Emergency Plan Priorities - Creating an Action Plan

Identifying Your Planning Priorities - Creating an Action Plan

Our last post listed categories to address in your Self Reliance Preparedness Planner. These will, in effect, be the chapters of your Self Reliance Preparedness Plan.Now answer the following questions to help begin generating a plan of action – to create a list of what must be done to better prepare you to face an emergency.These questions are provided to stimulate your thoughts and ideas about the scope of your plan.Your living conditions or lifestyle may already satisfy your needs in some of these categories.If you answer ‘no’ or ‘I don’t know’ you’ve identified a ‘gap’ in your preparedness and can then create action plans to fill the gaps.

1.Do you have a safe source of light in the event of a power failure?

2.Do you have a source of heat in the event of a power failure?

3.Do you have enough water stored for each person and pet in your family for at least 72 hours?

4.Do you have a water purifier on hand in the event you run out of stored water?

5.Do you have an adequate food supply stored to last your family and pets a minimum of 72 hours.

6.How will you cook and prepare meals if your stove doesn’t work?

7.Do you have a first aid kit and know how to use it? Have you been trained in first aid and CPR?

8.Do you have a solution for handling bodily wastes if you cannot flush your toilet?

9.How will you wash eating utensils, bathe and maintain sanitary conditions if you have no running water?

10.How will you communicate and get news if phone lines and cell towers are not working?

11.What will you do if all businesses are closed and all roads are closed to civilian traffic?

12.If an emergency prevents you from leaving your home and you do not have running water, electricity, or a source of heat do you have what you need to survive?Describe your plan.

13.If you are forced to leave your home do you have a 72 hour emergency preparedness kit for each member and each pet in your family?

14.What will you use for shelter if you have to leave your home?

15.Do you have a specific, written emergency evacuation plan which is known and understood by all the members of your family?

16.What will you do, or where will you go, if emergency shelters are not available for more than 72 hours after a disaster strikes?

17.How will your answers to the above questions be affected if it is winter or if you are experiencing severe weather?

Answer each of the above questions.If you have a solution to the question posed that ‘Chapter’ of your plan is complete.If you have no solution, list ideas about a solution, outlining your plans to obtain the supplies or knowledge needed.This blog will provide ideas, solutions and solid “how to” information for every category and ‘chapter’ of your plan.

Also remember that this needn’t be an expensive process nor need it be time consuming!Focus on ‘needs’ and do what you can, as you can.You can revisit and update your plan as your personal resources allow you to do so.Most importantly, start planning!Finally, try to make the process fun - make it a game - and by all means involve the whole family. By doing so you might even find that your children keep you on task…. but, whatever else you do, don’t let the dog guard his personal emergency kit!