Personal and Family Preparedness

In any emergency event, local government and disaster-relief organizations are expected to provide help, but individuals need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach all affected persons immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere at first. Each family should be ready to be self-sufficient for at least three days.

Since an emergency may occur with little or no warning, it is vital that you plan ahead for the protection of your family. Preparing for disaster helps everyone in the family accept the fact that disasters do happen, and provides an opportunity to identify and collect the resources needed to meet basic needs. When people feel prepared, everyone copes better.

Steps to Creating a Family Plan:

Contact your local Emergency Management office and/or American Red Cross to find out what hazards exist in your community, how to prepare for them, and how you will be warned if an event occurs.
Meet with your family to discuss these hazards and your plans for managing them. Plan where you will go if advised to evacuate.
Plan how your family will stay in contact with one another in case of separation.
a. Pick two meeting places - one close by your home and one outside the neighborhood in case you can't return home.
b. Choose an out-of-area (preferably out-of-state) friend or relative as a check-in contact for everyone to call if needed.
Complete a written Family Emergency Communications Plan (Attachment 3) and keep copies by the telephone, with your important papers, and in your emergency supplies kits.
Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster, and plan two escape routes out of each room.
Find out about disaster plans in place for schools, daycare, workplaces, apartment buildings, and other places your family spends time.
Consider how to meet special needs of infants, elderly, disabled, and others.
Consider how to care for pets and livestock.
Practice and maintain your plan. Update it as needed every six months.

For personal and family preparedness checklists and planning tools, click below:

Family Emergency Preparedness Checklist

Home Emergency Supplies Checklist

Family Emergency Communications Plan

The following organizations and web sites provide more information on general and specific disaster preparedness:

American Red Cross www.redcross.org

Be Ready Campaign www.ready.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov

Department of Health and Human Services www.hhs.gov/disasters

Department of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov

Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov

Michigan State Police www.michigan.gov/msp

Michigan State Police Emergency Management www.michigan.gov/emhsd

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration www.noaa.gov

National Weather Service www.nws.noaa.gov

State of Michigan www.michigan.gov/prepare

US Geological Survey www.usgs.gov

If a natural disaster occurs, local government and disaster-relief organizations are expected to provide help, but individuals need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach all affected persons immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere at first. Each family should be ready to be self-sufficient for at least three days.

For more information on these specific types of Natural Disasters most common in Michigan, click below:

Natural Disasters General Guidance

Thunderstorm and Lightning

Tornado

Winter Storm and Extreme Cold

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