Bug Out Bag and Gear

The quick video below is a great starting point for your bug out bag complete with an explanation of the contents within.

Great job!

Determine the Exit Route from Each Room in the House

Determine the emergency exit route from each room within your house. It is critical to ensure that there is at least one free exit way from each and every room. If you are unable to find a safe exit strategy from an upper level room, a portable rope ladder is a good purchase to make. It is portable and easily rolls up to become a manageable storage item.

Finally, once an exit route is found for each room, make sure that all the family is aware of these routes and how to use the required exit equipment such as the ladders mentioned above.

Exchange Sets of Keys with a Neighbor

Plan to have a neighbor nearby that keeps a set of your keys and alarm pass codes to your home and garage. It is always a good idea that at least one other person that you can trust can gain entry to your home in the case of an emergency.

This individual should be familiar with your house enough to turn off utilities at the appropriate shut off locations. Of course, you should also offer to the same favor in return for your neighbor.

Introduce Yourself to Your Neighbors

It is a good idea on many different fronts to get to know who is living next to you, any way. Know what their expertise is – it could come in handy. For instance, if you live next to someone who is a doctor or a nurse, this information would come in handy if a family member becomes severely injured while waiting for an ambulance arrives.

If there is a neighbor nearby that works during the evenings – you could reciprocate the favor by giving them your contact information. That way, your neighbor would have someone to call to check on their home if they are away and unable to immediately travel home.

Create a Written Plan

Many people will take much time putting together an elaborate emergency
plan, but will never commit it to writing. This is a critical mistake because in an actual emergency, there is a fair chance that a family member will miss an important step in the actual process of the evacuation.

Because of this, you should always keep a written copy of the evacuation plan for each member of your family unit within your house. The plan could be safely stored in a nightstand or chest of drawers next to flashlight.

Find the Safest Spot In Your Home.

Depending on the actual class of disaster your geographic area is prone to be exposed to, this safe spot can be your basement or your attic – or anything in between.

Usually, all people should have a location that is at a high point level that is safe from floods. But, if your area is susceptible to earthquakes, you might want to be under a sturdy door frame. If tornadoes are common in your town, you should choose to have a sub level below ground location that would provide you safety from falling overhead objects and heavy debris.

Create a Predetermined List of Meeting Places

You should generally have three-five locations that everyone in the home knows about where you can meet up in the case of separation during an emergency. This could be a neighbor’s front yard, a local business and possibly a relative’s home a few miles away.

This way, you will not have to wander around looking for family members because they too will make their way toward the pre- determined locations.

Plan for Everyone in your Home.

When you are putting together a plan to prepare in the case of an emergency, it is very important to remember to plan for not only yourself and your children, but also for your family pets and any guests who could potentially be with you at the time of the emergency.

Many people fail to plan for their pets, and unfortunately many pets are lost each year as a result. Sometimes, you have to act in the best interest of the people, and there is nothing that you can do. But it is definitely worth putting together an emergency plan for your pets.