Individual & Family Planning


Preparing for any situation begins at home. It is only once you and your family have a secure emergency plan, that you can even begin to think of larger preparedness strategies. Do you have a family plan? What will the schools do with your kids if something happens on a school day? How long can you survive on the food and water you have stored in your home? Check out the resources below for help in your planning.


What should be in your family's plan? Most people remember to include shutting off the gas, but what about securing your financial information? Or, what to do with the family pets? How about mapping multiple escape routes? Planning checklists and documents can help take the pressure off you, and make sure you don't forget something important, and visit the Red Cross for more information.

Ready.gov Emergency Planning Checklist

Red Cross Family Plan Template

Communication Plans

Do your kids know how to get a hold of you if something happens while they're at a friend's house? Can you access important identification, medical, and insurance information if the internet goes out? Does everyone know how to text? Text messages are sometimes more likely to go through in an emergency than a phone call. Family communication plans are helpful for thinking through how to let everyone know you're okay, and by printing out a communication card, you'll have easy access to critical information.Ready.gov Family Communication Plan

Ready.gov Kid's Communication Plan

Ready.gov Wallet-Sized Communication Plan

Children and Seniors

Children and senior citizens often require extra thought and care in an emergency, as so often they need the assistance of others, and are more susceptible to injury and disease. Take special care in building plans that include small children and seniors. And don't forget about your little furry family members!Ready.gov Preparing for Infants & Children

Red Cross Youth Preparedness

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Ready.gov Preparing for Seniors

Red Cross Senior Emergency Preparedness

Power Outage Preparedness for Seniors

Senior Emergency Preparedness

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Red Cross Pet Preparedness

FEMA/Photo by Jenna Baldwin

Financial Preparedness

An often overlooked aspect of preparing for and recovering from disasters is financial preparedness. Having the physical resources ready for an emergency situation is incredibly important, but so is financially preparing! We need to be sure we're not only safeguarding financial information in a disaster, but also that we remain financially secure throughout a disaster and the recovery process. Below are some helpful links to explore, and you can always talk to your financial institution to see what resources they offer!

Pre-Disaster Financial Checklist

Disasters and Financial Planning: A Guide for Preparedness

Do You Need Disaster Insurance for Your Home?

How Mortgages Are Affected in Disaster-Prone Areas

Disaster Planning: The Need for Business Storage in the Event of Severe Weather

*I-LERT is not recommending any specific investments or financial actions. These are merely a few resources to help you begin to consider the possibilities. Please consult a financial professional for personalized advise on safeguarding your finances.

Man-Made Disasters

As much as we don't want to think about it, natural disasters are not the only potential threats we face. Man-made emergencies are a very real possibility that we face in both our average lives and in our faith communities. Preparing for man-made disasters and threats is of vital importance in our communities.