HOUSEHOLD PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Family Emergency Plan

A useful family plan answers who contacts whom, where people meet, what happens if networks are overloaded, who handles pets or dependents, and when local authorities tell you to leave or shelter.

What this plan should accomplish

Reduce uncertainty before the disruption. Write down the decisions that are easy to forget under stress, keep the supplies that solve your most likely problems, and make sure every household member knows the basic plan.

• Identify the household systems this issue can disrupt.
• Cover immediate needs before convenience items.
• Build redundancy for communication and information.
• Account for children, older adults, pets and power-dependent needs.
• Review and practice the plan periodically.

Build it into the wider household plan

No preparedness topic stands alone. Water affects food; power affects communications; communications affect reunification and evacuation decisions. Use the related guides below to connect this topic to the rest of your plan.