When a large-scale disaster occurs, emergency managers, fire departments, emergency medical services & police departments are first on the scene to assess damage, secure public safety, and help those in immediate need. They are joined by volunteer organizations like the American Red Cross, which provides shelter and assistance to meet emergency needs. There are public and private utility crews, who work to restore electricity, telephone and natural gas lines. There is a response system in place, but in times of disaster emergency responders can't be everywhere, helping everyone immediately. It may take hours, even days, for assistance to reach your area. And if the emergency is limited to your home, workplace, or immediate neighborhood, your plans have to be personalized. In either case, everybody in your family should be ready to act. For example:

• Disaster strikes, and no one is at home. You are at work, the kids are at school, and another family member is traveling on business. How do you find each other?
• Disaster strikes, and confines you to your home. Basic services that we take for granted, such as electricity, water, gas and telephone, may be unavailable for hours or weeks. You need to know how to cope with the situation.
• Disaster strikes at the workplace, and you need to stay on the job much longer than expected. Who can care for your pets when you are delayed?
• Disaster strikes, and you need to get out fast. You should have a plan for where to go, and what to take with you.
• Disaster strikes suddenly, like a tornado. You need to know what to do, and where to take shelter.

You can see how important it is to take steps to prepare for disaster before it happens. Preparing for emergencies is everyone's responsibility. Families can and do respond to and recover from these events better by preparing in advance and working as a team.

Developing a personal emergency plan will help you & your family prepare to cope with the effects of disaster. It takes very little time to do, and it provides opportunities for the entire family to get involved. The personal emergency plan includes 4 basic steps:

1. Learning about the hazards and how to prepare for each
2. Talking about the idea of disaster planning with your family
3. Putting your plan into action
4. Practicing your plan