EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST

TORNADO*FLASHFLOODS*WINTERSTORM*

HURRICANE*FIRE*HAZARDOUS*

MATERIALS SPILL

The next time disaster strikes, you may not have much time

to act. Prepare now for a sudden emergency.

Learn how to protect yourself and cope with disaster by

planning ahead. This checklist will help you get started.

Discuss these ideas with your family, then prepare an

emergency plan. Post the plan where everyone will see it--on the

refrigerator or bulletin board.

For additional information about how to prepare for

hazards in your community, contact your local emergency

management or civil defense office and American Red Cross

chapter.

Emergency Checklist

Call Your Emergency Management Office or American Red Cross

Chapter

* Find out which disasters could occur in your area.

* Ask how to prepare for each disaster.

* Ask how you would be warned of an emergency.

* Learn your community's evacuation routes.

* Ask about special assistance for elderly or disabled persons.

Also...

* Ask your workplace about emergency plans.

* Learn about emergency plans for your children's school or

day care center.

Create an Emergency Plan

* Meet with household members. Discuss with children the dangers

of fire, severe weather, earthquakes and other emergencies.

* Discuss how to respond to each disaster that could occur.

* Discuss what to do about power outages and personal injuries.

* Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes

from each room.

* Learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at main

switches.

* Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones.

* Teach children how and when to call 911, police and fire.

* Instruct household members to mm on the radio for

emergency information.

* Pick one out-of-state and one local friend or relative for

family members to call if separated by disaster (it is

often easier to call out-of-state than within the affected area).

* Teach children how to make long distance telephone calls.

* Pick two meeting places.

1) A place near your home in case of a fire.

2) A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot

return home after a disaster.

* Take a basic first aid and CPR class.

* Keep family records in a water and fire-proof container.

Prepare a Disaster Supplies Kit

Assemble supplies you might need in an evacuation. Store

them in an easy-to-carry container such as a backpack or duffle bag.

Include:

* A supply of water (one gallon per person per day). Store

water in sealed, unbreakable containers. Identify the

storage date and replace every six months.

* A supply of non-perishable packaged or canned food and a

non-electric can opener.

* A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.

* Blankets or sleeping bags.

* A first aid kit and prescription medications.

* An extra pair of glasses.

* A battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.

* Credit cards and cash.

* An extra set of car keys.

* A list of family physicians.

* A list of important family information; the style and

serial number of medical devices such as pacemakers.

* Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.

Emergency Plan

Out-of-State Contact

Name____________________________________________

City______________________________________________

Telephone (Day)________________(Evening)______________

Local Contact

Name____________________________________________

Telephone (Day)________________(Evening)______________

Nearest Relative

Name____________________________________________

City______________________________________________

Telephone (Day)________________(Evening)______________

Family Work Numbers

Father_________________________Mother______________

Other_____________________________________________

Emergency Telephone Numbers

In a life threatening emergency, dial 911 or the local

emergency medical services system number.

Police Department_____________________________________

Fire Department_______________________________________

Hospital___________________________________________

Family Physicians

Name___________________________Telephone_________

Name___________________________Telephone_________

Name___________________________Telephone_________

Reunion Locations

1. Right outside your home____________________________

_________________________________________________

2. Away from the neighborhood, in case you cannot

return home___________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________

Telephone_________________________________________

Route to try first____________________________________

_________________________________________________

Escape Plan

In a fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate

your house, apartment or mobile home on a moment's notice.

You should be ready to get out fast.

Develop an escape plan by drawing a floor plan of your

residence. Using a black or blue pen, show the location of

doors, windows, stairways, and large furniture. Indicate the

location of emergency supplies (Disaster Supplies Kit), fire

extinguishers, smoke detectors, collapsible ladders, first aid

kits and utility shut off points. Next, use a colored pen to

draw a broken line charting at least two escape routes from

each room. Finally, mark a place outside of the home where

household members should meet in case of fire.

Be sure to include important points outside such as

garages, patios, stairways, elevators, driveways and porches.

If your home has more than two floors, use an additional sheet

of paper. Practice emergency evacuation drills with all

household members at least two times each year.

Example:

Home Hazard Hunt

In a disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause injury

and damage. Anything that can move, fall, break or cause a fire

is a potential hazard.

* Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.

* Fasten shelves securely.

* Place large, heavy objects on lower shelves.

* Hang pictures and minors away from beds.

* Brace overhead light fixtures.

* Secure water heater. Snap to wall studs.

* Repair cracks in ceilings or foundations.

* Store weed killers, pesticides and flammable products away

from heat sources.

* Place oily polishing rags or waste in covered metal cans.

* Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors and

gas vents.

If You Need to Evacuate

* Listen to a battery powered radio for the location of

emergency shelters. Follow instructions of local officials.

* Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.

* Take your Disaster Supplies Kit.

* Lock your house.

* Use travel routes specified by local officials.

If you are sure you have time ...

* Shut off water, gas and electricity, if instructed to do so.

* Let others know when you left and where you are going.

* Make arrangements for pets. Animals may not be allowed in

public shelters.

Prepare an Emergency Car Kit

Include:

* Battery powered radio and extra batteries

* Flashlight and extra batteries

* Blanket

* Booster cables

* Fire extinguisher (5 lb, A-B-C type)

* First aid kit and manual

* Bottled water and non-perishable high energy foods such as

granola bars, raisins and peanut butter.

* Maps

* Shovel

* Tire repair kit and pump

* Flares

Fire Safety

* Plan two escape routes out of each room.

* Teach family members to stay low to the ground when

escaping from a fire.

* Teach family members never to open doors that are hot. In

a fire, feel the bottom of the door with the palm of your

hand. If it is hot, do not open the door. Find another way out.

* Install smoke detectors. Clean and test smoke detectors

once a month. Change batteries at least once a year.

* Keep a whistle in each bedroom to awaken household

members in case of fire.

* Check electrical outlets. Do not overload outlets.

* Purchase a fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type).

* Have a collapsible ladder on each upper floor of your house.

* Consider installing home sprinklers.