You never know when you may find yourself in an emergency at home or work. When the adrenaline starts pumping and panic threatens to creep in, you’ll be glad you took the time to prepare in advance.

Don’t wait. Make a plan now for the places you visit most. Here are some tips to help guide you.

Prepare in Advance

1. Have an emergency contact
   Meet with your family to make an emergency response plan  together. Choose an out-of-town contact your family can call or email to check on each other if an event like bad weather happens. Choose someone who lives far enough away that it’s unlikely they would be touched by the emergency. Make sure they know they are your contact.
2. Set up a meeting place
   Make an evacuation plan and pick a meeting place where everyone can gather. Make sure the meeting place is away from your home to save time and confusion in case your home is affected. Make sure your emergency plan includes care for your pets. 
3. Gather an emergency survival kit
   If you need to leave your home or are asked to "stay in place," keep  important supplies on hand to make you and your family more comfortable. Prepare an emergency kit in an easy-to-carry container like a duffel bag or small plastic trash can. Include your medical, prescription and health plan information in your kit.
4. Know your child’s school emergency plan 
   Will the school keep children at school until a parent or adult can pick them up? Or will the school send them home on their own? Be sure the school has up-to-date information about how to reach parents and responsible caregivers to arrange pickups.
5. Outfit your car
   You can buy an emergency kit for your car at any major retailer. Make a handy list  of items to refer to when prepping your car.
6. Prep your phone
   Add a lock screen photo of your important emergency information to your mobile phone to help first responders. It’s easy to do using an emergency contact application for Android and iOS phones. Visit your app store and search for “emergency contact.”

Sources: How to Prepare for Emergencies,  American Red Cross; Make a Plan,  Prepare Your Pets for Disasters,  Car Safety,  U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2023

Originally published 9/16/2015; Revised 2020, 2022, 2024