Your Family Disaster Plan is a preparedness brochure jointly produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross to help families prepare for disasters before they occur. The guide covers a wide range of emergencies including hurricanes, floods, fires, hazardous material spills, earthquakes, tornadoes, and winter storms. Its primary message is that disasters can strike suddenly, often disrupting communications, utilities, transportation, and emergency services, making advance planning essential.
The brochure is organized around Four Steps to Safety. The first step encourages families to learn about local hazards, community warning systems, evacuation procedures, animal shelter policies, and local emergency management resources. The second step focuses on creating a family disaster plan, including establishing meeting locations, designating an out-of-state emergency contact, discussing evacuation procedures, and assigning responsibilities among family members. The guide includes a printable family emergency contact form that can be copied and distributed to all family members.
A major section covers emergency supplies and household preparedness. The guide recommends maintaining at least a three-day supply of food and water, prescription medications, clothing, blankets, sanitation supplies, emergency tools, cash, important documents, and special items for infants, elderly family members, and people with disabilities. It also explains how to identify and shut off utilities safely and encourages families to inspect their homes for hazards such as unsecured furniture, fire risks, and unsafe storage practices.
The final sections emphasize practicing and maintaining the disaster plan. Families are encouraged to conduct drills, test smoke detectors, maintain emergency supplies, learn first aid and CPR, and work with neighbors to build community resilience. Detailed instructions are provided for evacuation procedures and for actions to take immediately after a disaster, including checking for injuries, inspecting homes for damage, shutting off utilities when necessary, avoiding hazards, and communicating with family members.
© Prepping Communities. This content is for informational purposes only and not professional advice. Use at your own risk.
Terms | Privacy | Guidelines