Family Contact Cards

Important emergency planning information for your family.

Important emergency planning information for your family.

Important emergency planning information for your family.

Important emergency planning information for your family.

Evacuating Yourself and Your Family

Evacuations are more common than most people realize. Fires and floods cause evacuations most frequently and almost every year, people along coastlines evacuate as hurricanes approach. In addition, hundreds of times each year, transportation and industrial accidents release harmful substances forcing many to leave their homes.

When community evacuations are necessary, local officials provide information through the media. In some circumstances, other warning methods are used, such as sirens, text alerts, emails or telephone calls. The amount of time you have to leave depends on the hazard. If the event is weather related, such as a hurricane, you may have a day or two. Many disasters, however, allow no time for people to gather even the most basic needs. This is why planning ahead is essential.

Evacuation Guidelines from Ready.gov

Whether the circumstances are voluntary or mandatory, there may come a time when you need to evacuate. Follow these guidelines:

1. Plan places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood. Use the Family Emergency Plan to decide these locations before a disaster.
2. If you have a car, keep a full tank of gas in it if an evacuation seems likely. Keep a half tank of gas in it at all times on a regular basis in case of an unexpected emergency. Gas stations may be closed or unable to pump gas during power outages. Plan to take one car per family to reduce congestion on the roadways and delays.
3. Become familiar with alternate routes and other means of transportation out of your area. Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency.
4. Leave early enough to avoid being trapped by severe weather.
5. Follow recommended evacuation routes. Do not take shortcuts, they may be blocked.
6. Be alert for road hazards such as washed-out roads or bridges and downed power lines. Do not drive into flooded areas.
7. If you do not have a car, plan how you will leave. Make arrangements with family, friends, neighbors or your local government.
8. Take your 72-hour kit with you.
9. Listen to a battery-powered radio and follow local evacuation instructions.
10. Take your pets with you, but understand that only service animals may be permitted in public shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency.

If time allows:

1. Call or email the out-of-state contact in your family communications plan. Tell them where you are going.
2. Secure your home by closing and locking all doors and windows.
3. Unplug electrical equipment such as radios, televisions, computers, printers and small appliances. Leave freezers and refrigerators plugged in unless there is a risk of flooding. If there is damage to your home and you are instructed to do so, shut off water, gas and electricity before leaving.
4. Leave a note telling others when you left and where you are going.
5. Wear sturdy shoes and clothing that provides some protection such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and a cap.
6. Check with neighbors who may need a ride or help evacuating.

Family Communication Tips

Identify a contact such as a friend or relative who lives out-of-state for household members to notify they are safe. It may be easier or 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 that person 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 ahold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friend that you have them listed as your emergency contact.

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

Subscribe to alert services. Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or emails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc.

Follow Be Ready Utah on

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/BeReadyUtah

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/bereadyutah

Be Ready Utah blog:  http://bereadyutah.blogspot.com/

Be Ready Utah YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/bereadyutah

Utah Shakeout on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/UtahShakeOut

Utah Shakeout on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/utahshakeout

For more information about staying informed on Utah’s vast and varying terrain, visit: http://www.utah.gov/beready/family/be-informed.html

Utah Department of Public Safety
Division of Homeland Security
1110 State Office Building
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
(801) 538-3400
(800) 753-2858
Be Ready Utah
http://publicsafety.utah.gov

Family Communications

Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another. Consider communication needs in different situations.

Complete a contact card for each adult member in your family. Have them keep these cards in their wallet or purse. Contact cards should also be completed for each child in your family. Put their cards in their backpack or book bag.

Check with your children’s day care or school. These facilities should include identification planning as part of their emergency plans.

72 Hour Kits

A 72 Hour Kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in case of emergency. Assemble your kit in advance and keep it in an easily accessible place, you may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice. In case of a fire, earthquake, chemical spill, gas leak or a similar disaster, you will not have time to gather supplies to take with you.

Your 72 Hour Kit is designed to help you sustain life for 3 days in event you have to survive on your own after an emergency. You should include food, water, clothing and other personal supplies. You may not have electricity, gas, water or sewage services. If you plan ahead, these times of disaster can be much more bearable.

Basic 72 Hour Kits should include:
Water – one gallon per person per day
Food – 3 day supply of non-perishable food, include a can opener if needed
Radio – battery powered or hand crank and extra batteries
Flashlight with extra batteries
First Aid Kit including a whistle to alert relief workers of your location
Dust Mask – one person to help filter contaminated air
Plastic Sheeting and Duct Tape – to use for shelter
Handi-Wipes, Garbage Bags and Twist Ties – for sanitation use
Wrench or Pliers – to turn off utilities
Local Maps
Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
Personal Items – Medications, Personal Hygiene, Emergency Contact Numbers, etc.

Click here for the Emergency Supply List from FEMA.

Please visit Ready.gov or BeReadyUtah.gov for a more complete list of Emergency Supply Kit checklists.

First Aid Kits

Where you decide to purchase your first aid kit or gather your own supplies, it is important to have one with you at all times, or know where to find one. Keep one in your 72 hour kit, in your home, and in your car. Have your kids pack a small first aid kit in their back packs and definitely take them with you on all your outings whether it’s to the local city park or for a hike up the canyon.

Include any personal items such as medications and emergency phone numbers and other items prescribed or suggested by your own health-care provider. Check your supplies regularly to make sure batteries work and that any supplies or medications included have not expired. Replace any unused or out-of-date contents and restock any used items as needed.

Here is a list of items recommend by the American Red Cross to be included in a first aid kit for a family of four:
2 absorbent compress dressings, 5×9”
25 adhesive bandages of assorted sizes
1 roll of adhesive cloth tape
5 antibiotic ointment packets
5 antibiotic wipe packets
2 packets of aspirin
1 space blanket
1 breathing barrier
1 instant cold compress
2 pairs of non-latex gloves, size large
2 hydrocortisone ointment packets
Scissors
1 roller bandage, 3” wide
1 roller bandage, 4” wide
5 sterile gauze pads, 3×3”
5 sterile gauze pads, 4×4”
Oral thermometer, non-mercury and non-glass
2 triangular bandages
Tweezers
First aid instruction booklet

What Would You Do IF….

Part of being prepared is having a PLAN for your family. Things to consider are:

How will we get to a safe place?
Think ahead and plan escape routes. How will you get out of the house if there is a fire? What should you do if there is an earthquake? Or a gas leak?

How will we contact each other?
During emergencies you may not be able to use phones as easily. Cell towers may be damaged and there will be high usage. Consider using text messaging and perhaps social media to contact others. Text messages often get through during emergencies when phone calls cannot. It is also a good idea to have emergency contact information written down and carried with you. If your cell phone has no battery or is lost or broken, having written numbers can be invaluable.

How will we get back together?
Consider choosing a local place for your family to gather in case of an emergency. This could be a local church building, a school or a nearby park. Who will go to the school or day care center to gather the kids? You may want to have several places chosen for various circumstances, for instance, if your house is on fire, you may want to meet across the street at the neighbor’s mailbox. If there is an earthquake you may want to meet at a nearby park.

What will we do in different types of situations?
Things to consider are the specific needs in differing circumstances. What will we do in case of a fire? An earthquake? A flood?

What other emergency plans are in place?
Does your work place have an emergency plan? Does your children’s school have an emergency plan? Is your neighborhood organized with a plan for emergencies? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, do you know what those plans are? Where will your children be taken in case they have to evacuate the school? Know these things and have plans to use resources designed to help your family.

Be Ready Utah has many resources to help you prepare for emergencies. Check out their “Make A Plan” page and their Family Preparedness pamphlet for more ideas