1. Safeguard your home. Check for potential hazards.
a. Bolt or strap down top-heavy objects, such as bookshelves, china closets, water heaters and gas appliances, to prevent them from tipping over.

b. Check electrical connections and gas pipes for faulty joints and connections.

c. Place heavy objects on lower shelves.

d. Store bottled goods, glass, vases, china, and other breakables in lower or closed cabinets or drawers.

e. Place flammable, explosive, toxic, and corrosive materials in lower or closed cabinets or drawers and apart from each other.

f. Properly store and label flammable, combustible, explosive, corrosive, and hazardous materials.

g. Keep matches & lighters out of reach of children and away from flammable materials.

h. Be sure your home is bolted or anchored firmly to its foundation and structurally safe.

i. Keep properly rated and tagged fire extinguishers on hand. Along with your family - learn how and when to use them properly.

j. Store copies of important documents, such as insurance policies, deeds, property records, and birth certificates in a safe place away from your home. Store originals in a fireproof/waterproof box or safe.

k. Store essential and unreplaceable items in waterproof unbreakable containers.

l. Remove hazardous objects (i.e. mirrors, bookshelves, heavy pots, hanging plants, etc.) from sleeping areas, or just move your bed.

m. Install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your house and natural or propane gas detectors near your furnace and hot water heater or boiler, and other gas appliances


2. Implement preventive safety measures for you and your family members.
a. Become CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) trained.

b. Know where, when, and how to shut off the gas or propane, electricity, and water at main switches and valves. Teach all responsible family members how and when to do this properly. (see “Appendix B”).

c. Work out a relocation plan detailing how you will get back together if you are separated during an emergency or disaster. Include a family evacuation plan from the residence, from the neighborhood, and/or from the county.
1) Discuss with your family what each person will do in case of an emergency or disaster. Be sure everyone has an assignment.

2) Remember this plan should be flexible regarding time and location of each individual during any time of the day, week, or year. Take in to consideration weather problems.

3) Hold occasional drills so that your family knows what to do during and after an emergency or disaster.

4) Find out what to do and where to go in the case of an evacuation of your community. Learn the shortest and safest routes from your home, work, church, etc. to possible evacuations areas or centers. Take into account that you may not be able to travel in vehicles and may need to travel on foot or bicycle.
c. Have a complete one year minimum home storage including water, food, sanitation, medical, and fuel.

d. Have a 72-hour kit in an easily accessible place for every member of the home.

e. Keep a flashlight with fresh batteries and/or light-stick, “jump-in” clothes (a robe, sweats, or some other kind of quick put on clothes), an extra pair of shoes and prescription glasses (if you use either glasses or contacts) by your bed.

f. Put together a complete first aid kit and have every responsible person in your family learn how to use its contents. (see “Appendix E”)

g. Learn basic first aid and CPR.

h. Find out who your block captains are and what your neighborhood emergency and disaster response procedures are.

i. Have an out-of-state contact telephone number that everyone can call to check-in with. It is usually easier during a disaster to call out-of-state than call within the disaster area. Remember just check-in do not tie up the phones with lengthy conversations.



This information was taken by permission from the author of, "Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response" by Kenneth Moravec. This booklet (very highly recommended) can be purchased for a very low cost by contacting the author at: Kenneth Moravec - MoravecKennethB@aol.com - (801) 492-9029