Putting the Plan together

The approach we’re taking is to help you think about others who depend on you for support and care, their special needs in a time of crisis, and providing you with a checklist of items and procedures that will support you and your family in a crisis that still requires you to report to work.

Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so some thinking and planning now will go a long way when an emergency occurs.

Think about your family members and the type of support and services they will need if you are not at home when an event starts. Younger children may need to be picked-up from day care or school. Who will do this if you cannot be there? Older children and young adults will need guidance and supervision, meal preparation, and maybe an alternate place to go until you can get home.

Elders may need special assistance. Adult day care may not be operational, or may be forced to close early. What are your alternatives? Who will become part of you plan?

During a pandemic, day care, adult day care, certain schools, and other related services may not be open, or may be forced to close early, or not be able to provide return transportation.

You will need an alternative for each of the potential situations that may occur for your dependent children, adults, and pets. Yes, pets must be on your list!

This site gives you the basics to prepare your basic plan, but you may wish to refer to other sources provided on your Links page.

Keeping in Contact: An important part of your plan is how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations.

·         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 coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.

·         You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether, but be patient.

Emergency Information
Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and manmade, 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. Call the closest chapter of the American Red Cross for emergency information that applies to your community.

Emergency Plans at other sites
You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare, and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance.

Developing a Family Emergency Plan Checklist
Developing a family emergency plan and checklist is important for any emergency, not just a COOP event. As a minimum, a family emergency plan should include:

>> EMPLOYEE FAMILY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST