Few people would argue against having an emergency plan for their family, home or small business. So why do so few people have one in place?
Rather than procrastinating under the adage of “that’ll never happen to me” we suggest that you nominate someone in your family or workplace to take charge. Does this person need a starting point? Encourage him or her to first investigate the recommendations of emergency experts. Plenty of information is available online at www.ready.gov and www.redcross.org. Your local library will also have useful books to guide individuals in developing plans as well. From here, the individual should work to implement an emergency plan that will work best for their family or facility!
When personalizing your emergency plan for your family’s home or for your business situation, consider the following: is your home isolated or in a subdivision? Do you live in a multiÂunit condo or apartment building? Is your business in a standalone building or is it close to several other businesses? Is your business open to the public, or seldom visited? All emergency planning should reflect these conditions. There are other things to consider, as well. For instance, what kind of disasters or emergencies can potentially happen where you live? Earthquakes, fires, tornados, blizzards, and flooding are just a few of the more talked about disasters that can take place whether you’re at home or at work. Your emergency preparedness plan should also consider the various family members and coworkers that will need it. Are there young children (including within a daycare situation)? Elderly? Pets?
Once you’ve considered all possible angles of disaster, it’s time to form your first draft. Be sure to set a deadline and have a draft of your plan ready for review. Insist that everyone who should be involved in the final decisions gathers to review the draft of your plan and offer input. We all have a role to play should an emergency occur–and it’s imperative everyone knows what their role is. Here are some basic points to consider as you plan for emergencies:
- Meet with your family or household members (or business associates) and agree on the need for an emergency plan.
- Think about the emergencies that are most likely to face where you live, learn, work and play.
- Identify responsibilities for each member of your household or business and plan to work together as a team.
- Plan what to do in case you are separated during an emergency and choose two places to meet – one nearby and another at a more distant location.
- Choose an out-of-area emergency contact person. It may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service.
- Everyone should have emergency contact information in writing or saved on their cell phones.
This online form can be helpful in identifying needed family emergency contacts. https://www.fema.gov/mediaÂlibraryÂdata/0e3ef555f66e22ab832e284f826c2e9e/FEMA_plan_parent_508_071513.pdf
At Paul Davis we clearly see the need for emergency planning and preparedness. We encourage you to do emergency planning for your home or business and we hope you take the initiative to encourage others to do the same. Social Media Sidebar: It’s always a good idea to have emergency plans in place. If you don’t already have one, start planning today!
