Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Services

500 - Creating an Emergency Plan

Creating an emergency plan to protect yourself and your family's safety is simple and can prove valuable in all kinds of situations.

• Meet with household members to discuss the dangers of fire, severe weather,
• earthquakes and other emergencies. Explain how to respond to each.
• Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster.
• Discuss what to do about power outages and personal injuries.
• Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes from each room.
• Show family members how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at main switches when necessary.
• Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones.
• Teach children how and when to call 911, police and fire.
• Instruct household members to turn on the radio for emergency information.
• Pick one out-of-state and one local friend or relative for family members to call if separated during a disaster (it is often easier to call out-of-state than within the affected area).
• Teach children your out-of-state contact's phone number.
• Pick two emergency meeting places: First, a place near your home in case of a fire. And second, a place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.
• Take a basic first aid and CPR class.
• Keep family records in a water and fire-proof container.

For more information on preparing for emergencies, please refer to the other messages in this (Emergency Preparedness) category, or call the Fire Department's Emergency Services Office at (310) 458-8686.