12-MONTH FAMILY DISASTER PLANNING GUIDE
***12 Month Plan***
*For as little as $10-15.00 every other week you can be prepared!
Purchase:
Water -3 gallons per person and pet
Hand-operated can opener and bottle opener
Instant drinks (coffee, tea, powdered soft drinks)
2 flashlights with batteries
Activities:
Make your family disaster preparedness plan*
Inventory disaster supplies already on hand, especially
camping gear
If you fill your own water containers if they are not dated
Conduct a home hazard hunt*
Month 2 Purchase:
Canned meat, stew, or pasta meal – 5 per person
Sanitary napkins
Videotape
Family – size first aid kit
Activities:
Change battery and test smoke detector (purchase and
install a detector if you don’t have one)
Videotape your home, including contents, for insurance
purposes. Store the tape with friends or family who live out of town.
Month 3 Purchase:
Canned fruit 3 cans per person
Any foods for special dietary needs (enough for 3 days)
2 rolls of toilet paper per person
Crescent wrench(es) (or utility shutoff tools) Activities:
Conduct a home fire drill
Check with your child’s day care or school to find out about
their disaster plans
Locate gas meter and water shutoff points and attach/store
wrench or shutoff tool near them
Establish an out-of-state contact to call in case of
emergency
Your supplies may be stored together in one large container, such as a garbage can on wheels, or several small ones Food items could be kept on a
specific shelf in the pantry.
Month 4 Purchase:
Canned vegetables -4 per person
Extra baby bottles, formula, and diapers, if needed
Extra pet supplies, food, collar, leash
Large storage containers(s) for preparedness supplies
Activities:
Place a sturdy pair of shoes and a flashlight under
your bed so that they will be handy during an
emergency
Place a supply of prescription medicine(s) and date if
not already indicated on its label
Start putting supplies in storage container(s) and
include blankets or sleeping bags for each family
member
Month 5 Purchase:
Canned, ready-to-eat soup - 2 per person
Liquid dish soap
Plain liquid bleach
Portable am/fm radio (including batteries)
Antibacterial liquid hand soap
Disposable hand wipes
Activities:
Make photo copies of important papers and put in the storage container
Talk with neighbors to find out who may have skills or training that would be beneficial after a disaster (i.e., first aid, child care, amateur
radio, tree removal, small engine repair, heavy equipment operations, wilderness survival, light rescue, carpentry)
Examples of Food Items:
Select based on your family’s preferences
Pick low-salt, water-packed varieties when possible
Canned meat ~ tuna, chicken raviolis, chili, stew, Spam, corned beef, etc.
Vegetables ~ green beans, corn, peas, beets, baked beans, carrots, etc.
Fruit ~ pears, applesauce, mandarin oranges, pineapple, etc.
Month 6 Purchase:
Quick-energy snacks (granola bars, raisins, peanut butter)
6 rolls of paper towels
3 boxes of facial tissue
Sunscreen
Anti-diarrhea medicine
Latex gloves, 6 pairs, (to be out with the first aid kit)
Activities:
Check to see if your stored water has expired and needs to be replace (Replace every 6 months if you filled your own containers Store bought water
will have an expiration date on the container)
Put an extra pair of eyeglasses in the supply container
Store a roll of quarters with the emergency supplies and locate the pay phone nearest to your home
Find out about your workplace disaster plans
Month 7 Purchase:
Whistle
ABC fire extinguisher
1 Large can of juice per person
Adult ands children vitamins
A pair of pliers and/or vise grips
Activities:
Take a first aid/CPR class
Identify neighbors who might need help in an emergency, including those with limited mobility or health problems and children who might be alone
Show family members where and how to shut off the utilities
Month 8 Purchase:
Box of crackers or graham crackers
Dry cereal
“Child proof” latches or other fasteners for cabinet doors and drawers
1 Box of large, heavy-duty garbage bags
Camping or utility knife Activities:
Secure shelves, cabinets, and drawers to prevent them from falling and/or opening during earthquakes
Meet with neighbors to inventory expensive equipment that could be shared in the event of an emergency, such as
chain saws, chippers/shredders, utility trailers, snow blowers, and 4-wheel drive vehicles
Month 9 Purchase:
Extra batteries for flashlights, radio, and hearing aids (if needed)
Heavy rope
Duct tape
Crowbar
Activities:
Make a small preparedness kit for your car Include food, water, blanket, small first aid kit, a list of important phone numbers, quarters for pay
phones
Secure water heater to wall studs (if not already done)
Month 10 Purchase:
Hammer and assorted nails
Screw drivers and assorted wood screws
Heavy duty plastic tarps or sheets of visquine
Extra toothbrush per person and toothpaste
Activities:
Make arrangements to have someone help your children if you are at work when an emergency occurs
Conduct an earthquake drill at home
Replace prescription medicines as required by expiration dates
Month 11 Purchase:
Package of paper plates
Package of napkins
Package of eating utensils
Package of paper cups
Making tape
Kitchen-size garbage bags (1 box)
Activities:
Make arrangements to have someone to take care of your pets
Exchange work, home, and emergency contact phone numbers with neighbors for use during an emergency
Start a Neighborhood Watch Program if none exists
Month 12 Purchase:
Heavy work gloves
Box of disposable dust masks
Safety goggles Antiseptic
Sewing kit
Activities:
Check to see your stored water has expired and needs to be replaced (Replace every 6 months if you filled your own containers. Store-bought water
will have an expiration date on the container)
Check the dates on stored on stored food and replace as needed
*Credit: Emergency Management Institute, FEMA, Homeland Security
2010
edit on 06-10-2010 by mysterioustranger because: credit