Emergency Preparations for Your Family

Winter sometimes brings us whopper snowstorms, and occasionally the wind, ice and snow knocks out power. If an emergency such as this hit your home, would your family be ready? An emergency could involve your family having no power, no heat, no water, and possibly no ability to travel outside the home. Below are some tips to prepare your family for an emergency.

Stock up on Necessities

• Make sure you have a few days-worth of simple foods that don’t need refrigeration, like canned tuna, peanut butter and crackers, granola bars, and healthy cereals that could be eaten dry.
• Be sure you have food for your pets for a few days.
• Keep 3 gallons of water on hand per person, as well as extra water for pets in case it’s needed
• If someone in your family currently takes medication, make sure you have enough medicine on hand to last a few days. You may also want to have some general pain relievers available such as Advil, Tylenol, Aspirin, or Naproxen.
• Stop by the credit union to take out a small amount of cash in case you aren’t able to use credit cards or ATM machines during an emergency.
• If you know a storm may be coming, try to fill up your cars with gas ahead of time, and fill portable gas containers if you might need them for a generator.

Organize Emergency Supplies

In addition to the necessities, you’ll also want to stock an emergency kit in a place you can quickly and easily find in your home.  Here are some ideas of what to include:

• A variety of bandages, antibacterial ointment, and rubbing alcohol
• A few flashlights and extra batteries for them
• An old fashioned, battery-controlled radio with extra batteries
• Hand sanitizer and baby wipes in case they are needed for personal sanitation
• A small amount of cash in case of emergencies where it may not be possible to use your credit cards or ATM machines.

Plan Ahead & Educate Your Family

• Talk with your family about what to do in emergency situations, and make sure everyone knows where the emergency supplies are located in your home.
• For emergencies where you may need to quickly exit your home (such as a fire), make sure your family knows the safest way to exit each part of the home, and where your family will meet outside.
• Teenagers and adults should review how to shut off the home’s utilities such as water, electric, and gas.
• It’s helpful if at least one family member can attend a first aid and CPR class to gain those additional skills.

Emergency phone numbers

Make sure your family has a written list of important phone numbers, including the numbers of family members and friends.  Even if you have all these numbers programmed into your phone, you may not be able to access them if your phone battery dies and you don’t have power.

Stay informed

Whatever the emergency may be, stay up-to-date with the latest news with your TV or radio.  In some types of emergencies, your cell phone, internet, and TV might not be working.  It’s a good idea to have an old fashioned, battery controlled radio for emergency use.

Once a storm or emergency situation has begun, if you still have power and you decide to go to a store or the credit union, please check to see if that location is open before risking icy, snowy, or dangerous conditions.

Helpful links for More Information:

• How to Build an Emergency Kit 
• Preparedness Checklist (available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Chinese & Vietnamese)

While we never want damage to occur, it's always better to be safe than sorry.  Review your homeowner's insurance and compare it to other plans to make sure you have the right coverage for your home for the right price.

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