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Related information

• Family Emergency Plan (PDF, 127 KB)
• Guide to Emergency Childbirth (from the American College of Nurse-Midwives)
• Pet Preparedness Toolkit

Make a plan

• Emergency planning basics
• Emergency planning for pregnant women and new mothers
• Emergency planning for people with special needs
• Food and water safety during an emergency
• Community emergency planning
• More information on making a plan

Should an emergency occur, you need to be ready to act. A thorough emergency plan will help you and loved ones take control of an emergency situation and avoid panic.

Emergency planning basics

Make an emergency plan and give each family member a copy. This plan should tell how you will get in touch with each other should your family be separated, where you will go, and what you will do. Your children should also know about your plan. Post your family's emergency plan near a telephone and keep a copy in your disaster supplies kit. Take these steps:

• Identify an out-of-town emergency contact that family members can get in touch with to inform about their safety and whereabouts. Keep in mind that your family may not be together in an emergency, which is why an out-of-town contact is important. Make sure every member of your family knows the emergency contact’s phone number. If you have a cellphone, program this number as "ICE," which stands for "In Case of Emergency." Emergency personnel know to look for ICE should you be in an accident.
• Pick a neighborhood meeting place and out-of-town meeting place for loved ones to meet should it be dangerous or difficult to go home.
• Pick a room in your home where you can shelter in place. Ideally, this room will have a water supply and as few windows and doors as possible.
• Come up with a plan to safely get out of your home or building, in case of fire or evacuation.
• Plan for family pets. Pack pet supplies in your disaster supply kit. If you must evacuate, take your pet with you. Do not leave your pet behind. Make backup plans with loved ones or neighbors should you be unable to care for your pet.

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Emergency planning for pregnant women and new mothers

If you are pregnant or the mother of an infant, here are some ways to prepare for an unexpected emergency:

• If you are pregnant, ask your doctor how to prepare for an emergency birth. Many childbirth education classes also cover labor and delivery if you cannot get to a hospital or birth center.
• Pregnant women and infants are more vulnerable to infections or toxins in the air and water. Wash your hands often and practice good hygiene. Read more about food and water safety during an emergency.
• Take a class on infant and child CPR and first aid, such as those offered by the American Red Cross.
• Gather infant supplies to keep with your disaster supplies kit.
• Make sure you have a hands-free way to transport your baby should you need to evacuate. Be careful to use slings correctly. Learn how to safely carry a baby in a sling.
• Take a breastfeeding class, even if you don't plan on breastfeeding your newborn. When an emergency occurs, breastfeeding can save lives:
  • Breastfeeding protects babies from the risks of a contaminated water supply.
  • It provides protection against respiratory illnesses and diarrhea. These diseases can be fatal in populations displaced by disaster.
• During an emergency, breastfeed whenever your baby seems hungry. Doing so will help maintain your milk supply and also provides comfort. The release of hormones while a mother is breastfeeding is calming to both mother and baby.

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Emergency planning for people with special needs

If you or a family member has a special need or disability, you may need to take some extra steps to be ready for an emergency. Here are some things you can do:

• Make a list of all the things you use on a daily basis and think about what you would do if they are in limited supply or not available. If possible, include a supply of must-have items, such as prescription medicines, in your disaster supply kit. Write down the model and serial number of any medical devices you use and store this information in your kit.
• Wear a medical alert bracelet or tag.
• Create a network of family members, neighbors, and coworkers who can be on-call to help you should an emergency arise.
• Register with your local fire department or office of emergency services.

The chart that follows lists some extra steps to keep in mind if you or a family member has a special need:

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Food and water safety during an emergency

Food may not be safe to eat during and after an emergency. Water may not be safe to drink, clean with, or bathe in after some disasters. Hurricanes and floods can cause contamination with bacteria, sewage, agricultural or industrial waste, chemicals, and other dangerous substances. Knowing whether food is safe and how to keep food safe will prevent spoilage and loss of food and also lower the risk of illness. You also need to know how to clean pots, pans, and utensils when the clean water supply is limited. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information about keeping your food and water safe.

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Community emergency planning

Emergency response works best when people look out for each other and work together. Citizen Corps provides opportunities for citizens to get emergency response training, participate in community exercises, and volunteer to support local first responders.

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More information on making a plan

Explore other publications and websites

• Be Prepared: Start a New Plan — This interactive tool creates a personalized family emergency plan as well as emergency cards for you and your family members. These materials can be printed.
  http://ready.adcouncil.org/beprepared/fep/index.jsp
• Emergency Planning Tips If You're Pregnant or Have Young Children — Emergencies such as natural disasters can be a scary and stressful time, especially if you're pregnant or have infants. Though it may feel impossible to be ready for unexpected events, this site will help mothers avoid stress and handle emergencies.
  http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Emergencies/Pregnancy-Infants/floods/
• Emergency Preparedness and Response — This website keeps you informed about public health emergencies and provides information about specific emergency situations.
  http://www.bt.cdc.gov/
• Emergency Preparedness and Response: Information for Pregnant Women Fact Sheet — This fact sheet provides information on how to prepare for an emergency birth, disaster, and evacuation.
  http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/pregnantfactsheet.asp
• Emergency Preparedness Tips for Older Adults (Copyright © The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging) — If you are an older adult, this publication details the three important steps that can help you prepare for emergency situations: create an emergency plan, stock an emergency medical kit, and assemble a disaster supplies kit.
  http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/emergency_tips.php
• Federal Emergency Management Agency for Kids — This site prepares children for disasters and prevention of disaster damage. They also learn what causes disasters, play games, and read stories on emergency preparedness.
  http://www.fema.gov/kids/index.htm
• Food and Water in an Emergency — If an earthquake, hurricane, winter storm, or other disaster strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, and electricity for days or even weeks. This guide tells you how you can prepare now, as well as what you can do should an emergency occur.
  http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/f&web.pdf
• Keep Food Safe: In an Emergency — This website has links about how to keep food safe during and after a flood, fire, national disaster, or the loss of power.
  http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/emergency/index.html
• Natural Disasters and Severe Weather — How you prepare for a disaster depends on the type of disasters in your area. This website links you to specific information on earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and many more.
  http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/
• People With Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs — This website helps people with disabilities or other access needs develop a kit tailored to their needs. Other considerations such as finances, housing, and independence plans are discussed.
  http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/disabled.html
• Prepare for Disaster: Information for Pregnant Women (Copyright © March of Dimes) — The needs of a pregnant woman during disaster are unique. This information summary discusses special needs pregnant women have during an emergency, and what steps can be taken to prepare.
  http://www.marchofdimes.com/Pregnancy/stayingsafe_disaster.html
• The Preparedness Wizard (Copyright © National Center for Disaster Preparedness) — In a disaster, you and your family will need a family plan of action to care for yourselves. This interactive tool helps you think about actions you can take and build a plan.
  http://www.ncdp.mailman.columbia.edu/PrepWiz/PrepWizBeta.html
• Ready Responder: Family Emergency Plan — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides this easy-to-complete plan to better prepare a family for an emergency.
  http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/responder/RREmergPlanTemp.pdf
• Resources for Breastfeeding During Emergencies (Copyright © La Leche League International) — This website provides helpful resources for breastfeeding mothers who experience natural disasters or other emergencies.
  http://www.llli.org/emergency.html
• School and Workplace — Schools, daycares, workplaces, and apartment buildings should all have site-specific emergency plans. This website gives advice on how to make sure the places your family members spend time have the appropriate plans.
  http://www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan/work_school.html

Connect with other organizations

• American Red Cross
  http://www.redcross.org/
• Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), HHS
  http://www.phe.gov/preparedness/Pages/default.aspx
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS
  http://www.cdc.gov/
• Citizen Corps
  http://www.citizencorps.gov/
• DisasterAssistance.gov
  http://www.disasterassistance.gov/daip_en.portal
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
  http://www.fema.gov/
• Ready.gov
  http://www.ready.gov/

Content last updated January 24, 2011.

Resources last updated January 24, 2011.

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