Make sure to update your plan based on the Centers for Disease Control recommendations due to the coronavirus, including having extra masks and sanitizing products on-hand and being aware of any vaccination or social distancing requirements of evacuation destinations.
If you have kids, consider including them in the planning process. First of all, it can be reassuring to them during these uncertain times that their family has thought about “what if…” Second, if it is ever necessary to use the plan, their familiarity with it will make implementation much smoother. To really get them on board, there are fantastic resources and activities available at ready.gov/kids.
There are many templates and checklists available to support your planning, including those at ready.gov/plan and in the Community Emergency Preparedness & Response Guide on the Town of Weston’s website (Westonma.gov/Prepare). Write down your plan in a place where all involved can access it. There are numerous online note and document sharing applications that can work well, but also have printed copies for when online access isn’t available.
Lastly, for those leading organizations, FEMA’s Organizations Preparing for Emergency Needs (OPEN) can help with formalizing plans and much more. The web-based course lays out 10 preparedness actions you can take, whether you’re a nonprofit, small business, faith-based organization, or other community-based group.