Template Disaster Plan (for friends)

*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.

|| Resource || Location \\ || Notes \\ ||
| FEMA \\ | [http://www.ready.gov/|http://www.ready.gov/] \\ | Great website for more in depth advice about disaster preparation \\ |

 

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{note}

h1. Family Disaster Plan




h3. 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:
# 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.
# 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.
# If we cannot contact anyone and must leave the house, meet at (PRE-ARRANGED MEETING PLACE).




h2. Important Contact Information

h3. Family and Support

|| Contact: || Numbers || Notes ||
| \\ | \\ | This is our out of state contact that other relatives can contact if they need to \\ |
| \\ | | In-state contact \\ |
| | | |

h3. Doctors, Medical, Veterinary

|| Contact || Number || Notes ||
| Kids' Doctor \\ | x-xxx-xxx-xxxx \\ | \\ |
| Our Doctor \\ | x-xxx-xxx-xxxx | \\ |
| Veterinarians \\ | x-xxx-xxx-xxxx | \\ |

h3. Insurance and Recovery

|| Coverage || Covers: \\ || Phone Numbers \\ || Policy Numbers ||
| Homeowners' insurance \\ | \\ | | |
| Vehicle insurance \\ | \\ | | |
| Health Insurance \\ | \\ | | |
| Dental Insurance \\ | \\ | | |
| Will, Living Trust, etc \\ | Stored where? Attorney phone #? \\ | \\ | \\ |
| | | | |



h2.

h3. Disaster recovery tools and supplies

|| Equipment || Location \\ ||
| Prybars and other tools \\ | \\ |
| Clothing, etc \\ | \\ |
| $XXX Cash \\ | Location where CASH is stored in a safe place.  $150 per family member is reasonable.  Remember, ATMs may not be working, places may not take checks/cards/etc \\ |
| Self defense supplies \\ | \\ |
| Animal Carriers | |

h3.

|| Equipment || Location \\ ||
| Emergency food, water, radio, flashlights and general equipment \\ | \\ |
| Extra water, purification tablets, food rations \\ | \\ |

h2.

{note:Note} Note - our elementary school is a community disaster facility.{note}
|| Disaster Severity \\ || Evacuate? \\ || Evacuate TO: \\ || Preferred Routes \\ || Notes \\ ||
| Minor; no damage, utilities on \\ | No \\ | \- \\ | \- \\ | |
| Moderate; minor damage but house is structurally stable (OR evacuations ordered), utilities on or off \\ | No, shelter in place or head to in-laws house \\ | \- \\ | \- \\ | Evacuate anyway if public order is a problem and you don't feel safe \\ |
| Major: House is structurally unstable, evacuations ordered or immediate area is unsafe (fallout, fires, etc) \\ | Yes \\ | \\ | | See:  "How to determine if the house is structurally stable" section under "Earthquake" \\
See: attached map for evacuation \\ |
| Severe: House is collapsed and/or public order is completely gone, area unsafe, etc. \\ | Yes | | \\ | See: attached map for evacuation \\ |

h3.

h3. Fire

h3. Earthquake

# 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
# 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.
## If SUMMER and heat is not needed, use the emergency wrench (strapped to the gas shutoff) and shut off the gas connection immediately.
## If WINTER and heat is needed, be aware for the smell of gas and do not hesitate to disable the gas connections.
# Turn off and disable all bleed valves on the hot water heater.  This is a 30 gallon fresh water source.
# 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.

h4. 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)

See [Attached Excel Template File|^dprep-template.xls]