There are numerous family disasters that can occur, but many of the ways to prepare for them are similar. Emergency physicians recommend that families first identify what types of disasters are common in their regions. You can find this information at your local emergency management offices or American Red Cross chapter.

Then, using the advice in the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)’s Family Disaster Preparedness resource book, you should develop a family disaster-preparedness plan that deals with each type of possible situation. Some information from this booklet was extracted from the Family Readiness Kit, developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and organizations including ACEP, as well as from the U.S. Government’s Homeland Security Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.