Family Emergency Plan
The template you fill out in 20 minutes that can save your family when you're not together.
Why You Need a Written Plan
In an emergency, the brain works worse: stress reduces decision-making ability. A written, agreed-upon plan turns difficult decisions into steps already thought through. The family that has talked about it beforehand acts better when it happens. This plan takes 20 minutes to fill out and is reviewed once a year.
The 4 Basic Elements
- Immediate meeting point — outside the home, less than 100 m away: the corner, the park, the neighbor's doorway.
- Neighborhood meeting point — if you can't get back home: a known spot 500 m-1 km away.
- Out-of-area contact — a person who lives far away (another city, another country) that everyone knows to call.
- Roles — who grabs the backpack, who takes the kids, who takes the pets, who shuts off the gas.
Family Plan Template
Print this page, fill it out with a marker, and put it on the fridge and inside the backpack:
Our address and landline phone number
Immediate meeting point (<100 m)
Neighborhood meeting point
Out-of-area contact: name, phone number
Trusted local contact (neighbor)
Children's school/daycare and phone number
Nearest health center
Allergies and medication for each member
Pet info: who takes it, carrier
Policy number and insurance company phone
Spare key at:
Gas/water/electricity shut-off: how to turn them off
If You're Separated When It Happens
- Everyone goes to the immediate meeting point if they're near home.
- If you can't get back, go to the neighborhood meeting point.
- The out-of-area contact receives the first call: they're not in the chaos and can coordinate.
- Rule of 3 calls: try calling 3 times with 10-minute waits before giving up; networks get saturated.
- Use SMS or WhatsApp instead of calls: they use less network and get through faster.
- Write names and phone numbers on paper: your phone will run out of battery.
Roles by Person
Assign a role to each member and practice it once a year (15-minute drill):
| Member | Primary Role | Secondary Role |
|---|---|---|
| Adult 1 | Evacuation backpack + documents | Shut off gas and windows |
| Adult 2 | Kids and pets | Flashlight and radio |
| Older child | First aid kit and medication | Help with siblings |
| Young children | Small backpack with toy and water | Stay with adult 2 |
Do a family drill once a year: time how long it takes to gather the kit and reach the meeting point. Less than 10 minutes is a good goal.