| There are many steps that can be taken to | | | | important to test the plan and make sure that it |
| prevent harm to your family when a disaster | | | | is effective and can be accomplished by all family |
| strikes. The primary key to ensuring the safety | | | | members. This is especially important when |
| of your family is to plan ahead. While every | | | | smaller children or elderly are within the home. |
| disaster is different the steps that need to be | | | | The designed emergency plan should be tested |
| taken for safety purposes are very similar. A | | | | under various pretend emergencies to make sure |
| simple cycle will help prepare you and your family | | | | it is suitable for all major emergencies or to let |
| for what needs to be done. This cycle includes | | | | you know that the plans need to be revised |
| four easy step, planning, testing, practice, and | | | | under certain circumstances. |
| maintenance. | | | | Now that the plan has been designed, tested, and |
| The first portion of this critical cycle is of the | | | | ready to be used in case of emergency, it is time |
| utmost important. It is planning an evacuation or | | | | to remind all the members of the family of what |
| reaction plan appropriate for the natural disaster. | | | | needs to be done. We never want an emergency |
| If a fire was to take place in your home an | | | | to occur, but when it does it is time to get down |
| evacuation plan would be more suitable while if a | | | | to business. To make sure there is no delay in |
| hurricane was approaching a safety plan directed | | | | family response, a monthly test should be run. |
| at the in home safety would prove to be more | | | | This way all the procedures stay fresh in |
| valuable. For this reason, it is advised that an | | | | everyone's mind. So when that emergency does |
| evacuation plan and severe weather plan be | | | | occur there is no doubt that everyone knows |
| created. A few things to remember when | | | | exactly what they need to be doing. |
| creating your emergency plan is to designate a | | | | Finally, the last part of the cycle is maintenance. |
| single location for all the family to seek out when | | | | The portion is just as important as the first. The |
| an emergency arises. This will make is easy to | | | | reason being for maintaining your emergency |
| account for all family members and help save | | | | plans is that sometimes house layouts change, |
| valuable time in trying to move the family to a | | | | family members switch rooms, or they simply |
| safer location. Secondly, this plan needs to be | | | | become ineffective. This is also a good time to |
| discussed on a regular basis with the whole family | | | | check those first aid kits and emergency supplies |
| to make sure everyone understand the plan and | | | | such as bottled water, canned goods, and |
| also knows the importance of following the plan | | | | conditions of the home. An emergency plan should |
| and not deviating from it. Finally, a good way to | | | | be evaluated annually to make sure you and your |
| help refresh younger members of the familys | | | | family are doing all that they can to stay safe in a |
| memory is by posting your emergency plans on | | | | state of emergency. |
| the refrigerator and in their bedrooms. That way | | | | This cycle will help keep you and your family safe. |
| there in a stressful situation when it is time to | | | | Just remember those four easy steps: planning, |
| implement these plans they can easily be located | | | | testing, practicing, and maintenance. Following |
| and followed. | | | | those rules will make sure your plans are not |
| Before the final plan is put into place, it is | | | | haphazard and will keep your family safe. |