• Meet with household members. Discuss with children the dangers of fire, severe weather, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and other emergencies.

• Discuss how to respond to each disaster that could occur.

• Discuss what to do about power outages and personal injuries.

• Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes from each room.

• Learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at main switches.

• Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones.

• Teach children how and when to call 911.

• Instruct household members to turn on the radio for emergency information.

• Pick one out-of-state and one local friend to call if separated by disaster (it is often easier to call out-of-state than within the affected area).

• Teach children how to make long distance telephone calls.

• Pick two meeting places. 1) A place near your home in case of a fire, and 2) A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.

• Take a basic first aid and CPR class.

• Keep family records in a water and fire-proof container.