Generation Ready Citizen's Emergency Preparedness Program

1 Make a Plan

You've saved for a rainy day, but have you planned for it?

Disasters can strike quickly and without warning, forcing you to evacuate your neighborhood or confining you to your home.

Floods, fires, tornadoes, blizzards and power outages are beyond our control, but they don't have to gain the upper hand. Put safety and survival of your family in your own hands by creating an emergency readiness plan.

Read the steps, then complete your checklist.

Plan Two Places To Meet

Predetermined meeting places will save time and minimize confusion should your home be affected or if your area is evacuated. Choose two places to meet after a disaster.

• Right outside of your home — in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire
• Outside of your neighborhood — in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate your neighborhood

Stay In Contact

Choose an out-of-town contact. The contact person you select should live far enough away so they would be unaffected by the same event. This person should be very aware that they are your emergency contact.

Remember, during a disaster, it may be easier to make a long distance phone call than to call across town, especially if phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Call your out-of-area contact to let them know where you are, if you're okay and to learn who else has called.

It is important that every member of your family knows the phone number of your contact and has coins or a prepaid phone card to get in touch with them.