You can prepare your household for emergencies in one year by taking a few small steps each month.

The task for February is to make an action plan. Creating an action plan involves deciding what to do when a disaster strikes and practicing it in advance. 

To make an action plan, follow these steps:

1. Find out the types of disasters that are common in our area. Use the FEMA risk map to get started.

2. With the members of your household, discuss how to respond to each type of disaster and whether to evacuate or shelter in place.

3. Make a plan for how to evacuate if evacuation orders are issued and determine where to meet up again if household members aren’t together when disaster strikes.

4. Identify a room for sheltering in place—in the event that conditions require you to stay indoors.

5. Find out if your neighborhood is part of the Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) program on Bainbridge. If it is, talk with your household about what the procedures are following a disaster. If it’s not, reach out to Ann Cook (MYN Team Lead) to get the process started.

6. Make sure everyone in your household knows how to call 911.

That’s it! When you’re done, complete the submission form.

Read more about Prepare in a Year 24 here.