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Survival: which important documents to protect and which evacuation plan to follow?

Emergency plan

Keep your Important documents safe such as insurance policies, list of your belongings, ID cards, birth certificates, passports, social security information, income statements, bank information and other key documents ; this step will help you speed up the restoration procedure after a disaster.
Natural disasters typically knock out power – meaning that you won’t be able to use automatic cash dispensers. Keep a small amount of cash safe in small bills that will allow you to make purchases even though power has not yet been restored.
Keep a record of your emergency supplies using a stock list. This will help you to : avoid duplicating purchases, see what you have used, alert you on stock rotation, and remind you where your items are being stored.

Emergency evacuation

Prepare an evacuation plan for your family ahead of time and rehearse your escape in the event of an emergency. When developing your emergency action plan, consider including the following :

  • Someone is designated who will turn off the power at the main breaker in your house and put the emergency dossier inside the car
  • Someone is designated to lock all doors, and makes sure that every member of the family is safe inside the car
  • Someone is designated to turn off gas and water
  • Someone is designated to get the telephones, and take your pets
  • Additionally, it is everyone’s responsibility to take its own emergency kit

Do not re-enter your house until authorities determine it is safe. Returning home after a storm or any other disaster can be difficult and even dangerous, oftentime an official inspection needs to be conducted. After authorities have declared your house safe, remember that potential animals may consider your house as their home especially if flooding has occurred.