you evacuate your home.
• Make sure your child's school has an emergency plan in place, including contact numbers.

If disaster hits, make sure to watch the local news or listen to radio reports to hear about such things as washed-out roads, biological hazards, impending weather conditions and other important information about how to respond to the crisis.

Related Articles Surviving the Stress After a Natural Disaster First Aid for Common Emergencies Protecting Yourself and Your Home From Wildfires Family First Aid Kit

External Sources Federal Emergency Management Agency. Are you ready? An in-depth guide to citizen preparedness. . Accessed October 01, 2009 U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Make a plan. . Accessed October 01, 2009

This article was reviewed and updated 08-01-2009.