Emergencies often strike without warning. Don’t wait until it’s too late to prepare. Having a plan in place can protect you and your family when disaster happens. Since emergencies may occur when your family is apart, it’s important that everyone knows what to do and how to stay connected. A well-understood plan can ease stress and help everyone respond more calmly.
You can get started by following these simple steps:
You can get started by following these simple steps:
Step
1
Ask 5 Key Questions
Begin by talking through these important questions with your family:
1. How will we receive emergency alerts and information?
1. How will we receive emergency alerts and information?
- In Burbank, sign up for ALERT Burbank, which is Burbank's emergency notification system.
- Outside of Burbank, check your local community for emergency alert systems.
- Remember: local AM radio stations often broadcast emergency updates.
- Fill out contact cards for each family member to carry.
- Choose an out-of-state contact person everyone can call to “check in” safely. This reduces the chance that your contact will also be affected by the disaster.
- Learn more on our Family Reunification page.
- You can purchase pre-made kits or build one tailored to your family’s needs.
- Learn more in our Build a Kit section.
- At home: draw a floor plan and mark two escape routes from each room. Post copies in children’s rooms.
- In the community: know your neighborhood, school, and workplace evacuation plans.
- Read more in our Evacuation Planning section.
- Earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and severe storms may all require different responses.
Step
2
Hold a Family Meeting
Sit down together to talk through possible emergencies, discuss the five questions above, and make sure everyone knows their role.
Step
3
Fill Out a Family Emergency Plan
Use FEMA’s free downloadable family emergency plan templates (for both parents and kids) at www.ready.gov/plan-form (opens in a new window).
Step
4
Practice, Practice, Practice
A plan only works if everyone knows it by heart. Run through your plan with the whole family regularly – ideally more than once a year – so that responding becomes second nature.
