What is Emergency Planning?
Emergency planning involves you preparing a plan of action which can help you to handle a sudden or unexpected situation. These plans save time for you and your loved should an emergency occur. Emergency planning can be done in a variety of ways using a variety of means and the content will depend largely on what you need, where you live, and your personal circumstances.
The internet is awash with free, and fee paid ‘just in case’ resources. Resources range from emergency health alert bracelets to personal alarms, binders containing important and essential paper-based documents to fireproof storage, medical kits to survival packs and some people even design and build underground bunkers to help protect themselves and their loved ones. In Australia in areas prone to natural disasters such as bushfires and flooding, emergency services and government websites also provide support to prepare an emergency evacuation plan.
Why is planning for an emergency important?
If you are faced with an emergency, you will most likely have a time limit and we know that ‘time and tide wait for no man’.
During an emergency:
- You may be in danger
- You may be rushed or panicked and your ability to make decisions under pressure may not be possible
- In an emergency you may forget something or be unable to communicate
- It is unlikely that you will be able to access all of the things that you may need or are required
- Planning for an emergency may also uncover gaps for example – your home insurance policy is due for renewal, or you have forgotten where you stored your birth certificate
How do I prepare my ICE plan?
You could use one of the many hundreds of resources, guides, checklists, and internet pages available online. Alternatively, a part of your emergency planning can be completed for free using the ICE section of the TellThem4Me® website.
Why should I use the TellThem4Me® website to help me?
TellThem4Me® provides a free printable ICE Card and ICE File to both members and non-members. The information contained within the ICE Card and ICE File can be edited and reprinted at any time. Alternatively, if you purchase a membership, you will have access to your ‘nest’ where you can record other important personal information – All About Me, My Family, My Story, My Health Care, My Insurance, My Estate, My Digital Footprint and My Wishes and this is accessible online 24/7.
