Choose a ten-minute family meeting. Write down your top hazards, meeting points, an out-of-area contact, and who helps whom.
Make it practical
Walk the route to both meeting places. Confirm school release and workplace procedures. Store a copy on paper and review it together.
Put one page on the refrigerator
- Record both meeting points in plain language; a child or visitor should understand them.
- Assign a primary and backup person for each dependent. Check school and workplace reunification rules rather than assuming you can collect someone immediately.
- Choose two routes to a safe destination and a transport option that works if the usual driver is away.
Try a ten-minute drill
Imagine the household is split between home, school, and work and the internet is unavailable. Ask each person where they would go, whom they would contact, and when they would stay put. Fix contradictions on the paper plan. Do not make a drill physically risky or frightening.
Sources & reading
Source check: November 1, 2026. Educational synthesis; no government affiliation. During an emergency, follow current local instructions.