When making an emergency plan, it is important to plan for both evacuation and sheltering in place. Other elements every plan should include are: 

 - Notification of friends and family outside of the region

 - Consider that cell phone networks might be overloaded in the immediate area. 

 - Family meeting location inside and outside of the neighborhood as well as outside of the city 

 - Transportation

 - Continuation of medical care and medicines

 - Pet care

 - Having current pictures of family members for identification purposes  

 - Having a disaster survival kit already packed. Kits should be checked seasonally and updated to reflect current medical needs or family situations. 

Your plan should answer the following questions. Sit down with all of the members of your family or household to discuss these: 

- How can we prepare for, and respond to, the emergencies that are most likely to happen in areas where we spend most of our time? This includes work, home, and recreational spaces. 

- Who will be assigned which tasks in an emergency? How can we all work together to respond quickly? 

- How will we reconnect with people who are not with us? What happens to the plan if someone is out of town? Where will we meet close by? Where is somewhere farther away? Who can serve as an out-of-town contact person?

- What special circumstances do we need to consider in our planning? Do we have children, family members with access and functional needs, pets, or other considerations? Is someone likely to be unable to be with the family if disaster strikes?