* If your plan calls for an evacuation, get out early. Don’t wait until gasoline is in short supply and the highways are clogged.

* Always have a backup travel plan, with various routes to and from home, work, school, etc.

* Plan ahead with friends or family to stay in a distant city that is unlikely to be affected by the same disaster.

* Plan a meeting place you have identified in advance with each member of the family, certain buildings around the city are set up as shelters, but if at all possible identify your own "safe house", so you won't be trying to beat thousands of others into a shelter.

* Each member of the family should have their own Grab-bag. The purpose is to be able to grab-it-and-go, thus avoid running around the house packing it during an emergency. 1-3 days of emergency supplies should be in the bag.

Suggested survival list items for the bag are included in the printable All-Things-Emergency-Prepared 72 Hr Emergency Check List, if you would like to build a Grab-bag yourself.

* Have a plan ready for your pet survival lists, your Dog and Cat Emergency Evacuation Kits, a pre-arranged place to stay with your pets (motel or hotel), or a place for your pets to stay if they cannot travel with you.

* Keep Some Cash Available. During blackouts or power outages, cash registers, ATM's and other things that we use to get cash or make purchases, will not be available. You will be unable to swipe credit cards or access ATM's. Having cash readily available will allow you to make critical purchases that you need.