Levels of Preparedness – Individual or Family Unit (Level One)

            Start Here

Family Escape Route

• Have a floor plan of your home with two escape routes shown for each room
• Make sure each family member knows where and how to escape
• Practice with your family

Family Meeting Place

• In the event of fire or other disaster, have a designated meeting place outside, but near the home (such as the mailbox or curb)
• Have an additional meeting place outside of the immediate area (easily recognizable)

Family Communication

• Complete Contact Card for each family member.  Keep in a wallet, purse, backpack, etc.
• Have an out-of-state contact for each family member to notify that they are safe  (Emergency Contact Information doc & Emergency Contact Information wallet size doc on website)
• Keep a picture of your family with your Contact Card for purposes of identification.
  

Know How to Shut Off Utilities

• Know how to turn off your gas.  Have a wrench attached near the gas meter.
• Know how to turn off your water  (inside and near the street)
• Know how to turn off your electricity.

Vital Records

• Store important documents such as deeds, insurance policies, birth and marriage certificates in a safe place such as a safety deposit box away from your home.
• Make copies of important documents and vital records and put with your disaster kit.

Money

• Have an amount of cash at home in a safe place where you can quickly access it in case of emergency.  Small bills are preferable.  (You do NOT want to spend $20 for a bottle of water because that is all you have and they don’t want to give you change!)

Medications

• Keep an extra supply of medications on hand that you regularly use.  Talk to your insurance company and doctor to get extra prescribed medications.

First Aid     

• Know basic first aid and have basic first aid supplies on hand.

Fire Extinguisher

• Have at least one fire extinguisher on hand and know how to use it.

Water

• Store at least one gallon per day per person for two weeks.  More if possible.

Food

• Stock canned and dry foods that do not require refrigeration.          Ex: http://ARKready.mygofoods.com                                         Include manual can opener.

Basic 72 Hour Kit/ Disaster Kit

• Keep a basic 72 hour kit for each member of the family (detailed list on website)