The start of a new year is a great time to consider adding some goals to help your family become better prepared for emergencies, according to Fairfax County.
Being prepared for emergencies before they happen can help keep your loved ones safe and minimize stress in difficult situations. News about wildfires in California bring this point home.
From natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes to house fires or power outages, having an emergency plan in place gives your family the tools to respond quickly and effectively.
Create or Update an Emergency Plan
One of the most important steps in preparing for emergencies is creating a family emergency plan. If you don’t have one yet, make it a resolution to sit down with your family and put one together in the new year.
An emergency plan should include:
• Emergency meeting places both inside and outside your home
• Emergency contact information for family members and other important contacts
• Evacuation routes and planned transportation if you need to leave your home
• A designated out-of-town contact person to relay information
• Plans for pets or service animals
• A list of important documents and valuables to take with you if evacuating
If you already have a family emergency plan, review and update it to account for any changes.
Assemble or Restock Emergency Supply Kits
Emergency supply kits contain basic supplies you may need if access to food, water and other resources is limited during an emergency. Make a resolution to create new emergency kits or restock the ones you already have.
Some essential items for an emergency supply kit include:
• Water (1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days)
• Non-perishable food and a manual can opener
• Battery-powered radio and extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Moist towelettes and garbage bags for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities if needed
Consider making smaller portable kits for your home, workplace, and vehicles as well.
10 Emergency Kit Essentials with Older Adults in Mind
Older adults can be especially vulnerable during severe weather and natural disasters, says NIH and others. Stock your emergency kit with these 10 essentials. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/safety/10-emergency-kit-essentials
Emergency kits should contain:
• Water and non-perishable food
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Sanitation and hygiene supplies
• Sleeping bags and warm blankets
• Communication devices, chargers
• Change of clothes and shoes
• Eyeglasses and hearing aids
• Medications and equipment
• Health information and documents
• Cash
Learn more about how older adults can be prepared.
Practice Evacuation Routes and Emergency Drills
Once you’ve created or updated your emergency plan, practice. Hold fire drills, evacuation drills, or other emergency drills at home. This will help family members, especially children, become familiar with the plan and know what to do in an emergency.
Time how long it takes to safely exit your home and meet at the designated spot. Identify any areas for improvement and adjust your plan as needed.
Learn Emergency Skills
There are many valuable skills you can learn to help your family better handle emergencies. Some examples to add to your resolutions:
• Take a CPR or first aid training course
• Learn how to turn off utilities like gas, water and electricity
• Practice using a fire extinguisher properly
• Identify safe rooms or best protection areas in your home
Hands-on training in emergency skills will help give you more confidence to act quickly if the need arises.
The new year is the perfect opportunity to prioritize emergency preparedness for your family. By making resolutions and taking action, you’ll be better equipped to keep your loved ones safe when dealing with an emergency or disaster in 2025 and beyond.
Being prepared for emergencies before they happen can help keep your loved ones safe and minimize stress in difficult situations.
Community Emergency Response Guide
In the past several years, Fairfax County residents have responded to major storms, hurricanes and power outages. Be prepared for any natural disaster or emergency. Download a PDF copy of the Community Emergency Response Guide (CERG), available in multiple languages: English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) | Korean (PDF) | Arabic (PDF) | Mandarin (PDF) | Vietnamese (PDF)