Make a Plan

Be Ready Utah

 

An emergency plan is one of the most powerful things you can do for your family.

"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." 

Benjamin Franklin
Make a Plan | Utah Emergency Management

Step 1

Set Up Your Communication Plan

Cell networks often fail or overload in emergencies. Your plan needs to work even when phones don't. The most important thing you can do right now: pick an out-of-state contact that everyone in your household knows how to reach.

Pick an Out-of-State Contact

It's often easier to call out of state than across town during a disaster. Everyone in your household should have this number memorized or written down.

Text, Don't Call

A text uses far less bandwidth than a call and can get through when calls can't. Set up a family group text or group chat now — before you need it.

Write Down Key Numbers

Keep a printed contact list in your wallet, vehicle, kids' backpacks, and emergency kits. Include family, school, work, doctor, and insurance.

Know How to Receive Alerts

AM/FM radio and the Emergency Alert System work even when cell networks are down. Your car radio always works — even in a power outage.

Sign up for local alerts. Contact your county emergency manager to find out what alert systems serve your neighborhood and make sure your household is registered.

Step 2

Choose Two Meeting Places

If communication is down and family members are separated, where will everyone go? Choose two specific locations and practice getting there.

Meeting Place 1 — Near Your Home

A safe spot outside your home in case of fire or gas leak. Be specific: not "the park" — but a specific tree or bench. Stay close enough to see your home.

Meeting Place 2 — Outside the Neighborhood

1–3 miles away, in case your whole neighborhood is evacuated. Choose somewhere walkable if roads are blocked. A trusted friend or family member's home works well.

If you have young children: Choose Meeting Place 1 on the same side of the street as your home so kids don't have to cross during the chaos of an emergency with quickly arriving first responders.
Practice it. Walk to both meeting places as a family. Bring your disaster supply kits. Everyone, including kids, should be able to get there on their own.

Step 3

Plan to Shelter or Evacuate

In most emergencies, the safest place is your own home. But sometimes you'll need to leave — fast. Decide your plan before you're in the middle of a crisis.

Sheltering at Home

Know the safest room for different scenarios: interior rooms away from windows for wind events, lower floors for extreme heat, and above-ground floors for flooding.

Evacuating

Know at least two evacuation routes out of your neighborhood. Keep paper maps in your vehicles — GPS may not work. Keep your gas tank above half at all times.

Plan for Everyone

Include pets, family members with mobility issues, and anyone who needs medication or medical equipment. Know in advance which shelters accept pets.

Don't wait for an alert to evacuate. If you feel unsafe, leave. Gas pumps may not work in a power outage, and evacuation traffic can stall for hours.

Step 4

Secure Your Important Documents

Store originals in a fireproof safe or safe deposit box. Keep copies in your disaster supply kits and consider secure digital backups in a cloud account.

Documents to secure
  • IDs and Passports
  • Birth Certificates
  • Insurance Policies
  • Mortgage / Lease
  • Bank and Financial Info
  • Medical Records
  • Vehicle Titles
  • Social Security Cards
  • Account Passwords
Standard homeowner's insurance does NOT cover earthquake or flood damage. Talk to your insurance agent now about additional coverage — before you need it. FEMA will not rebuild your home or replace lost assets.

Step 5

Practice and Update Your Plan

A plan no one has practiced isn't really a plan. Share it with every member of your household — including kids — and schedule time to walk through it at least once a year.

  • Review Every Year

    Update your plan whenever family circumstances change — new phone numbers, new medications, new family members, or a new address.

  • Test Your Group Text

    Send a test message to your emergency group chat. Make sure everyone can receive it and that contact info is current for all members.

  • Walk the Routes

    Take the family on a practice walk to both meeting places. Bring your disaster supply kits. Make it a habit, not a one-time event.

  • Know Your Neighborhood Plan

    Talk to your local emergency manager about community communication plans. In large-scale incidents, neighbors helping neighbors makes a real difference.
September is National Preparedness Month. It's a great annual reminder to pull out your plan, check your emergency kits, update contact info, and practice with your family.