Creating A Family Disaster Preparedness Plan
Coastline Home Inspection | Serving Sarasota, FL
Updated: June 5, 2025
In Sarasota and across Southwest Florida, hurricane season and other natural disasters—like floods, fires, or tornadoes—can strike with little or no warning. That’s why every household should have a clear, actionable disaster preparedness plan in place.
Start With Local Risks
The first step is identifying the most likely threats in your area. In Sarasota, hurricanes and flooding top the list. Tailor your emergency plan to each potential event. For example, during a hurricane warning, your plan should include evacuation routes, a family meeting point, and steps to secure your home.
Choose Safe Meeting Places
Select two locations to reconnect with your family in case you’re separated:
- A spot right outside your home, such as a specific tree or mailbox, in case of a fire.
- A location outside your neighborhood for broader emergencies, such as a hurricane evacuation.
Also, choose an out-of-area emergency contact—someone all family members can reach if local phone lines are down. Keep that person’s contact information in both digital and written form.
Make A Plan For Kids
Ensure that children are aware of the plan as well. Walk them through what to do in different situations, like if a storm hits while they’re at school. Practice exit strategies and have them help with small tasks, like preparing pet supplies for the emergency kit or mapping out escape routes.
Asking kids “what if” questions—like how to get home if the usual route is blocked—empowers them to think clearly during stressful situations.
Build A Disaster Kit
Assemble an emergency kit with at least three days’ worth of food, water, and basic supplies for each family member, including pets. Keep flashlights, a battery-powered radio, medications, and copies of important documents in a waterproof container. Visit Ready.gov and RedCross.org for complete kit checklists.
Practice Regularly
A plan is only useful if everyone knows it. Review and practice it together regularly—especially at the start of hurricane season.
