Make A Plan

Emergencies happen when we don't expect them, don't wait until it’s too late! Make an emergency plan to protect yourself and your family in time of an emergency. Emergencies can happen quickly and without warning and many times happen when you are not together with your family. Having a plan, in advance, that everyone in the family is aware of and understands will help reduce some of the stress following an emergency occurring.

You can begin this process by following these three easy steps:

Step 1:

Begin you planning process by asking these 5 questions:

  • How will I receive emergency alerts and information? If you live, work or play in Burbank, you can register for a Burbank Community Alerts account and receive important information during an emergency (more info ReadyBurbank.org/alert), If you live, work or play outside of Burbank, check with the local communities to see if they have an emergency alert system. During an emergency, local AM radio news channels will usually provide information and news coverage of the emergency situation.

  • If our family is separated when the emergency strikes, how will our family communicate during an emergency? Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another. Think about how you will communicate in different situations. Complete a contact card for each family member. Have family members keep these cards handy in a wallet, purse, backpack, etc. Pick a friend or relative who lives out-of-state for household members to notify they are safe. By choosing an out-of-state contact, the likelihood of that person being impacted by the disaster is reduced; this person becomes a conduit for family members to relay information back and forth as family members check in with this person. (More info readyburbank.org/family-reunification).

  • Do we have a an emergency kit? There are various commercial pre-made kits available or you can simply and easily make one yourself tailored for you and your family's needs. For more information on what should be in a kit or how to put one together yourself go to readyburbank.org/make-a-kit.

  • What do we do if we have to evacuate? Evacuation planning starts with your home then your neighborhood, school and workplace. To plan at home, draw a floor plan of your home. Use a blank sheet of paper for each floor. Mark two escape routes from each room. Make sure children understand the drawings. Post a copy of the drawings at eye level in each child’s room. When community evacuations become necessary in your neighborhood or at your school or work, local officials provide information to the public through the media, door-to-door notification or emergency telephonic notification systems such as ALERT Burbank, to plan for community evacuations, visit readyburbank.org/evacuation-planning.

Step 2:

Have a family meeting and make sure each person is well-informed on potential hazards that can occur locally. Discuss with them what each family member should do during an emergency and immediately following and discuss the 5 questions above.

Step 3:

Fill out a Family Emergency Plan, this is a key and important step for the entire family. You can download a FEMA family emergency plan for parents and for kids at www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/34330.

Step 4:

Practice your plan with family!!! Just because you have finished planning, the work isn't over yet, you need to practice. Practice regularly, the more the better so it becomes second nature, but at least sit down with the family and discuss your plan and practice it at least once a year.