There are several situations that would require you and your family to leave your house very quickly. These situations include a fire, flooding, earthquake, and so on. If your house is burning down or you're going to be unable to get in it for a time, you will need to have some important items with you. Here's a partial list:
Copies of important paperwork:
Insurance policies
Birth certificates, marriage certificate
Identification
Prescriptions/or someway to get them filled
Small first aid kit
Cash ($100 to $200 should be good)
Phone card (and phone numbers for people if you don't have your address book or cellphone!)
Matches in waterproof container
Flashlight (with batteries!)
Whistle
Portable NOAA weather radio (hand crank or battery)
Food, bottled water (high-energy bars)
Baby needs
Change of clothes – everything for a complete change of clothes for all people
work gloves (in case you need to go through the wreckage of your house!)
Once you assemble all of these things - get a sturdy backpack or duffel bag and keep it in a very easily accessed place that also isn't obvious. The top shelf of a front hall closet or by the back door would be good places.
You need an evacuation plan - young children need to be helped and pets need to be gathered up. Designate places in the yard, or in the neighborhood where your family should meet. Additionally find a place a few streets away for people to meet if the area around your house isn't safe.
You need to practice getting out. There's a reason that people run fire drills and whatnot - so that when a real emergency occurs and people are possibly in a panic they stand a solid chance of getting out.
That's all I have for that for now.
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