How to Create an Evacuation Plan

General readiness

• 1

  Read 464 Formulate a Family Emergency Plan and get your own family prepared.

• 2

  Browse the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Web site (fema.gov). FEMA details how to prepare for virtually every type of natural disaster and specific actions to take in the wake of one, such as how to treat contaminated water. Ready.gov has information about the appropriate response to specific hazards, including biological, chemical, radioactive and nuclear threats.

• 3

  Get disaster-preparedness training with the American Red Cross (redcross.org) on such topics as basic first aid and what to do if a medical response is delayed. Pilot programs are underway to give teachers basic first aid training as well as train health care workers on proper decontamination procedures in case of a biological warfare (such as anthrax or saran) attack.

In your neighborhood

• 4

  Keep your list of residents current with phone numbers, e-mail addresses and skills that would be useful in an emergency (see 389 Set Up a Neighborhood Watch).

• 5

  Create a neighborhood emergency plan. Discuss the following:

• 6

  Make sure you have a good map and are familiar with evacuation routes. Plan a backup route in case roads are blocked off.