Sheriff's Office

Emergency Management

Planning & Preparedness

Household Disaster Plan

What you can do to keep your family safe?
Create a disaster plan
  • Meet with your family. Discuss the dangers of fire, severe weather and other hazards.
  • Develop a plan for all types of disasters that are most likely to happen.
  • Pick two places to meet.
  • Designate a Family Contact; perhaps someone out-of-state.
  • Discuss what to do in an evacuation.
  • Develop a plan to take care of your pets.
Make emergency preparations
  • Post emergency telephone numbers by phone (fire, police, ambulance, etc.)
  • Teach children how and when to call 911.
  • Teach each family member how and when to turn off the water, gas and electricity at the main switches.
  • Install smoke detectors on each level of your home.
  • Stock emergency supplies and assemble an Emergency Supplies Kit.
  • Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room.
  • Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster.
Practice and maintain your plan
  • Quiz your kids every six months so they remember what to do.
  • Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills.
  • Replace stored water every three months and stored food every six months.
  • Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least twice a year.