The best way to avoid catastrophe in an emergency is to plan ahead. Several articles and documents are available here to help you plan ahead and get kits ready for emergencies. Other resources can be found at ready.gov.

Talk to your family, make sure they know what to do:

• Fire: Where does the family meet if the house starts on fire?

• Tornado Watch: Where does the family go when a tornado threatens?

• Evacuation: How does the family evacuate quickly and efficiently?

• Separation: Your family may not be together when disaster strikes: how will you contact one another; how will you get back together; and what will you do in different situations?

• Pandemic: How will your family get through a moderate to severe pandemic?

• Seal In Place: How and where will your family seal in place if contaminants are threatening to leak into your home?

Always make sure your Emergency Kits are where you will need them in each event.

REMEMBER TO MAKE A PLAN TO STAY CONNECTED:

• It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

• Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact.

• You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether, but be patient.

Visit ready.gov for more information.