Prepare for Disaster with
Emergency Information Cards
In the event of a large-scale natural or man-made disaster, making a local call using land lines or cell phones will be next to impossible due to system overload. Local roads and highways may also be blocked with debris or traffic, or may be closed down altogether.
For this reason, the Housing Authority urges you and your family to keep Emergency Information Cards on your person at all times. Information on these cards should include:
Out-of-State Contact Number:
Choose a reliable relative or friend as your family’s out-of-state contact. In the event of a disaster, call to check-in and let them know that you are alright, what you plan to do, etc. If you and your family are separated due to the disaster, use the contact as a way to check-in with each other. Include home, work and cell phone numbers for your family’s contact. You may also wish to include an email address. You want to be able to reach your contact 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Emergency Meeting Place:
Pick some place familiar and close to your residence, in case you are not able to meet at your home. However, it should also be far enough away that it is unlikely to be affected. A family friend’s home across town, or a 24-hour restaurant is a good pick.
Emergency Meeting Place Phone & Address:
Under the stress of crisis, you may not be able to remember things that you normally have no problem remembering (including your own home phone number!) Write it down.
Who should have this card?
You and every member of your household. This includes your children, no matter what age. It would help a childcare provider, the child’s school, a relative or your child’s playmates’ parents get you vital information about the welfare of your child.
Where should you keep this card?
Your purse or wallet and your child’s school or overnight bag. For children too young to carry their own card, give it to the day-care center or school.
Keep it current!
Review and revise if necessary every six months – do it when you check your smoke detector batteries, at the changes of daylight savings and standard time!
Discuss your family's preparedness plan with your whole family -- get your kids involved, too!
If you make the preparedness process fun for your kids, they will be less frightened and more ready to utilize your family’s plan when disaster strikes.
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