Does your family have a plan for the first 72 hours after a disaster?

Natural disasters and emergencies can strike at any time, but if one occurred tomorrow, would your family be prepared for the next 72 hours?

The benefits of an emergency plan
From floods to ice storms, tornadoes and forest fires, the Canadian Red Cross helps empower communities impacted by disasters and emergencies through disaster management programs.

While the effects of a disaster or emergency could leave you and your loved ones in a difficult position, you can help your family be prepared for anything by developing a family emergency plan along with an emergency preparedness kit, which can help your loved ones stay safely out of harm's way in the first 72 hours after an event.

Knowing the risks
Emergency preparedness plans can allow you and your family to take control of your safety. With Expect the Unexpected, a free guide offered by the Canadian Red Cross, you can develop a course of action to follow after an emergency that focuses on three key steps - knowing the risks, making a plan and getting a kit.

When it comes to knowing the risks, it's important to discuss the different types of things that can occur and how to respond.

To best respond to risks, you should:

Talk to your family about the kinds of disasters and emergencies that can strike (i.e. lightning storms, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hail, snowstorms, fires, etc.)
Discuss scenarios depending on the scale of the event
Perform regular maintenance around the house
Repair damage like cracks, leaks and structural issues
Keep toxic and flammable objects away from heat sources
Store valuables in a safe place upstairs
Know where to exit the house safely, and where to head after a disaster or emergency.

Making a plan
After discussing with your loved ones the importance of preparing for a disaster, you should establish a safe place that you can meet your family members in if you're forced to evacuate from your home.

A safe place should be:

Recognizable to each of your loved ones.
Easy to access, especially if you have family members with disabilities or other mobility challenges.

Depending upon the severity of the disaster, you may be asked to evacuate your neighbourhood or community.

In this case, you should:
Establish an out-of-town contact
Designate a place to meet in case you're separated
Give each family member the name, personal information and e-mail address of the out-of-town contact.

Getting a kit
A family emergency plan is important, but the Red Cross encourages all Canadians to have an emergency preparedness kit in the home that will be capable of seeing your loved ones through the first 72 hours following an emergency.

Supplies should include:

Suitcase, backpack or large-sized container to pack items
Water (2 litres per person per day)
Food
A can opener
A battery-operated flashlight
Radio
Keys
A First Aid kit
Pet food
Toliet paper
Basic tools (hammer, screwdriver, etc.)
Duct tape
Pocket knife
Extra clothes
Sleeping bags
Cash.

After you've packed your items, be sure that wherever you place the kit is accessible! This kit will be essential for your family while you await the arrival of emergency personnel or the Canadian Red Cross.

If you'd like to purchase a pre-assembled disaster preparedness kit that will help you get started in your efforts to create one of you own, please click here or contact your local Red Cross to learn more about how you can get your family to safety in the aftermath of a major disaster or emergency.