Emergency Checklist

Here is a quick survey you can take to see how prepared you are for an emergency. Can you answer YES to each of these questions or do you need to work on them for your home? If you are like me, chances are you may have skipped over some of the harder ones. If you find ones that you have to answer no to, then make a goal to change the no to a yes before the month of June is over!

Emergency Preparedness: Preparedness Survey
1. Has your family rehearsed fire escape routes from your home?
2. Does your family know what to do before, during and after an earthquake or other emergency situation?
3. Do you have heavy objects hanging over beds that can fall during an earthquake?
4. Do you have access to an operational flashlight in every occupied bedroom? (use of candles is not recommended unless you can guarantee there is no leaking gas- flashlights are safer and quicker!)
5. Do you keep shoes near your bed to protect your feet against broken glass?
6. If a water line was ruptures during an earthquake, do you know how to shut off the main water line to your house?
7. Can this water valve be turned off by hand without the use of a tool? Do you have a tool if one is needed? Is it where it should be?
8. Do you and everyone in your family know where the main gas shut-off valve to your house is located?
9. It you smell gas, do you know how and would you be able to shut off this valve?
10. Gas valves usually cannot be turned off by hand. Is there a tool near your valve?
11. Would you be able to safely restart your furnace when gas is safely available?
12. Do you have working smoke alarms in the proper places to warn you of fire?
13. Do you have Carbon Monoxide alarms?
14. In case of a minor fire, do you have a fire extinguisher that you know how to operate? Would family members or babysitters know how to use it?(The fire department will test yours for free)
15. Do you have duplicate keys and copies of important insurance and other papers stored outside your home?
16. Do you have a functional emergency radio to receive emergency information?
17. If you and your family had to evacuate your home, have you identified an outside meeting place?
18. If an emergency lasted for 3 days (72 hours) before help was available to you and your family would you have sufficient food?
19. If an emergency lasted for 3 days (72 hours) before help was available to you and your family would you have the means to cook food without gas and electricity?
20. If an emergency lasted for 3 days (72 hours) before help was available to you and your family would you have sufficient water for drinking, cooking, and sanitary needs?
21. Do you have access to a 72-hour evacuation kit for every family member?
22. Are your kits easily accessible?
23. Would you and your family members be able to carry or transport these kits?
24. Have you established an out-of-state contact?
25. Do you have a first aid kit in your home?
26. Do you have a first aid kit in each car?
27. Do you have work gloves for every family member and some tools for minor rescue and cleanup?
28. Do you have emergency cash on hand? (During emergencies banks and ATM machines are closed- remember small bills.)
29. Without electricity and gas do you have means to heat at least part of your house? (Think of how to cover broken windows)
30. If you need medications, do you have a month's supply on hand?
31. Do you have a plan for toilet facilities if there is an extended water shortage?
32. Do you have a supply of food, clothing, and fuel where appropriate: For 6 months? For a Year?