By now, if you’ve been following this three part series, we have covered: Preparing your home for disaster, preparing your to go bag and today we will talk about preparing your household.
The Plan.
Single? Married? Children? Parents? In any situation it is important to have a plan in case of emergency. Plans are easy to create and only take about 20 minutes to complete.
Start with your house; make sure everyone is aware of the different exits in case the front door was not an option. Establish a meeting place on or near your property for the household to meet, this helps to ensure everyone got out. It is a good idea to make this location 200 meters away from the house.
For those 8years and older, make sure everyone knows where the water, air, gas, and electrical shut offs are and how to use them. Post instructions in those areas that are accessible to everyone.
It is also important for everyone to know how and when to call 911 and what information to give when calling. i.e. Address, number of occupants, and closest intersection. In addition to 911, create a list of other people to call in an emergency, i.e. parents, grandparents, neighbours, relatives, coworkers etc.
In the event that you are at work, the kids are at school and the dog is at the kennel, it is important for everyone to know these basic facts:
1. How to communicate with each other
2. Where to meet up with others
3. Who to ask for help
Lastly, put all of this information in a location where everyone is aware of.
For more information on how to be prepared for disaster, go to : https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/index-en.aspx
Comments