How to Create a Family Disaster Plan

If a disaster suddenly strikes your Coweta County area, it can be crippling. When imminent disaster comes, many families probably wish they would have prepared more. Although many families have compiled a fire emergency plan, it’s important to add to this list to be completely prepared for a disaster. You can have a fun, interactive family night by discussing ways to stay safe during a disaster. To help with your preparations, here are some things to keep in mind:

Part 1

• Discuss the disasters that are most likely to occur in your city. Explain the basics of what to do in each case.
• Pick an out-of-state friend to be a distant contact. When a disaster comes, it’s often difficult to make local calls. Get around this by calling a mutual friend or family member to communicate with. Every member of the family should know this phone number and call to let the person know they are safe.
• Learn how to safely extinguish a fire, exit a flooded house, and stay safe during a natural disaster. It’s easy to think that these instances will never arise. They do, and it’s not necessarily uncommon.
• Teach yourself and your family members how to stay calm. Role play stressful situations (putting out a fire, exiting through a window, calling 911, etc.) to be well-equipped disaster responders.

Part 2

• Post current emergency numbers (fire, ambulance, police, hospital) in a visible location. Often, these numbers stay neglected on the fridge and are useless when needed. Regularly update the numbers to prepare for a disaster.
• Teach the importance of 911. Kids are often afraid to call 911. Stress the importance of calling the professionals and let them know that police officers are there to help.
• Plan for your pets and determine the best way to keep them safe in an emergency.
• Know where the shutoff valves are. Teach every family member where all emergency shutoff valves are and how to use them. If your children are home alone, they won’t be afraid to use this useful tool.
• Manage insurance. Annually check if you have adequate insurance coverage for disasters. Determine what kinds of disasters are covered and adapt as necessary to fit your needs.
• Be familiar with the fire extinguisher. Show your family where the fire extinguisher is and how to use it. This would also be an ideal time to replace or add extinguishers.
• Install smoke detectors. Ensure that there are smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on at least every level of your home.
• Accumulate an emergency supply. It is wise to stock up a year’s supply of emergency food, including non-perishables, seasonings, dried milk, and some water. You will be incredibly grateful to have it, if (and when) the need arises.
• Know basic first aid. Enroll in a local first aid and CPR course. It is empowering to know how to save someone’s life, especially a family member’s.
• Compile escape routes. Create and plan emergency escape routes in a home, community, and state level. Then, when you need to evacuate, you will not hesitate planning where to go. The big decisions will already have been made.

Disaster cleanup in Coweta County

After every natural disaster, there’s a second phase that doesn’t usually hit the news. It’s the cleanup. In every disaster, whether big or small, emergency professionals are called in to reduce damage and remediate your home. Cleaning up from a fire, flood, or even mold is a daunting task. Disaster cleanup services in Coweta County are offered by Champion Cleaning Systems. Add us to your list of emergency contacts. After the initial damage is passed, every homeowner needs a reliable, trusted disaster cleanup service. So, when disaster strikes, remember our name.

To cleanup your assets after disaster contact us online.