Disaster Plan

Decide where to go if at home, school, work, outdoors, or in a car when a flood, severe thunderstorm, or tornado warning is issued.

• Update these plans every school year and as places of employment and residence change.

Disaster Supply Kit

• Be sure everyone in the family knows where your Family Disaster Supply Kit is located.
• During extreme heat, be sure to include the following in your Kit: extra water or juice, sun screen, and wide brimmed hats.

Communication Plans

• Designate a friend or relative outside your town or area as your family contact in the event you are separated from family members during a flood, tornado, or in case a storm knocks out your electricity.
• In the case of a tropical storm or hurricane, designate someone outside the area affected by the tropical storm or hurricane as your family contact.
• Agree upon a place where the family members can meet if separated.

Evacuation Plans

• Get a good map and plan various evacuation routes, avoiding low-lying areas. This is especially valuable in the event of flooding from rivers, streams, tropical storms, or flash floods.
• Do several test runs of different routes.
• In the event of a flash flood, remember that you will not be able to evacuate. Instead, immediately seek higher ground.
• For times of extreme heat, identify locations where you can escape sweltering conditions for hours at a time: a mall, a movie theater, or the home of a friend or relative.

Your Family Pet Plan

• For preparedness information, contact your local Red Cross chapter. Included are related sites and a brochure on caring for your pet during an emergency.