Essential Steps for Creating a Family Disaster Survival Plan

Disasters can strike without warning, and being prepared is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of your family. Creating a disaster survival plan is a critical step in preparing for emergencies, as it helps your family know what to do, where to go, and how to communicate during a crisis. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of having a disaster survival plan, provide tips for creating a plan tailored to your family's needs, and introduce the Disaster Survival Calculator, a valuable tool to help you determine the supplies you need for your family's emergency preparedness.

The Importance of a Disaster Survival Plan

A well-thought-out disaster survival plan can help your family:

• Respond quickly and effectively to emergencies, minimizing the risk of injury or harm
• Maintain clear lines of communication during a crisis, ensuring everyone stays informed and connected
• Improve your family's overall sense of security and preparedness, reducing stress and anxiety during difficult times

Assessing Your Family's Needs and Risks

To create a comprehensive disaster survival plan, begin by assessing your family's unique needs and potential risks. Consider the following factors:

• The types of disasters most likely to affect your area (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes)
• The specific needs of each family member, including any medical conditions or disabilities
• Your family's living situation, such as whether you live in an urban or rural area, a single-family home or apartment complex, and your proximity to potential hazards (e.g., flood zones, wildfire-prone areas)

Creating Your Disaster Survival Plan

Once you have assessed your family's needs and risks, use the following tips to create a comprehensive disaster survival plan:

1. Establish Emergency Meeting Places: Choose two meeting places for your family in case of an emergency: one near your home and one outside your neighborhood. Make sure everyone in your family knows the locations and how to get there.
2. Develop an Evacuation Plan: Determine the best evacuation routes from your home and neighborhood. Ensure that each family member knows the routes and is familiar with local emergency shelters.
3. Create a Communication Plan: Designate an out-of-town contact that each family member can call or text in case of an emergency. Make sure everyone in your family has the contact's phone number and knows how to reach them.
4. Assemble Emergency Kits: Create emergency kits for each family member, including essentials such as food, water, first aid supplies, and personal items. Make sure to include any special items needed for family members with disabilities or medical conditions.
5. Plan for Pets: Don't forget about your furry friends! Include pet supplies in your emergency kits and identify pet-friendly shelters or accommodations in case of evacuation.
6. Practice and Update Your Plan: Regularly review and practice your disaster survival plan with your family. Update the plan as needed to accommodate any changes in your family's situation, such as the addition of a new member or a change in residence.

Using the Disaster Survival Calculator

To help you create a tailored disaster survival plan, the Disaster Survival Calculator is an invaluable resource. By answering just three questions about your family, the calculator generates a personalized report detailing the supplies you need, the quantities required, and the order of importance for each item. The calculator covers essential areas such as first aid, food, water, lighting, shelter, and sanitation, as well as pet and car preparation. It even includes instructional videos on how to use your supplies effectively.
To use the Disaster Survival Calculator, follow these simple steps:

1. Visit the Disaster Survival Calculator
2. Enter the number of people in your family and answer the other questions provided.
3. Review the generated report, which includes a prioritized list of supplies, the quantities needed, and instructional videos for using the supplies.
4. Use the report to guide your family's disaster preparedness efforts, purchasing and assembling the recommended supplies in the order of importance.
5. Share the Disaster Survival Calculator with friends and family to help them create their own disaster preparedness plans.

Creating a disaster survival plan is an essential step in ensuring the safety and well-being of your family during emergencies. By assessing your family's unique needs and risks, establishing meeting places, developing an evacuation and communication plan, assembling emergency kits, planning for pets, and regularly practicing and updating your plan, you can help your family be better prepared for any crisis. Remember, preparedness is the key to staying safe and resilient during difficult times.