A readiness plan is an important part of fire (and disaster in general) safety. It’s a plan for being able to leave your home quickly in case there is a need to evacuate from a fire, or other disaster. You and your household can start making a readiness plan by asking, where will I go should there be a disaster? How will I get there? How will my household and I communicate if we are separated?

When deciding on a place to go keep in mind your household needs. Consider where you can go based on the age of the members of your household, disabilities, or medical conditions. Also make sure to always keep in mind at least one backup location in case you cannot make it to your original choice. Also keep in mind if you’re going to a public shelter they do not always allow non-service animals inside.

Asking how you will get to your chosen shelter is an important question. Consider the members of your household who may not be able to drive, or do not have transportation and plan for what they should do. Most evacuations are not immediate and you are allowed time to pack and leave. Depending on the severity of the disaster, people are often given two hours to 30 minutes to evacuate. Usually you will receive a warning you may have to evacuate before you are told you must evacuate. If at any time you feel unsafe due to a disaster near you, you should leave. You can sign up at https://www.hyper-reach.com/ to receive text, calls, or email warnings.

Communication in our digital age has gotten easy and is almost always just a few clicks away. However, the phone lines and internet can easily go out so it is important to consider alternate ways you and your household can communicate. It is also important that everyone in your household knows the plan before the evacuation so they can act it out when needed.

A meeting place is a good plan. Think of a place you and your family can meet before going to the shelter or another party. You can always ask a trusted family member or friend to help keep contact and make sure everyone is okay.

Another very important thing to consider is what you are going to take and how. Putting together a to-go bag is very important. Every member of the household should have their own bag with everything you might need. It’s important to remember that it can sometimes take days for relief to arrive during a disaster and you need to be able to provide for yourself for up to five days. Vitals of a to-go bag are water (recommended at least a gallon for every person, per day), non perishable foods, flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit, whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, wet wipes, trash bags, zip ties, wrench or pliers, can opener, maps, sleeping bag or blanket and phone chargers.

It’s important to remember that each member of the family should have a to-go bag and pack these things individually. As a household you can bring things like soap, non-prescription medications and prescription medications, cash, important documents, clothing for the weather, fire extinguisher, matches, feminine supplies, and eating and cooking utensils for everyone to share.

Also keep in mind the specific needs of your household when packing a bag. If you have an infant make sure to bring diapers, formula, bottles, wipes and rash cream. For younger children it is also important to bring quiet toys for them to keep them entertained, stuffed animals, books, puzzles, things to keep them calm, comforted, and entertained.

If you have pets you should bring along pet food and water for them as well. When planning, think about where to take your pets if you can not take them to a shelter with you.

It’s important that everyone knows where the to-go bag is and where their own personal bag is. It is also important you check every six months that none of the food or non-prescription medications have expired and to check the batteries. Never store perishable foods in the bag, things like fresh fruit, meat, or vegetables. These items will mold or go bad quickly. It’s also not recommended you bring soda or sugary drinks as they can dehydrate you more. Make sure not to store prescription medications inside the bags. Instead grab them as you are evacuating. You can keep a bag in your car, home, and work.

It’s always important to keep safety in mind. To learn more about evacuations, to-go bags, and how to prepare you and your family, go to ready.gov.