Is your family prepared for when disaster strikes? Natural disasters have seen an increase in recent years, with 2023 being the “fourth consecutive year (2020-2023) in which 18 or more separate billion-dollar disaster events have impacted the U.S.,” according to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. And that’s not even factoring in smaller-scale crises that can impact your family, such as floods, house fires, or break-ins.
With so many potential disasters that can impact our lives, it pays to be prepared. According to the 2023 National Household Survey on Disaster, 57 percent of adults have taken three or more preparedness actions. However, those preparation actions are mostly stocking up on supplies (48%), making plans (37 percent), and making their homes safer (36 percent). Only 15 percent reported running emergency drills. That’s a number worth improving, since running emergency drills yields plenty of benefits:
- Ensures that everyone in the family (including children) knows what to do
- Reduces panic and fear during a real emergency
- Increases confidence and a sense of control
- Builds muscle memory for essential actions
- Identifies weaknesses in your emergency plan
It’s time to get your family emergency plan in order by running emergency drills. Let’s go over how often you should run your drills, how to make them the most effective they can be, and what specific scenarios you should be planning for.
How Often Should You Run Emergency Drills?
In general, you should run drills at least twice a year for core drills (which we will describe later on). However, there are some factors that will determine whether you run your drills more frequently:
- Geographic Location: If you live in an area that is prone to specific disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires), you will want to run specific drills more frequently.
- Family Member Ages: Younger children need more frequent repetition in order to remember the plans.
- Specific Risks: If your home has unique risks (e.g., living near a chemical plant), tailor your drills accordingly.
- Seasonal Considerations: Use seasonal changes as reminders to review and update your plan (e.g., when the leaves begin to shift, maybe it’s time to revisit your evacuation plan). Tie drills to relevant seasons (e.g., wildfire drills in the spring/summer, winter storm drills in the fall).
When it comes to repetition, be careful not to go overboard. While regular practice is important, the last thing you want to do is make drills feel stressful or tedious, which can easily lead to burnout.
How to Make Your Drills Effective
Here are some tips to make sure that you and your family get the most out of your drills:
- Plan Ahead and Be Transparent: It’s bad enough that actual emergencies come without warning; don’t make your drills just as surprising. Schedule them in advance and make sure that everyone knows what’s coming.
- Keep It Age-Appropriate: Tailor the drills and explanations to your children’s ages and levels of understanding.
- Make It Realistic (But Safe): Use realistic scenarios, but always prioritize safety.
- Debrief After Each Drill: Discuss what went well, what could be improved, and any questions or concerns.
- Involve Everyone: Ensure that all family members participate and understand their roles.
- Use Positive Reinforcement: Praise and encourage participation, especially your children’s.
- Document Your Plan: Have a written emergency plan that everyone is familiar with and can easily reference.
- Keep It Fun (When Possible): For younger children, try to incorporate elements of play to make drills less scary.
- Practice at Different Times: Practice drills at various times throughout the year.
What to Practice: Core Drills
Home Fire Escape
While the number of residential fires has been trending downward since 2014, the number of deaths relating to those fires has been trending upward. So regardless of their likelihood, it’s best to be prepared. Here are some steps to include in your family emergency plan’s fire drill:
- Test all smoke alarms.
- Map out primary and secondary escape routes from each room.
- Practice the “stop, drop, and roll” technique.
- Crawl low to avoid smoke.
- Feel doors for heat before opening them.
- Meet at a designated safe place outside the home (mailbox, neighbor’s tree, etc.).
- Call 911 from outside the home.
- Never going back inside.
If you want to add variation, you might consider running a night drill using flashlights or practicing what to do if a family member is stuck.
General/Natural Disaster Evacuation
There can be any number of reasons why you would need to evacuate your home or neighborhood. Depending on where you live, your home may be more susceptible to flooding, wildfires, etc., so the specifics may vary. Here are some general steps to include in any natural disaster evacuation:
- Review your community’s evacuation routes.
- Pack a go-bag, and emphasize having prepacked bags ready to go.
- Secure your home by turning off utilities and locking doors/windows.
- Review your designated out-of-area contact person.
- Establish where to go (shelter, family member’s home, etc.) outside of the evacuation zone.
- Establish and review ways to communicate with family members if separated.
If you want to add variation, try practicing your drill with different time constraints (e.g., “You have X minutes to evacuate!”).
Shelter in Place
Shelter-in-place orders are typically given when it’s safer to stay inside than to leave whatever building you find yourself in. This may be due to severe weather, chemical hazards, etc. Here are some shelter-in-place steps to consider for your family emergency plan:
- Identify a safe room. This should be an interior room with no windows or at least the fewest windows.
- Seal the room using duct tape and plastic sheeting (this is not necessary for all shelter-in-place scenarios).
- Have emergency supplies in the safe room (water, food, radio, first-aid kit).
- Stay informed (listen to the radio for official alerts).
As mentioned before, there are any number of reasons why you would need to shelter in place. Research these scenarios and practice for them.
Lockdown (Active Shooter/Intruder)
A lockdown plan is used in the case of an active shooter or intruder in your home. Review with your family the principle of Run, Hide, Fight:
- Run: Have a clear and practiced escape route.
- Hide: Finding a secure room, locking/barricading the door, turning off lights, silencing phones.
- Fight: As a last resort, using anything available as a weapon.
What to Practice: General Plans
In addition to your core drills, you will want to go over some basic plans that can be applied in any emergency.
Communication Plan
- Designate an out-of-area contact person.
- Establish family communication methods (cell phones, two-way radios) and how to contact each other if separated.
- Memorize or write down important phone numbers for when personal phones are unavailable.
- Account for scenarios in which communication systems are down:
- Set predetermined meeting places.
- Discuss how to leave messages in case someone comes looking for you.
First Aid and CPR
- Emphasize the importance of having at least one family member trained in basic first aid and CPR.
- Practice locating and using the first-aid kit.
Utility Shut-Off
- Go over how to turn off gas, water, and electricity and practice the shut-off procedures.
Special Needs
- Adapt drills for family members with disabilities, medical conditions, or young children.
- Ensure that the right family members have access to necessary medications and assistive devices.
Pet Preparedness
- Having a plan in place for family pets.
- Practice all drills with pets, with responsibilities assigned to family members.
Conclusion
Your family’s safety comes first, and the best thing you can do to ensure it is to prepare them. When an emergency strikes, nothing compares to feeling prepared—knowing what to do, how to do it, and that your family is at your side to get through it together. By establishing your family emergency plan and running frequent drills, you can bring your family closer and make it through the worst together.
Start running your drills today, and reach out to Black Sentry if you’re ready to take the next step in ensuring your family’s safety in any scenario.