Catholic Charities
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Prepare your family before a disaster happens

Knowing what to do in the face of an emergency is the best protection for your family. Preparedness will bring peace of mind and knowing what to do is every family's responsibility.

Use this information to create an emergency-ready home environment for the safety and well being of you and  your loved ones.

Family Training

• Show all adults where and how to shut off main utility valves for water, gas and electricity.
• Teach young children how and when to dial 911 and what to say.
• Post all emergency numbers by every phone.
• Hold evacuation drills periodically with all members of the family.
• Quiz family members periodically (every six months) on procedures and contact information.

Meeting Plan

• Have two places to meet in case you cannot return to your home - one spot just outside the home and another outside the neighborhood.
• Have an out-of-state relative or friend as a family contact in case family members are in separate locations at the time of disaster. Be sure school offices have this number on file.
• Create a contact list.

Be a Good Neighbor

• Meet with your neighbors to plan how to work together in case of emergency.
• Know your neighbors' special needs or skills, e.g. medical or technical.
• Make plans for each other's children in case a parent is not able to get home.

Supplies

Store the following items in a sturdy, pest-free container and place in an accessible location:

• Water - one gallon per person, per day in a plastic container. Mark date of storage on container and replace every three months.
• Non-perishable foods (including pet food, if applicable). Replace every six months.
• Manual can opener.
• Flashlights with extra batteries.
• Extra pair of prescription eye glasses.
• Battery-operated radio or TV and extra batteries.
• First aid kit.
• Prescription drugs that are used regularly.
• Extra set of car keys.
• Blankets or sleeping bags.
• Information (style, serial number, etc.) on crucial medical devices, e.g. pacemaker.
• Small amount of cash (or traveler's checks) and a credit card.
• Have children prepare an emergency kit for themselves with books, toys, games, pictures etc.

Utilities

• Locate the main water and gas shutoffs - all adults in the home should know how to shut off.
• Install smoke detectors on each floor - test and replace batteries regularly.
• Test fire extinguishers regularly.

Home Exit Plan

• Create basic floor plan of home and clearly mark exits to be used for emergencies. Post in each room.
• Create and evacuation box to "grab and go" in a waterproof container. Include: small amount of cash; irreplaceable photos/negatives in plastic; a written inventory of your valuable possessions (update annually); insurance policy number and company phone numbers; copies of other important family or home documents and contact list; copies of prescriptions; copies of important legal documents such as deeds, wills, birth certificates, immunization records, first two pages of prior two years' tax returns etc. Original documents (except wills) should be kept in a safe deposit box.

A Child's Reaction to Disaster

If the child:

• is upset over loss of toy, blanket, or other item adult may think insignificant;
• has nightmares or is unable to sleep alone or without a light;
• reverts to younger behavior, e.g. bedwetting;
• loses trust in adults;
• wants parents in sight always; or
• feels responsible for the disaster

the child may need formal counseling to help cope with the disaster.

Emergency Phone Number Contacts

• Police Department
• Fire Department
• Local Hospital
• Local Contact
• Out-of-State Contact
• Family Work Numbers
• Insurance Agent
• Utility Company
• Local Red Cross
• Local Catholic Charities