What to Do Before an Emergency

If You Have Children

Should an emergency event occur while you are at work, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I generally aware of my child’s weekday schedule and whereabouts (e.g., school, after-school activities, play dates)?
• What is my child’s school/day care facility emergency response plan? How do they plan to communicate with parents/guardians in the event of an emergency?
• Am I aware of the school’s planned destination if evacuation is necessary?
• Do I have ready access to the school’s phone number available to me at work?
• Does my child, the school, and designated caregiver have my contact information and know the best way to reach me in the event of an emergency?
• Have I designated an authorized caregiver to pick up my child and take
  him/her to safety if I am unable to reach school and care for him/her until I am available? Does the school have current designated caregiver contact information?  Is my child aware of the designated caregiver?
• If my child is at an after-school or weekend activity when an emergency event occurs, have I arranged for a designated person to pick up my child and take him/her to safety until I am available? Does my child have that person’s contact number with him/her at all times and know how to contact the individual if I am at work?
• If my child cannot reach me, have we discussed and determined whom
  he/she should contact for help if he/she is at home alone when an emergency event occurs (aside from emergency personnel)?
• Has our family discussed and determined a meeting place(s) where we can all convene in the event of an emergency situation when we cannot reach our home? Is one of our meeting places close to home in case my child has to walk there?
• Has our family discussed and determined an out-of-town contact whom we can all call or email in the event of a disaster situation where we are all separated, so that we can check on one another? Do I have the number with me at work?