Gather the family and discuss what emergencies could happen where you live. Common risks: house fires, severe weather (tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods), power outages, medical emergencies, or break-ins. Research your area's specific threats—coastal families worry about hurricanes, California residents prepare for earthquakes, Midwest families plan for tornadoes. Check FEMA.gov or local emergency management websites for regional hazard maps. Ask your child: 'What scares you most about emergencies?' Listen to their fears without dismissing them. Explain that planning reduces panic—when you know what to do, scary situations become manageable. Write down the top 3-5 emergencies your family needs to prepare for.

Now plan how your family escapes danger and regroups. For house fires, draw a floor plan showing two exits from every room (windows count). Mark smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Walk through each escape route together—make sure windows open, doors aren't blocked. Designate a meeting spot outside: a specific tree, mailbox, or neighbor's driveway where everyone gathers after evacuating. For neighborhood-wide evacuations (hurricanes, wildfires), identify routes out of town and where you'd go (a relative's house 50 miles away, a hotel, an official shelter). Choose a safe room for tornadoes (basement or interior room with no windows). Make sure every family member knows these spots by heart.

Build two types of kits: a 'go bag' for evacuations and a 'stay kit' for sheltering at home during power outages or storms. Go bag essentials (one per person): water (1 gallon/day for 3 days), non-perishable food (granola bars, canned goods, peanut butter), flashlight, batteries, first aid kit, medications, phone charger/power bank, copies of important documents (IDs, insurance), cash, change of clothes, and hygiene items. Stay kit (for the whole family): same supplies but for 7 days, plus a battery-powered radio, manual can opener, blankets, and entertainment (books, cards). Involve your child in gathering items. Store go bags in an accessible spot (near the front door, garage). Check/refresh kits twice a year (daylight saving time is a good reminder).

Emergencies can separate families, so plan how you'll reconnect. Designate an out-of-state contact (grandparent, aunt, friend) who everyone calls if local lines are down—it's often easier to call long-distance during regional disasters. Program this number into every family member's phone and write it on a card for wallets/backpacks. Choose a backup local meeting place if you can't get home (library, school, specific park). Teach kids when to call 911 versus when to shelter in place. Discuss what to do if parents can't pick them up from school during an emergency (schools have lockdown/shelter procedures). Make sure teens know how to text (which works when calls don't) and how to use 'check-in' features on social media during crises.

Run through your plan with drills. Fire drill: sound the smoke alarm, everyone evacuates via their planned routes, regroup at the meeting spot, time yourselves (aim for under 2 minutes). Tornado drill: everyone to the safe room, practice covering heads. Practice grabbing go bags and getting to the car for evacuation. Do drills twice a year minimum—once announced ('We're practicing today') and once surprise ('The alarm is going off, go!'). After each drill, debrief: what went well, what was confusing, what needs tweaking. Write down your full emergency plan (routes, contacts, kit locations) and give copies to each family member. Store a copy in your go bag. Post key info (emergency contacts, meeting spots) on the fridge.