Lost child

From a lost wallet to a medical emergency to an evacuation, your family members need to know who to contact, what to do and how to do it. After the initial crisis has been handled, you will need personal, medical, financial and insurance information. We all want to be organized and have a plan. Why don't you?

Reason #1 - I am busy and this is something I may never use.

Hopefully, you will not, but this planning is not just for major events such as natural disasters or terrorism, but also for the emergencies and disruptions that most of us will have to deal with at some time in our future.

When stressed, most of us will not be thinking as clearly as usual. What if the person best suited to handle the situation is not even at home with the rest of the family? Take the time to collect, document and communicate your family's vital information. It can save precious time and heartache.

Consider in May of 2007 alone, thousands of families were forced to evacuate their homes due to: Wildfires in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Arizona, Minnesota, California; Flooding in Missouri; Tornados in Kansas.

Reason #2 - My state and local response system is excellent. They have been conducting practice drills and working with the community.

No matter what the emergency, it is our responsibility to rely on ourselves first.

At the May 2007 Conference on the Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook, Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff said

"No matter how good your local responders, state responders and federal responders are, they will not be there instantly at the time a hurricane arrives. It is the preparation of individuals, families and businesses that makes the difference between survival and disaster when a hurricane hits."

"That means preparing yourself with the necessary tools, preparing yourself with food and water to sustain you for up to 72 hours, having a plan about what you do, and, most important, listening to the guidance of your local officials about when to get out in advance of a storm."

Reason #3 - There is too much information out there. I don't know what emergency to plan for first? I don't know how to begin.

Every family and community has different needs and potential problems. Think about what is most critical for your family.

Start by creating a list of who should be called to respond. What can be done right now to better prepare for your family's vulnerabilities? Next, what are the most important things that adults and teenagers should know how to do? Finally, where are your documents stored and how will they be accessed. Don't forget about user ids and PIN numbers.

Reason #4 - I just don't have the time

Don't set up an unrealistic schedule. This does not have to be done in one evening or one weekend. Make a list of what you want to include in this home continuity plan and work on it when you can. Here are a few tips.

• Once a week, review your mail and copy down information on your accounts such as numbers, addresses and customer service phone numbers. At the end of a quarter, you will have most of your medical, financial and insurance contact information.
• Sit down with family members and find out what they already know. If only one person knows how to shut off the water or electricity, have that person write down the steps.
• Delegate, have someone else go to the Red Cross or FEMA websites to learn about emergency preparedness. Make this a family project. Even children can learn and be involved. There are many websites that offer resources for children.
• Gradually buy your emergency supplies. You do not have to buy a 72 hour supply at one time. Buy extras of the nonperishable food that you regularly use. Once you have your 72 hour supply, start using and replacing items so that they don't expire.

That's great; most of us wish we could say that. Make sure that the information can be passed on to other family members if you are not available. Have copies of your information stored away from your house in case you cannot get in to retrieve them

Bottom line: Having a home continuity plan could make a huge difference. Don't gamble with your family's welfare. It doesn't have to be perfect to be worthwhile. Just get started.