Preparation for Evacuation & Emergencies

In the event of a terrorist attack emergency — You and your family may have to evacuate your neighborhood, or retreat into the relative safety of your home. This section covers what you can do to prepare yourself and your family for such emergencies.

The section on Safe Rooms provides instructions on how to quickly and inexpensively create a shelter-in-place within your house or apartment which can provide you with a high degree of protection from biological and chemical agents.

Emergency Plans

First, review the disaster plans at your workplace and your children’s schools. Virtually every company in the country has an OSHA-mandated Emergency Action Plan — become acquainted with the plan’s procedures. Make sure your children are aware of the steps they need to follow at school in case of emergencies.

Many communities, particularly those exposed to frequent turbulent weather or those sited near refineries, chemical or nuclear plants, have citizen warning systems. Learn about your community’s warning signals – what they mean and what you should do when you hear them. Besides first-hand witness information, the media in most cases will be the first information source you’ll have for emergency situations.

Discuss with your family and friends how you will warn one another in an emergency situation.