Creating Your Hurricane Family Emergency Plan

By On August 27, 2011 · In Use Cases

Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected.

It is common that you, as well as your family and friends, will most likely not be together when disaster strikes. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children or parents are safe? You may have to evacuate or be confined to your home. What will you do if cell phone towers are over-run with callers and you are unable to communicate with others?


Get Guardly.

Guardly is a mobile application for smartphones that connects you to up to 15 close family members, friends or neighbors in case of emergency. Setting up your personal safety network takes less than 5 minutes and can be used to stay in contact while weathering the storm. Guardly lets you connect by voice and instant messaging. So if phone lines are blocked, Guardly can still be used to connect by instant messaging to reach your loved ones and friends. Try it free, or watch Guardly’s 1-minute how-it-works video.


Family Emergency Planning.

FEMA, Red Cross and the NOAA have prepared a simple family emergency-planning guide that discusses what should be done to prepare for the unexpected:


Gather information about hazards.

Contact your local National Weather Service office, emergency management office and American Red Cross chapter. Find out what type of emergencies could occur and how you should respond. Learn your community’s warning signals and evacuation plans. Assess your risks and identify ways to make your home and property more secure.


Meet with your family to create an emergency plan.

Pick two places to meet: a spot outside your home for an emergency, such as fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you can’t return home. Choose an out of state friend as your family’s point of contact for everyone to call if the family gets separated. Discuss what you would do if advised to evacuate.


Implement your plan.

  1. Post emergency telephone numbers by the phone.

  2. Install safety features in your house, such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.

  3. Inspect your home for items that can move, fall, break or catch fire and correct them.

  4. Have your family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and first aid, how to use a fire extinguisher, and how and when to turn off water, gas and electricity in your home.

  5. Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local emergency number.

  6. Keep enough supplies in your home for at least 3 days.

  7. Assemble an emergency supplies kit. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags.

  8. Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Keep a smaller emergency supplies kit in the trunk of your car.


Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit.

  • At least a 3-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day)

  • At least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food

  • At least, one change of clothing and shoes per person

  • One blanket or sleeping bag per person

  • First-aid kit

  • Battery-powered NWR and a portable radio

  • Emergency tools

  • Flashlight, extra batteries

  • Extra set of car keys

  • Credit card and cash

  • Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members

  • Prescription and non-prescription medicine

See a more detailed Hurricane Irene preparedness checklist and learn more about how to stay safe during the storm on the FEMA, Red Cross and NOAA websites.

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