Families can - and do - cope better with disaster by preparing in advance and working together as a team. Create a family disaster plan now that includes:

1. An evacuation plan
2. A communication plan, and
3. A disaster supplies kit.

Knowing what to do before disaster strikes is your responsibility and your best protection.

Find out what could happen to you

Refer to the Web resources at the end of this article or contact your American Red Cross chapter or local emergency management office to learn:

• What types of disasters are most likely to happen. Request information on how to prepare for each.
• About your community's warning signals: what they sound like and what you should do when you hear them.
• How to help elderly or disabled persons, if needed.
• About animal care after a disaster. Animals other than service animals may not be allowed inside emergency shelters.
• Disaster plans at your workplace, your children's school or day care center, and other places where your family spends time.

Involve the whole family in disaster planning

Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster. Explain to your children the dangers of fire, severe weather, and earthquakes. Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case. Decide how to take care of your pets. Plan to share responsibilities and work together as a team.

1. Create an evacuation plan. Discuss what to do in an evacuation. Pick two places to meet, depending on whether family members are home when disaster strikes:

1. Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
2. Outside your neighborhood in case you or your family members can't return home. Everyone must know the address and phone number of that meeting place.

2. Design a communication plan. Ask an out-of-state friend to be your “family contact.” After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance than to call a local number. Everyone must know your contact's phone number. All family members should call this person after an emergency and tell him/her where they are.

Families should determine more than one method for communicating during emergency situations and share their plans beforehand with all those who would be worried about their welfare. Options for remaining in contact with family and friends if a disaster strikes include:

• Phone contact with a designated family member or friend who is unlikely to be affected by the same disaster.
• E-mail notification via a family distribution list.
• Registration on the American Red Cross Safe and Well Website
• Use of the toll-free Contact Loved Ones voice messaging service (1-866-78-CONTACT).
• Use of the United States Postal Service change of address forms when it becomes necessary to leave home for an extended period of time, thus ensuring that mail will be redirected to a current address.

3. Put together a disaster supplies kit. Start with a first aid kit, available from many retailers. Check the link below for more good ideas.

Take advantage now of available Web resources

Access these and other Web sites for important information and tools to assist you in making a family plan for emergencies, including pandemic flu.

American Red Cross Family Disaster or Emergency Planning

American Red Cross Disaster Supplies Kit

American Red Cross Pandemic Flu Action Plan

Centers for Disease Control Pandemic Flu Family Planning Guidelines and Checklists