Family Preparedness Where will your family be when disaster strikes? They could be anywhere -- at work, at school or in the car. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children are safe? Disaster may force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services -- water, gas, electricity or telephones -- were cut off? Families should be prepared for all hazards that could affect their homes and communities. The Macon County Health Department urges every family to develop a family disaster plan. Basic steps for a Family Disaster Plan Follow these steps to develop a Family Disaster Plan: 1. Gather information about hazards. Contact your local National Weather Service office, emergency management office and American Red Cross chapter. Find out what types of disasters could occur and how you should respond. Learn your community's warning signs and evacuation plans. 2. Meet with your family to create a plan. Discuss the information you have gathered. Pick two places to meet: a spot outside your home for an emergency, such as a fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you cannot return home. Choose an out-of-state friend as your "family check-in contact" for everyone to call if the family gets separated. Discuss what you would do if advised to evacuate. 3. Implement your plan. Post emergency telephone numbers by phones; Install safety features in your house, such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers Inspect your home for potential hazards (such as items that can move, fall, break or catch fire) and correct them Have your family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity in your home Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency medical services number Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three days. Assemble a Basic 72-hour (3 Day) Emergency Supply Kit with items you may need in case of an evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags. Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep a smaller emergency supplies kit in the trunk of your car. 4. Practice and maintain your plan. Ask questions to make sure your family members remember meeting places, phone numbers and safety rules. Conduct drills. Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries two times each year. Test and recharge your fire extinguisher's) according to manufacturer's instructions. Replace stored water and food every six months.