Family Home Evening Developing a Family Emergency Plan This is a compilation of ideas you could use to organize a great FHE that focuses on Emergency Planning for your family. Below are some ideas that take into consideration the age and maturity of your children. This topic could also be adapted for homes with no children. Opening song: Keep the Commandments Primary Hymn book pg. 146 Introduction: For younger children, you could begin with one of these stories from the Friend (Both stories can be accessed on lds.org) Emergency Preparedness Better than Gold Friend Feb. 1999 Hyperlinks are below. Emergency Day Drill Friend Mar. 2009 For older children and adults, you could begin with this You Tube video: http://youtu.be/jtvecvtypn0 Great Trials Lay Ahead Be Prepared for Tribulations and Destruction that Soon Shall Come. Scriptures and modern day counsel: Doctrine and Covenants 38:30 If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear. Doctrine and Covenants 29: 8 "Be prepared in all things against the day when tribulations and desolations are sent forth upon the wicked." Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake... cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they will somehow be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion. The Lord has warned and forewarned us against a day of great tribulation and given us counsel through His servants, on how we can be prepared for these difficult times. Have we heeded His counsel? Ezra T. Benson (General Conference 1980) Noah heeded God s command to build an ark that they might be saved from the floodwaters. Yet there was no evidence of rain and flood. His actions were considered irrational. The sun was shining and life moved forward as usual. But time ran out. The floods came, the disobedient were drowned. When God speaks and we obey, we will always be right. Thomas S. Monson (Ensign, Oct.2002)
Discussion: We have been warned for years and years to prepare ourselves against the destructions that are prophesied will come in the last days. It can be very easy for us to think that we will be protected or that destruction will not come to our home. In the Bible, when Noah was commanded to build the ark, everyone thought he was crazy. It was not even raining as he built the ark. But his exact obedience protected his family for certain destruction. How is our family doing at being obedient to this counsel? List ways our family is prepared for a natural disaster. What can our family do to be better prepared? Go over the list of how to prepare a family emergency plan. Discuss any items on the list your family still needs to work on. Developing a family emergency plan is actually very simple: 1. Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, wind, fire and earthquake. (This website will show what natural disasters are more likely to happen in your area http://www.fema.gov/kids/whatnow/) 2. Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home or yard for each type of possible hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community. (When going over this point actually take your family around the house and yard to find the safe places your family will meet in the event of an emergency.) 3. Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles. (Have each family member draw a diagram of your home labeling all windows and doors. Then have each member identify with arrows escape routes from each room in the house. See sample diagram with our other handouts.) 4. Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact. 5. Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate. 6. Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911. 7. Check your insurance coverage some disaster damage is not always covered by homeowners insurance. 8. Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a 72-hour kit. (Make sure each person in your family knows where the 72-hour kits are stored and update these kits every 6 months. If you do not have 72-hour kits have your family make a list of necessary items and make a budget and plan to put your kits together.) 9. Use a NOAA Weather Radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.
10. Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes. Check out this link to learn the NEW Hands Only CPR http://handsonlycpr.org/ Other activities: Write the words fire, earthquake, tornado etc. on separate pieces of paper (choose disasters that are appropriate for your area) Fold up the papers and place in a small container. Have each member of the family draw one of the papers out of the container. The first child to identify what immediate action needs to be done in each event wins a small treat or point. Do mock disaster drills. Tell each family member that they have two minutes to gather what they think is most important and meet in the designated spot. Once everyone has arrived at the designated spot, sing Here We Are Together from the Primary Hymn Book. Then go over the items each person thought was the most important discussing what is truly necessary and what is not. Explore the website http://www.ready.gov/kids. This FEMA website has activities and information for children of all ages. By clicking on the Sesame Street link, you will discover fun videos and activities for young children. The Sesame Street link can even be accessed in Spanish. Emergency preparedness can be discussed in several different evenings together. Other topics include preparing your home for disasters, learning CPR, stocking a year s supply of food, budgeting and eliminating family debt, establishing a savings account, stranger danger, memorizing emergency numbers and names, planting a garden, becoming more self-reliant, taking advantage of educational opportunities, keeping our bodies healthy the list goes on and on. Above all, this Family Home Evening topic is meant to bring hope, not fear. Information is power. When we are prepared, we will not be afraid. By helping our children be ready for anything, they will be able to find peace amidst turbulent times. Treat: Finish off the evening with Earthquake Cake Ingredients: 1 cup chopped pecans 1 cup coconut 1 stick butter (1/4 cup) 8 ounce package cream cheese 1 lb powdered sugar 1 German Chocolate cake mix batter prepared to box directions Preheat oven to 350 F.
Spread pecan and coconut on the bottom of a buttered 13x9 inch cake pan. Pour the cake batter over the pecans and coconut. Do not stir. Set aside. In a heavy bottom saucepan, melt one stick of butter (1/4 lb) and one (8 ounce) package of cream cheese. Stir in 1 pound powdered sugar. Stir constantly until all ingredients are well blended. Pour the mixture over the top of the cake batter without stirring. Bake for 45 minutes This cake is called Earthquake cake because it will split in the middle during baking. BASIC 72-hour kit supplies: Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelterin-place Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Manual can opener for food Local maps Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger Cash
Hyperlinks Emergency Preparedness Better than Gold Friend Feb. 1999 https://www.lds.org/friend/1999/02/emergency-preparedness-greater-thangold?lang=eng&query=emergency+preparedness+%e2%80%93+better+than+gold Emergency Day Drill Friend Mar. 2009 https://www.lds.org/friend/2009/03/emergency-daydrill?lang=eng&query=emergency+day+drill