In a perfect world, we would never have to make an emergency plan; but, we don't live in that perfect world. In light of the Navy Yard shooting yesterday, I decided to write out my tips for what to do in the event of an emergency. I am in no way an expert, but just another Mom and human living in this crazy world.
1. Make a Plan
While you cannot plan for every type of emergency, it is important to plan for the ones you can. For example: Hurricane season. Every family should have some sort of hurricane plan. You should know what your house needs to be prepped and protected, have a list of supplies (if you have supplies already) and have an evacuation plan.
The best way to make a plan is to sit down with your spouse or partner and discuss concerns each of you have in the event of a natural disaster or, God forbid, some sort of serious threat. It is important in my opinion for adults to be on the same page and have the same expectations and come up with a plan of action that will work for your family.
Once you have an idea of the plan that will work for your family, and if your kids are old enough, go over the plan with the rest of your family. No, I don't think you should scare your kids; but, I do think you need to be realistic and explain the importance of being prepared. If your kids aren't old enough to understand, make sure your plan will work for them. If your kids are in Daycare or you have a Nanny, review and know their plans. Its important to know what they do and how it will effect any plan you have for your family.
2. Prepare
Every disaster needs certain supplies. Some more than others. You always want to make sure you keep on hand some essential non-perishable items, such as batteries, flash lights, etc. in the event you need them.
Another item you might consider in preparation is a "Go" Bag. But what is a Go Bag? Well, it is exactly what it sounds like: a bag that you can grab in a hurry in the event you have to get out quick; some refer to it as a bug-out bag. It should have some essentials to get you through the next 72 hours, or could be something you keep in the office should you have to shelter in place.
I recently did a Go Bag for my son. It was at the request of his school. At first, when I got the note, I was alarmed; but, once I thought about it, it made sense. In the event they had to get out quickly, they could just grab the box of Go Bags and head to the parent meeting point. In the bag, I placed 2 meals, 2 snacks, a bottle of water, wipes and diapers, and an extra change of clothes.
One important item for a Go Bag, for us parents/adults, would have to be our important documents. You should at least have a copies in your Go Bag.
3. Practice
I know this sounds like a little bit of overkill, but it never hurts to practice. When you live in a place like D.C., you're reminded everyday of what "could" happen. You don't necessarily have to do an all out drill, but do check your evacuation routes and see any possible issues you could have, make sure everyone knows where the Go Bags are, and even check items like hurricane shutters to make sure you know how to properly install them. You can even simply mentally go over what exactly you would do during different scenarios. Use that dead time during your commute. Just having thought about it ahead of time will leave you better prepared should the need arise to execute your plans.
The most important thing is at least having an idea of what you need to do. You don't want to wait until a fire to try and find the emergency exits.
For more information, you can check out your local Emergency Operations Center or check online, like this website.
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