UpOnly Learning Presents: Family Emergency Guide — Natural Disasters, Power and Internet Outages

Family Emergency Guide

Family Emergency Plan

Last checked: October 26, 2026

Official guidanceThis guide summarizes official guidance. It does not replace instructions from local officials. In the United States, call 911 in an emergency. If your 911 call does not go through.

Related pages: Emergency Kit Checklist · Communication Plan (including 911) · Kids and Pets

Three steps

  • The American Red Cross lists three core steps: talk about the emergencies most likely where you live, learn, work, and play; give each person a role; and practice the plan.[1]
  • CDC says to talk with your children about emergencies and make emergency action plans together.[2]

Pick meeting places

  • The Red Cross says to choose two meeting spots: one right outside your home for sudden emergencies like fires, and one outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home.[1]
  • CDC suggests a backup meeting place, such as a community center, in case you can't return home.[2]

Plan where you would go

  • The Red Cross says to decide where you would go if you leave home, such as a hotel, friends or relatives a safe distance away, or an evacuation shelter.[1]
  • The Red Cross says to plan your routes, including other routes in case roads are blocked, and to save maps on your devices and on paper.[1]
  • The Red Cross says to practice evacuating twice a year by gathering your emergency kit and driving your planned route.[1]
  • For hurricanes, the National Weather Service says to find out whether you live in an evacuation area by contacting your local government or emergency management office.[3]

Plan for everyone in your home

  • The Red Cross says to plan ahead for older adults, people with disabilities, children, and pets, since they may need extra help.[1]
  • The Red Cross says to plan for family members who are often away, such as college students or people who travel often.[1]
  • Ready.gov says to make a household plan that includes pets.[4]

Plan for school and child care

  • CDC says to ask your child's school or child care center about its emergency plan, how to reach staff during an emergency, and how parents reunite with children.[2]
  • CDC says to ask how the school or child care provider will tell you about an emergency or evacuation, and where you should go to pick up your child.[5]
  • CDC says to review the plan with your child's school or caregiver every year and keep contact information current.[5]
  • CDC says that when school authorities evacuate children, "do not go to your children during the emergency."[2]

Practice

  • The Red Cross says to hold drills so everyone in your household practices getting to safe spots quickly.[6]
  • Ready.gov says to practice evacuation routes and shelter plans for floods.[4]
  • Ready.gov says to practice "Drop, Cover, then Hold On" for earthquakes.[7]

Keep important papers safe

  • Ready.gov says to keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.[4]

Sources

Last checked: October 26, 2026. Each numbered source below was opened and checked on the date shown. Numbers in brackets in the text, like [1], point to this list.

  1. [1] American Red Cross, Make a Plan
    Published by
    American Red Cross
    Level
    Not a government agency (non-governmental organization)
    Found at
    www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/make-a-plan.html
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  2. [2] CDC, Before, During, and After an Emergency (Children and School Preparedness)
    Published by
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.cdc.gov/children-and-school-preparedness/before-during-after/index.html
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  3. [3] National Weather Service, Hurricane Preparedness (Plan)
    Published by
    National Weather Service (NWS)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-plan
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  4. [4] Ready.gov (FEMA), Floods
    Published by
    Ready.gov (FEMA)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.ready.gov/floods
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  5. [5] CDC, Keeping Children Safe Away from Home
    Published by
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.cdc.gov/children-and-school-preparedness/keeping-safe/index.html
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  6. [6] American Red Cross, Tornado
    Published by
    American Red Cross
    Level
    Not a government agency (non-governmental organization)
    Found at
    www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/tornado.html
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026
  7. [7] Ready.gov (FEMA), Earthquakes
    Published by
    Ready.gov (FEMA)
    Level
    U.S. federal government
    Found at
    www.ready.gov/earthquakes
    Checked
    Oct 26, 2026

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