| ave probably heard the words "emergency | | | | Where You Should Go |
| response plan" so often that you have become | | | | For the version of your emergency response plan |
| accustomed to them. However, have you thought | | | | that has you staying in your home, this section of |
| of actually getting down to it, and creating one | | | | the plan should include several things anyway. You |
| for yourself, your business, or your family? You | | | | should have the names or numbers of anyone |
| might believe that the chances of a major | | | | who should be coming to your home to seek |
| emergency in your area are slim, but you should | | | | refuge. You should also have details about how |
| know that you absolutely need to be prepared | | | | long you are going to stay in your home, which |
| with an emergency response plan. It doesn't | | | | other circumstances might require you to leave |
| matter if you are dealing with terrorism, weather, | | | | the home, and who, if anyone, you will let into |
| or any other type of emergency. You have to | | | | your home. |
| have a plan for yourself and your family or your | | | | For an emergency response plan that requires |
| business. This is the most important. | | | | you to leave your home, where you should go is |
| There are several things that you should do in | | | | a very important aspect. You need to have a set |
| order to develop an emergency response plan. | | | | and detailed plan for where you should be going. |
| First of all, you have to decide what should be | | | | This might be depending on what has been |
| done. Secondly, you have to decide where to go, | | | | happening or what the emergency is, but you |
| and thirdly, you have to decide what to do next. | | | | should have several locations in mind to go to |
| It is in these three vague statements that you will | | | | depending on what is going on. For instance, you |
| find yourself set for an emergency response plan. | | | | should have a flood location, a fire location, and a |
| What Should Be Done | | | | terrorism location. Also, you absolutely need to |
| The issues that revolve around developing an | | | | have a meeting point for your family and other |
| emergency response plan include figuring out what | | | | people that you care about. This is one of the |
| you should do. This means that you should | | | | most important aspects of an emergency |
| actually have several forms of your emergency | | | | response plan, because there is no guarantee that |
| response plan. You should theoretically have two | | | | an emergency will strike when you are all at |
| versions of the emergency response plan. One | | | | home. You must have a location that everyone in |
| should be what you are going to do if there is an | | | | your family will head to first, in order to regroup |
| emergency and you need to leave your home. | | | | and to continue on. |
| The second should be a plan that revolves around | | | | What Next? |
| what you should do if there is an emergency and | | | | Along with including in your plan the items that |
| you either cannot or should not leave your home. | | | | you need to take with you when you leave your |
| These are two very important versions of your | | | | home, your emergency response plan should also |
| emergency response plan. | | | | include a section about what to do next. |
| For both of the versions, your emergency | | | | Remember that it is very important that you |
| response plan should include first of all, what you | | | | meet up with your family at some point and that |
| should do. For the version that requires you to | | | | everyone knows what they should be doing. Don't |
| leave the house, you should have the steps that | | | | rely on electricity or telephone service to get this |
| you should take as you do so. The items that | | | | accomplished. Remember that those might not be |
| you have to take with you and any animals or | | | | working. There are many ways that you can |
| other things that you need to deal with before | | | | make sure your family knows what to do next, |
| you leave or as you leave should be listed on the | | | | even as simple has having a town bulletin board |
| plan. You should also include things like shutting off | | | | that you will post a note on, and having your |
| lights, locking doors, or pulling down the drapes. | | | | entire family know where to look for this note. |
| Remember, if your plan includes all of these | | | | These are all important aspects of your |
| important factors, you will be sure not to miss | | | | emergency response plan. Remember that if you |
| them. For the version that has you staying in | | | | develop it well and you have made sure that |
| your home, you need to include what you should | | | | everyone in your family is well aware of the plan |
| be doing. Locking the doors, sealing windows or | | | | and what it means, you should be able to survive |
| other exits, or doing other things as you work to | | | | any emergency, together. |
| protect your family should all be included. | | | | |