Make a Family Emergency Plan


One of the most important steps you can take in preparing for emergencies is to develop a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to sit down together now and decide what you will do in an emergency. Your emergency plan should, at a minimum, contain the following information:

How you will contact each other after a disaster occurs

Identify an emergency contact for each family member.

Write down the address, phone number, and evacuation location for each of the places where your family spends most of its time (work, school, or other places you frequent).

Out-of-town contact

After a disaster, it may be difficult to make local phone calls. Designate an out-of-town contact to receive calls from your family members if you get separated. Because long distance phone service should be restored sooner than local service, this contact person will be able to relay your family’s well-being.

Meeting places

Identify two meeting places: one neighborhood meeting place and one regional meeting place. By identifying two meeting places, you increase your ability to reunite with your family regardless of the size of the emergency. If there was a fire isolated to your home, your family could meet at your neighborhood meeting place. If the emergency was a major earthquake that affected the region you live in, it might be necessary to reunite at your regional meeting place. Remember to be specific when identifying your meeting places!

Personal and medical information for each family member

Record the date of birth, social security number, and important medical information for each family member.

List the names, phone numbers, and policy numbers for your doctor, pharmacist, medical insurance carrier, homeowners/rental insurance carrier, and veterinarian.

Floor plan of your home with escape routes


For additional information and tools that will assist you in developing your emergency plan, please visit the following websites: 



When you complete your emergency plan, store a copy in your emergency supply kit or another place where you can access it in the event of a disaster.