Family emergency plan      

[FEB. 1, 2005]  ^"The start of a new year is a time when many Americans are inclined to think about ways to make improvements for the future," said former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. "Creating a family emergency plan is a great place to start. Families can create a plan that will allow them to know how best to communicate with one another in the event of an emergency."

You should have several plans made in advance:

1. There should be a household emergency plan. It should include how to exit the home and where family members should meet afterward.

2. Another plan that will help decrease stress in the aftermath of any incident, whether it occurs in the home or an accident away, is to prioritize how to communicate what has happened and whom to turn to for information. Choose a neighbor or family member who lives elsewhere but is close by and normally available.

3. In the event of a larger-scale incident that might affect a region, like a tornado, have a family member who lives at a distance who will serve as a point of contact to let other family members know where you are and how you are doing.

[News release]

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