Home / Living in the City / Personal Emergency Plan

Develop a Personal Emergency Plan

What is a Personal Emergency Plan?

You don’t panic when a light bulb goes out, because you know how to replace it. If you know what to do in an emergency, you are much more likely to make the right choices. Create a personal emergency plan for your family or close friends that covers what to do, where to meet, where to go and how to communicate in an emergency.

A personal emergency plan outlines what you and your family will need to do in the event of an emergency. Read, review and rehearse your plan so that everyone knows how it works, and make sure everyone (even the babysitter) has a copy.

Below are some tips for creating your personal emergency plan:

• Discuss what sort of events may affect your family and friends. These might include storms, power failure, fire and earthquake.
• Work out how you would respond to each emergency, for example should you evacuate or remain inside?
• Discuss and identify how you would evacuate from each room of your home, from your building and from the neighbourhood. Know your workplace procedures as well.
• Discuss and identify safe places in your home (away from windows) where you can shelter in place.
• Know where your home’s water, electricity and gas shut-off points are, and how to switch them off safely.
• Create a Go Bag
• Decide where you and your family or friends will meet after an emergency.
• Create a Contact List.  Choose someone who lives in a different area to be the contact person for your family. In an emergency, it’s often easier to contact someone outside the area, who can pass on messages to the rest of your loved ones.
• Make sure you have adequate household insurance.
• Go through your emergency plan at least twice a year. Your emergency plan is only effective if everyone knows how it works.

What is a Contact List?

A contact list contains contact details for important people you might need to contact in an emergency. It could include:

• Phone numbers and mobile numbers of children, partners, close friends and carers.
• Up-to-date information about each family member, partner or close friends, including important medical information.
• Name, phone number, address and evacuation location details for all places frequently visited by your family members, partner or close friends. This could include workplaces, schools and childcare locations.
• Name and telephone number of your doctor and insurance policy details.
• Contact details for key people at work, such as your boss and key colleagues. Include both mobile and home phone numbers.