You never know when you may be in an emergency, either at home or at work. That’s why it’s important to have an emergency response plan for the places you often visit.

Here are some emergency preparedness and response tips to remember in a crisis.

Prepare in Advance

1. Have an emergency contact
   Choose an out-of-town contact your family will call or email to check on each other if an event like bad weather happens. Your chosen contact should live far enough away that they would not be in the same event, and they should know they are your contact.
2. Set up a meeting place
   Have an evacuation plan and a set meeting place away from your home to save time and confusion if your home is affected or evacuated. You also want to have an emergency plan to care for your pets.
3. Gather an emergency survival kit
   If you need to leave your home or are asked to "stay in place," have some important supplies on hand to make you and your family more comfortable. Prepare an emergency kit in an easy-to-carry container like a duffel bag or small plastic trash can. Also have your medical, prescription and health plan information in your disaster kit or wallet.
4. Check on the school emergency plan of any school-age children 
   Meet with your family to make an emergency response plan  together. Know if your child’s school will keep children at school until a parent or adult can pick them up or send them home on their own. Be sure the school has up-to-date information about how to reach parents and responsible caregivers to arrange pickups.
5. Prepare your car
   You can buy an emergency kit for your car at any major retailer. Make a handy list  of items to refer to when prepping your car.
6. Prepare your phone
   Add a lock screen photo of your important emergency information to your mobile phone to help first responders. Adding an image to your lock screen is simple. There are a number of emergency contact applications for both Android and iOS phones. Visit your app store and search for “emergency contact.”

What's your best emergency tip? Share your insight with us in the comments below.

Sources: How to Prepare for Emergencies,  American Red Cross, 2022; Make a Plan,  Prepare Your Pets for Disasters,  Car Safety,  U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2021.

Originally published 9/16/2015; Revised 2020, 2022