Before Deployment: Personal, Family Safety First

Prepare yourself and your family to ensure their safety and the protection of your property well in advance of any possible activation; you may be required to report to your assignment immediately without being able to stop at home first. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

· Your family needs at least three days of non-refrigerated food and bottled water available.

· Have a medical kit available and make sure your family knows how to use it.

· Have fire extinguishers at home; make sure your family knows how to use them.

· Make your family aware of escape routes from the immediate area. Give them a map.

· Pre-designate a place for them to go: a friend's house or alternate agreed-upon meeting place.

· Have phone numbers in your wallet/purse for your family's alternate shelter(s).

· Have alternate means of communication should cell/landline phone systems be down.

· Consider registering with the Red Cross's Safe and Well service.

· Keep valuable documents in a safe place or take them with you.

· Have cash on hand for you and your family as ATMs will likely be down.

These are just a few ideas; there are many more.

Study FEMA's Ready website for more.
The above list was adapted from the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Emergency Communications - excellent reference guide Auxiliary Communications Field Operations Guide (AUXFOG).