Note to friends: This is a template version of our in-progress family disaster plan.  Use it if you like!   And of course if you just stumbled across this site please be aware that this is my PERSONAL family plan and is not professional advice, yadda yadda.  If you use it as your only basis for planning and are miserable for some reason later on, don't say I didn't warn you.

Here are some other resources that ARE professionals and DO give professional advice.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Family Disaster Plan Meeting places and communication if we're separated Important Contact Information Family and Support Doctors, Medical, Veterinary Insurance and Recovery Locations of Emergency Equipment and Supplies Disaster recovery tools and supplies Food, water, sanitation Evacuation Routes and Safe Houses In Case Of..... Fire Earthquake How to determine whether the house is structurally stable: Tsunami Disaster Kit Contents

Family Disaster Plan

Meeting places and communication if we're separated

If at all possible we should try to meet at the house. If for some reason we are separated and have to leave the house, IN THIS ORDER, do the following:

1. Try to contact each other FIRST by SMS messaging.  Text messaging is low-bandwidth and often works even when phone calls are dropped/nondeliverable/etc.
2. If we cannot contact each other, try to contact (IN STATE CONTACT)  AND (OUT OF STATE CONTACT), to let them know we're OK and where each of us will be.
3. If we cannot contact anyone and must leave the house, meet at (PRE-ARRANGED MEETING PLACE).

Important Contact Information

Family and Support

Doctors, Medical, Veterinary

Insurance and Recovery

Locations of Emergency Equipment and Supplies

Disaster recovery tools and supplies

Food, water, sanitation

Evacuation Routes and Safe Houses

Note - our elementary school is a community disaster facility.

In Case Of.....

Fire

Earthquake

1. If minor earthquake (furniture doesn't move, pictures mostly still on walls, etc) check water/TV/phone and if all is working, disaster plan is not needed
2. If moderate or major earthquake (furniture moves, pictures and dishes/etc fall, etc) BE AWARE:  Natural gas, sewer and water pipes may break at the house or down the block.
   1. If SUMMER and heat is not needed, use the emergency wrench (strapped to the gas shutoff) and shut off the gas connection immediately.
   2. If WINTER and heat is needed, be aware for the smell of gas and do not hesitate to disable the gas connections.
3. Turn off and disable all bleed valves on the hot water heater.  This is a 30 gallon fresh water source.
4. If you need to access the backyard, BEWARE the electrical lines and look for fallen electric lines.

If the house is severely damaged consider evacuation.

How to determine whether the house is structurally stable:

• Are the walls standing at 90 degree angles to the floor and ceiling?  (If NO, exit the house)
• Are cracks in the walls running from floor-to-ceiling, or are ceiling cracks crossing from wall to wall?  (If YES, exit the house)
• Are there any gaps between the ceiling and walls,  wall-to-walls or wall-to-floor that would not otherwise be there?  (if YES, members may be pulling apart, exit the house)
• From the outside, does the chimney have substantial cracking or leaning?  (If so, stay away from it from both sides.)
• Have other similar homes on the street collapsed?  (If YES, consider exiting the house)

Tsunami

• Is your house above sea level? How far?     http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/elevation

Disaster Kit Contents

See Attached Excel Template File