Lutheran Disaster Response > ReadyChurch > Make a Plan

Make a Plan
National Preparedness Month

Disasters are often unpredictable, and your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance:  how you will contact one another, how you will get back together, and what you will do in different situations.

Family Emergency Plan

• Identify an out-of town contact.  It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members

• Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.  If you have a cell phone, program the number as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone.  If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know.  Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.

• Teach family members how to use text messaging (also knows as SMS).  Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.

• Subscribe to local alert services.  Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc.  Sign up by visiting your local Office of Emergency Management web site.

Planning to Stay or Go

Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the emergency, the first important decision is whether you will stay or evacuate.  You should understand and plan for both possibilities.  Use common sense and available information, including what you are learning here, to determine if there is an immediate danger.  In any emergency, local authorities may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do.  However, you should watch TV, listen to the radio, or check the Internet often for information or official instruction as it becomes available.

Emergency Information

Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified.  Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community.  One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts.  You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call, or emergency workers may go door-to-door.

Emergency Plans

Use the Online Family Emergency Planning Tool, created by the Ready Campaign in conjunction with the Ad Council, to prepare a printable, comprehensive Family Emergency Plan.   [click here]

Use the Quick Share application to help your family in assembling a quick reference list of contact information for your family and a meeting place for emergency situations.   [click here]

Ask whether emergency plans are in place at places where your family spends time -- work, daycare, school.
If no plan exists, volunteer to help create one.  Use the School and Workplace information to help make your community more well prepared.   [click here]