- Download "The Family Safety Guide" (requires Adobe Acrobat)

- Read the Six Steps of Preparedness to Protect Those You Love

Talk

Talk with your family about disasters that can happen where you live. Contact your local Red Cross to find out what types of disasters occur in your area.

Talk with your family about why you need to prepare for these events. Calmly explain the potential dangers, and plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team. Make sure every family member knows their particular responsibilities. Designate an alternate in case a person is not there at the time.

Plan

Plan where to meet after a disaster. Choose two places:

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

• Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room. Also, determine the best two escape routes out of your neighborhood/community.
  
  
• Ask an out-of-town friend to be your "family contact". After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact's phone number.
  
  
• Find out how to care for your pets. Many shelters do not allow them because of health regulations. For more information on how to care for your pets, visit our Animal Safety section.

Each responsible family member should learn how and when to turn off utilities such as electricity, water and gas. Ask someone at the fire department to show you how to use the fire extinguisher you store in your home.

• Learn about your community's disaster warning signals: what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them.
  
  
• Learn where the safe spots are in your home for each type of disaster.
  
  
• Learn about the disaster plans at your business, your child's school or daycare center, or other places where you and your family spend time.

Turning Off Utilities

During an emergency, it may become necessary to turn off your utilities at your home or business. Post disaster fires can be caused by damaged electrical and gas lines and appliances.

How to Turn Off the Electricity

Know where your home's main electric switch is. It may be a pull handle or it may be very large circuit breakers inside the panel box. These allow you to turn off the electric supply to your entire home quickly in case of an emergency.

Know where your fuse box or circuit-breaker box is located.
Know the correct sizes of any fuses needed in your home and keep spares on hand.
Blown fuses must be replaced, not repaired.
Do not replace a fuse with one of higher amperage.
If a fuse blows, disconnect or turn off the appliance(s) that may have caused the problem.
Shut off the main electric switch before replacing a fuse.

Know how to reset a circuit breaker. After turning off or unplugging appliances on the circuit, push the switch firmly to the off position, then back on. If the overload is cleared, the electricity will come back on. If your circuit breakers trip off repeatedly, there could be a problem with the appliance(s) on that circuit. If the appliances are unplugged but the circuit breaker trips off again, call an electrician.

How to Turn Off the Gas

Knowing the location of your main shutoff valve will help you turn off the gas supply to your entire home quickly. Normally you won't need to shut off a gas meter unless there is a strong odor or sound of escaping gas or if there is major damage to the building. If your gas is turned off, there may be a considerable delay before the gas company can turn your service on, but don't turn it on yourself. Leave it off until service can be re-established safely by a gas company service person or other qualified professional. Know where your main shut-off valve is located. Keep a wrench handy to turn off the gas.

Most gas appliances have a valve that lets you turn off the gas to that appliance only. Know which of your home's appliances run on natural gas, and where their shutoff valves are located. In most cases, turning off the gas at the appliance's shutoff valve will suffice.

Many older gas appliances have a small, continuously burning gas flame - the pilot light - that ignites the main burner. Newer models have electric igniters. Know which, if any, of your appliances have a pilot light. Keep the manufacturer's relighting instructions within easy reach.

Keep a flashlight handy to investigate minor gas odors. Check pilot lights to make sure they are lit. Never use matches or candles, and never turn any electric switches on or off if you smell gas. Always wait five minutes to let gas disperse before trying to relight your appliance. If the smell or sound of escaping gas continues or if you have any doubts, open windows and doors and get everyone out of the building. Call the gas company or 911 from the nearest phone away from the gas odor.

Check Supplies

• Review your disaster supplies and replace water and food every six months.
  
  Visit the Build a Kit page for more information.
  
  
• Check batteries in smoke alarms every year and make sure one is installed on each level of your home.
  
  
• Check if you have adequate insurance coverage for each disaster.

Tell

Tell everyone in the household where emergency contact information is kept. Make copies for each member of the family to carry with them. Be sure to include an out-of-town contact. It may be easier to call out of the area if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service.

Tell your children how and when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services number for help. Post emergency telephone numbers by phones.

Complete the information on an Emergency Contact Card and make copies for each member of your family to carry with them. Be sure to include an out-of-town contact on your Contact Card. You may be able to reach someone out of town when local phone lines are out of service or overloaded.

To download an American Red Cross Emergency Contact Card, click here.

Conduct fire drills and practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassible or gridlocked. Practice earthquake and tornado drills at home, school and work. Commit a weekend to update phone numbers, disaster supplies and review your plan with everyone

Chemical or Airborne Hazards

When there is concern about a potential exposure to a chemical or other airborne hazard, local officials will advise you to "shelter-in-place." This is unrelated to taking shelter on the lowest level of your home in case of a natural disaster like a tornado. 

To shelter-in-place:

1. Close and lock all windows and exterior doors.
2. Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.
3. Close the fireplace damper.
4. Get your disaster supplies kit and make sure the radio is working.
5. Go to an interior room without windows that is above ground level. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed.
6. Using duct tape, seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room.
7. Listen to your radio or television for further instructions. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

  

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