| Sample Family Safety Checklist |
Tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, severe winter storms, and other natural or man-made disasters have taken thousands of lives just since the year 2000.
GIIS offers the following SAMPLE FAMILY CATASTROPHE PREPARATION CHECKLIST as a way to start. Add your own activities to this list. |
| Tornado Preparation |
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Purchase a weather radio with battery back-up that is programmable to the county level and for specific storm incidents such as severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. |
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Identify the safest room in your home where everyone gathers in the event of a tornado. A basement is preferable, but and interior room with no windows is acceptable. |
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Keep protective items such as heavy blankets in your safe room in case of a tornado. Wrap each family member in a blanket for protection. |
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Store extra batteries, flashlights and a battery-powered AM/FM radio in your safe room. Be prepared if the power and phones are out. |
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Remove items around the home that can become missiles in high winds such as lawn chairs, bicycles, gardening supplies and benches. |
| Hurricane Preparation |
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Watch and listen for hurricane warnings on radio/TV/weather alert radios and keep track of the oncoming storm's path and severity. |
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Protect your property by properly boarding up windows and doors. In hurricane-prone areas, make sure your property is current with building codes. |
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Remove items around the home that can become missiles in high winds such as lawn chairs, bicycles, gardening supplies and benches. |
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Purchase least three 3-day supply of food and water to either shelter in place or take it with you if you evacuate. |
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Maintain at least a 3-day supply of medicines, over the counter or prescription, for each member of the family should you shelter in place or evacuate.
For families who live with the elderly or those with serious illness, take extra precautions especially if evacuation is necessary:
- Conditions of those seriously ill or infirm should be written down and kept with them at all times.
- Medicines, doctors' phone numbers, insurance information and pharmacy numbers should be part of the individual's medical history
- At least one week's worth of medicines for these individuals should be stockpiled.
- All items for the infirm or elderly should be in labeled bags
- Prepare for movement of those with mobility issues
- Bedridden patients should wear identification including name, date of birth, and family names with contact information.
- If special transportation is needed, such as an ambulance, contact numbers and procedures should be clear for all family members.
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Know your evacuation routes. Interstates get crowded very quickly but advanced planning can help you leave the area more quickly. Do not wait until the last minutes to evacuate. Don't let your gasoline level get too low when a severe storm approaches.
Pre-pack financial records. Keep these records in a safe place you can access easily. Take the following with you:
- insurance policies
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- birth and marriage certificates
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- wills
- deeds
- recent tax returns
- stocks and bonds
- home inventory
- safety deposit box keys
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Identify a family member or friend in another city to be the main family contact should members of your family become separated. Everyone should know who to call to check in. |
| Fire/Wildfire Preparation |
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Purchase smoke detectors for your home or apartment. Replace the batteries when you set your clocks forward or back. |
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For multi-story homes or apartments, consider escape ladders that fold up to a small space, but quickly expand to a 13 or 23 foot length by pulling two straps. They mount in a window in seconds. |
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Emergency lights are very good investments, especially those that plug into wall sockets, since they are usually near floor level. In a fire, schools teach children to crawl close to the floor since smoke rises. Inexpensive battery-back-up lights will help during an emergency evacuation of a home or apartment. |
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Evacuation planning is a must. The family should practice every one to three months. It is important that all family members know how to escape the home or apartment, day or night, even if the main exits are blocked by fire. This may include the purchase of rope ladders for multi-story homes and very detailed plans for escape if doorways and/or staircases are blocked by fire. |
| Flooding Preparation |
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Do not drive or walk into water that is flowing across low water crossings, bridges, or roadways. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way. Heed all warnings and street barricades-- if you go around one, you are subject to a fine. |
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Flowing water as little as six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet or move your car. |
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Flooding and cars do not mix More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. The road may be washed out below the water surface. Your car may stall or get stuck in the water, and then get pushed off the road. Once off the road, cars often start to roll, making escape impossible. |
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Stay away from downed power lines or electrical wires. Electrocution is another major source of deaths in floods. |
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Get to high ground as quickly as possible. |
| Earthquake Preparation |
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Know the safe spots in each room -- under sturdy tables, desks or against inside walls. |
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Know the danger spots-windows, mirrors, hanging objects, fireplaces, tall furniture. |
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Conduct practice drills. Physically place yourself and your children in safe locations. |
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Learn first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) from your local Red Cross Chapter or other community organization. |
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Decide where your family will reunite if separated. |
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Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers. |
| Winter Storm Preparation |
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Prepare water pipes against freezing by wrapping exposed pipes with insulation materials. Cover outside water hose connectors with foam covers and shut off water to external connectors. |
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Prepare for power outages. Maintain at least a 3-day supply of food, water and medical supplies. For homes with at lest one fireplace, maintain a supply of aged firewood that can be used for warmth and cooking. |
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Carefully use space heaters, and remember the appropriate safety precautions such as making sure not to put a space heater close to furniture, drapes or piles of clothing. |
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Properly ventilate your home when using fireplaces and/or space heaters, especially during a power outage. |
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Winter driving is dangerous and requires experience as well as the properly inflated tires, snow tires or sometimes chains. |
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Keep a winder driving safety kit in your vehicle that includes blankets, emergency lights, a basic first-aid kit, non-perishable food and water. |
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Regularly check your car's battery and alternator especially during the winter. Keep an ample supply of gasoline in your vehicle at all times and regularly check your engine's oil level. |
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Check your vehicle's cooling system to make sure there is a proper amount of anti-freeze. |
