Practice twice a year, on two dates you will not miss, like two birthdays or the days the clocks change. Update a page whenever something changes, like a new phone number, a new school or a new medicine.
Date each update. A short list that is current helps more than a long one that is out of date.
What to practice
- A fire drill, and a fire drill in the dark.
- Walking the meeting spots together.
- Sending the check-in text to your out-of-area contact.
- A power-out night with the lights or the main breaker off.
- A shutoff check, by looking. Look at the gas valve and take a photo, and leave it alone.
When to update
- After every doctor visit or change in medicine.
- When a child changes school, or the school's pickup list changes.
- When a contact moves or changes numbers.
- When you replace a smoke alarm, a filter or a policy.
- Print fresh copies of any shared page once the old one gets crowded.
Free pages to print
Our one-page plan
A blank single page you can print and fill in by hand.
Extra people pages
A fresh household page for more names and contact details.
General information for families, not legal, medical or financial advice. In an emergency, follow local officials and call 911.
Related questions
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