Family Emergency Plan

When preparing your plans and supplies, take into account the needs of every family member and their daily responsibilities. Discuss how you can support one another—whether for communication, childcare, pets, or medical equipment. Be sure to consider:

• Differences in ages among family members
• Who is responsible for helping others
• Places each person regularly goes
• Dietary needs or restrictions
• Medical needs (medications, medical equipment)
• Disabilities and access needs or assistive devices
• Language(s) spoken
• Cultural and religious considerations
• School-aged children
• Pets or service animals

• Use a pre-prepared family emergency plan template, or create one yourself.
• Prepare a family emergency communication plan that includes phone numbers, contact methods, and a safe, known meeting point for everyone.

After creating the plan:

• Review it with all family members
• Conduct a simple drill or emergency simulation
• Make sure everyone knows their role, what to do, and how and when to communicate or meet
• Practice different scenarios (such as evacuation, communication, or sheltering)

• Schedule drills once or twice a year
• Align practice with seasonal risks (summer heat, winter rain)
• Update plans when family or work situations change
• Promote a culture of preparedness within the community