1. Right Choice Prepared Segment #4
Training in this segment will help us better understand:
The necessity of having an family emergency plan
How to shut off utilities, when and when not to
Need for a 96-Hour Comfort Kit (formerly 72-hour kit)
How and where to leave an “I’m alright message”
Evacuate or stay - how to make the best decision
Evacuate – what about the pets?
We’ve been told ‘If we fail to plan we plan to fail.’

2. Emergency Have a Plan
In the event of a power outage that may last for days
Have we made preparations for:
Ways to stay warm or cool
Ways to cook or warm food
Enough flashlights and lanterns, etc.
Preserving refrigerated or frozen food
Medications that require refrigeration

3. Emergency Have a Plan In the event of an emergency
Do we know where and how to shut off the gas?
Do we know where and how to shut off the water?
Do we know where and how to shut off electrical power?
Do we have a fire extinguisher, where it is and how to use it?
Do we have a flashlight, is it charged, can we find it in the dark?

4. Emergency Have a Plan In the event of an emergency
Do we have a well stocked first-aid kit?
Do we feel comfortable with our first-aid training?
Do we have shoes and a flashlight next to the bed?
If we are separated from loved ones where do we meet?
Where do we leave an “I’m all right message” for loved ones?
If there is a fire in our house where do we meet outside so that we know if anyone else is still inside?

5. Emergency Human waste Have a Plan
In the event of an emergency
Have we made preparations for ways to
Setup a temporary toilet with privacy curtain?
Dispose of human waste?
Dig a latrine?
Toilet paper?
Cleanliness?

6. Emergency vs Catastrophic Emergency
It’s an emergency if your neighbor has to evacuate their home. It’s a catastrophic emergency if you have to evacuate your home.
It’s a recession if your neighbor loses his job. It’s a Depression if you lose yours.

7. Evacuation is recommended Stay or Leave?
What do we do? Advantages of staying:
Destination is assured – we know exactly what we have at home
Shelter is known, at least for now
Our surroundings at home are familiar
Utility services are known, at least for now
Sanitation will probably be better – it’s your germs
We don’t have to face the dangers of traveling in time of crisis
We don’t face the possible challenge's of the return trip home
We recommend evacuation only if it is government mandated, or our current circumstances are so dire that anything would be better.

8. Evacuation is recommended Stay or Leave?
What do we do?
If we leave have we considered:
Traffic – blocked roads – stranded – abandoned cars out of gas
We arrive at our planned destination and they are evacuating
We arrive at our planned destination and there is no room for us?
Are we prepared to evacuate?
Do we have a 96-Hour Comfort Kit for every family member?
Does the car have enough gas to get us to our destination, if we are not delayed enroute.
Cell phones with map technology may be inoperable. Do we have a paper map showing alternate routes to our planned destination in case the route we had planned is closed?

9. Evacuation is recommended Have a plan
What do we do with our pets in the event that we evacuate?
Take them? Have we considered:
Being stuck on the highway
All the other cars around us are abandoned and out of gas
If we let our pets out to potty they are at great risk to other pets
They become frightened, disoriented and start for home
Red Cross shelters will not accept any pets
It’s too late to re-think this decision when standing at the shelter entrance and the car is abandoned 5 miles back on the Freeway
We love our pets. They are family and we want them safe. We want them with us because we are going to safety. However, there are factors to consider.

10. Catastrophic Emergency Have a plan - Pets
Unless the crisis is a wild fire, or weather related; tornado, hurricane, flood etc. and the decision is made to evacuate would your pets be safer locked in the garage or basement with plenty of food and water?
Yes, they might be lonely, frighten, and traumatized but they will probably be safer.