| C | Create a family communication plan so you can get in touch with family members. Give copies of contact information and meeting locations to everyone in your family |
| O | Options are available: telephones, cell phones and e-mail are all great ways to get in touch with family members. |
| M | Make sure you know the emergency plan at your child's school. |
| M | Make a decision about where you will meet in case you can't get home during an emergency. |
| U | Understand that it may take time to get through to everyone. Try to be patient. |
| N | Needs of your pets should be kept in mind. Keep a pet carrier for easy transport. |
| I | Inform yourself. Watch news broadcasts, read online news updates or listen to a battery-operated radio for official guidance during an emergency, but also prepare in advance. |
| C | Copies of your emergency plan should be in your emergency supply kit in case you need to leave in a hurry. |
| A | Ask kids to discuss their concerns and feelings. Do they understand the family plan? |
| T | Take the kids to visit the "meeting spots" so that they are familiar and feel comfortable finding them on their own if necessary. |
| E | Emergencies take many forms. Categorize different types of emergencies and discuss the level of concern related to each and how that is reflected in your family plan. |
