Make a home emergency plan |
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Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do before, during and after an emergency. Set up a family meeting to discuss how you can best prepare for an emergency. (If you live alone, develop a plan for yourself with links to neighbours and friends.) After creating a home emergency plan, review it with your family every six months. Steps to take in creating a home emergency plan: · Meet with household members and discuss the dangers of possible emergency events in your community, including fire, severe weather, hazardous spills, and infectious outbreaks. · Discuss how you and your family will respond to each possible emergency. Be sure everyone understands what to do in an evacuation and what to do when sheltering-in-place. · Be sure to take into consideration any special needs of family members, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities, when devising your emergency plan. Partner with neighbours or friends to provide support should it be needed, particularly when family members are separated at the time of an emergency. · Ensure everyone knows the two escape routes from each room that you identified when making your Home Escape Plan. · Plan how your household would stay in contact with each other if separated. Identify two meeting places – the first should be near your home; the second should be away from your neighbourhood in case it's a large-scale emergency. · Ensure everyone knows the friend or relative that all family members will call if separated that you designated in your Family Communications Plan. Remember, it is often easier to call out-of-province during an emergency than within the affected area. · Learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at main switches. (Note: If for any reason you do turn off natural gas service to your home, call your local gas utility to restore service. NEVER attempt to restore gas service yourself.) · Post emergency contact numbers near all telephones (and include in all Go-Bags). If there's been a major disaster, use the phone only if it's absolutely necessary. Emergency responders will need all available lines. · Teach children how and when to dial 9-1-1 to get emergency assistance. · It is critical to review and update this plan every six months, perhaps in the spring and the fall when weather-related hazards change. · Make an Emergency Supplies Kit.
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