DEVELOP AN EVACUATION PLAN

After an earthquake occurs, you may need to evacuate your home and/or the area. Prepare by planning and practicing for evacuation:

• Take a few minutes with your family to discuss a home evacuation plan. Sketch a floor plan of your home and identify the main evacuation routes.
• Plan a second way to exit from each room or area. If you need special equipment such as a rope ladder, mark where it is located.
• Mark where your emergency food, water, first aid kits and fire extinguishers are stored.
• Mark where the utility switches or valves are located so that they can be turned off.
• Identify an emergency meeting place where your family can gather once they're outside of the house. Let your nearest family members know the location as well.
• Write an emergency checklist including medicines and documents you will need to take with you if you have to evacuate.
• Plan for your pet's needs, including food, water, bedding and any medicines.
• Plan to lock doors and windows and turn off the utilities, but only if time permits. Your family's safety is important above all else.
  
  
  Write Down Important Information
  
  Make a list of important information and put it in a secure location. Include on your list:
  

• Phone numbers and addresses of nearest family.
• Emergency response telephone numbers (police, fire, paramedics and medical centers).
• Medical information for each family member, such as allergies, regular medications, etc.
• Bank or credit union's telephone numbers, account types and numbers.
• Names, addresses and telephone numbers of your landlord and insurance agents, including policy types and numbers.
• Telephone numbers of electric, gas and water companies.
• Names and telephone numbers of neighbors.
• Name and telephone number of your veterinarian.
• Vehicle identification number, year, model and license number of your automobile, boat, RV, etc. 
• Radio and television broadcast stations to tune to for emergency broadcast information.
  
  Gather and Store the Following Important Documents in a Fireproof Safe:
   

• Birth certificates.
• Ownership certificates.
• Social Security cards.
• Insurance policies.
• Wills.
• Household inventory, including:  
  
              A list of contents. 
              Photographs or videos of contents in every room. 
              Photographs of items of high value, such as jewelry, paintings and collectors' items.