Home Safety and Disaster Planning

Everyone needs to have a written home safety plan and to train themselves, other household members and kids what to do in case of fire or carbon monoxide alarm.  To get professional assistance with home and disaster planning contact the following websites link at the end of this information.

Keep your critical family documents including insurance policies, passports, wills, deeds, social security cards and birth, marriage and death certificates in a safe deposit box at the bank and keep at least one copy in your home.  Develop a written safety and disaster plan and place a copy in your safety deposit box and at least one copy for every person in your household.

1. Train your family members about your safety and disaster plans every year.
2. Conduct training for fire and carbon monoxide emergency evacuations every year.
3. Store an emergency supply of food and water and update annually.
4. Test your carbon monoxide alarm and smoke alarm weekly and change the battery when you change the time annually in the fall . 
5. Have a meeting place outside the home where everyone can get to after a home evacuation. 
6. Prepare or buy a first aid kit. (The first aid kit should contain sterile water, bandages and gauze pads, Band-Aids, soaps, gloves, pain relief medicine, upset stomach medicine, Imodium, tincture of iodine, iodine tablets, bleach and Polysporin, alcohol wipes and other disinfectants.)
7. Prepare and store a disaster kit.

Make sure you add a battery powered radio and at least 2 flashlights with at least one set of extra batteries, at least 2 compasses of professional quality, and a map of your area.

Other items that may prove useful include blankets, rain coats and warm clothes and well as some tools such as pliers, screw drivers, adjustable wrench, Swiss Army Knife and a can opener, water proof box with matches and lighter, duct tape and a coat hanger.

For more detailed information contact the 3 website below:

Home safety Council: Home Safety Programs

The Home Safety Council's award-winning programs are designed to educate people of all ages to take the steps needed to protect against home injuries. ...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a website that is excellent and easy to understand. Family disaster planning for your family can save many lives. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross have suggestions for an emergency disaster kit.