September is National Preparedness Month, and is devoted to helping homeowners and families prepare for life’s emergencies. From household events such as fires or gas leaks to natural disasters like flooding or earthquakes, the list of emergencies to prepare for as a homeowner can be daunting. Start your journey to being prepared for any event with the following guide, and be sure to visit the Ready.gov website for more tips.

01. The Household Emergency Plan

The first step to preparing your household for potential emergencies is creating a plan that outlines what each member of the household should do in case of an emergency, how to find each other, and how to communicate during an emergency. This can be a printed plan which each family member has a copy of, or a spoken plan that is practiced with the household regularly. Additionally, keep any caregivers or babysitters who frequent your home informed about your emergency plan.

Designate meeting points — Decide on a meeting point outside the home where the household can safely gather in case of things like fires or gas leaks, as well as a meeting point outside the neighborhood such as a library or community center for broader emergencies so everyone can find each other safely.

Important info — Make sure every member of the household knows the home address and phone number, as well as the address and phone number of any secondary meeting places.

Know your exit routes — Identify the safest exit routes from any room in the home and out of your neighborhood, and practice exiting via these routes with the whole household.

Emergency contacts — Designate specific friends or relatives who your family and household members can call if separated during a disaster. Choose both in-state and out-of-state contacts in case local phone lines go down.

Plan for everyone’s needs — Infants, seniors, people with special needs or medical conditions, and non-English speakers will need special consideration in order to remain safe and connected during an emergency.

Training — Consider signing up certain members of the household for a first aid class and keep training current for all who are enrolled.

Emergency plans outside the home — Familiarize yourself with relevant emergency plans for workplaces, school, daycare, and other institutions that your household frequents.

02. The Emergency Kit

In the event of an emergency or disaster, your family needs quick and easy access to important supplies. Prepare ahead of time by putting together two different emergency kits: a “go bag” for home evacuations, and a survival kit for first aid and long-term emergencies.

The Go Bag —

• Copies of your important documents in a waterproof and portable container

• Extra set of car and house keys

• Credit/ATM cards and cash in small denominations

• Bottled water and non-perishable food such as energy or granola bars (Be sure to have a rotation plan for your food and water)

• Flashlight, battery-operated radio, and extra batteries

• Sturdy, comfortable shoes, lightweight rain gear, and a Mylar blanket

• Medication for at least one week and other essential personal items (be sure to change medications before they expire; keep a list of the medications eachmember of your household takes, their dosages or copies of all your prescription slips, and your doctor’s name and phone number)

• First-aid kit

• Contact and meeting place information for your household, and a small regional map

• Childcare supplies or other special needs items

The Survival Kit —

• One gallon of drinking water per person per day

• Non-perishable, ready-to-eat canned foods and a manual can opener

• First-aid kit,medications, and prescriptions

• Flashlight, battery-operated radio, and extra batteries

• Whistle

• Water filtration such as a camping filter, ultraviolet purifier, or iodine tablets

• Sturdy shoes, heavy gloves, warm clothes, a mylar blanket, and lightweight rain gear

• Personal hygiene items: soap, feminine hygiene products, toothbrush, and toothpaste, etc.

• Extra fire extinguisher

• Phone that does not rely on electricity

• Childcare supplies or other special needs items

• Other supplies and tools

03. Specific Disaster Plans

Depending on the location of your home, your family may need to prepare for specific natural disasters such as earthquakes and flooding. Research to find out which disasters your home and household might need to be wary of, and make specific plans in case of each specific disaster. Below are some common household disasters and natural disasters to prepare for in the Chicagoland area:

Carbon monoxide — Make sure that all fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces and water heaters are properly ventilated. For houses with working fireplaces, make sure that the chimney is free of debris. Keep a carbon monoxide detector in the home and change batteries regularly. Inform your household on the warning signs for carbon monoxide poisoning, which can include headache, dizziness, chest pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Fire — Keep a working smoke detector in the home and change batteries frequently, and keep one or more fire extinguishers in the home. Identify multiple exit points from each room in the home and practice these exit routes with your household, as well as practicing emergency strategies like stop, drop, and roll.

Flooding — In a flash flood situation, always seek higher ground. It is a good idea to identify the points on your property and in your neighborhood that are the most elevated and practice safe evacuation to those areas in the case of a flood. Do not attempt to drive any vehicle through standing water, even if it appears shallow.

Freezing — In cases of extreme cold temperatures, the most important strategy is to dress warm, stay dry, and avoid over-exertion. Take special care to warm small children, infants, and seniors, who lose body heat more quickly. If your home is without heat for an extended period, only use fuel-burning heat sources in a well-ventilated area and use electric heaters with extreme caution to avoid shock or burns. Gas ovens and burners should never be used to heat your home.

Some other possible disasters to prepare for include chemical spills or hazardous materials, infectious diseases, earthquakes, and weather disasters such as tornadoes or hurricanes. For more information on planning for specific disasters, visit the ready.gov website: