Alex Alerts | City of Alexandria, LA

Cenla Ready - City of Alexandria, LA

CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA | Mayor Jacques M. Roy

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ALEXALERTS

Families & Children

  • PLAN FOR EMERGENCIES

Families & Children

Prepare Your Family

Being prepared for disasters starts at home. Everyone can be part of helping to prepare for emergencies. Young children and teens alike can be a part of the process. As a parent, guardian, or other family member, you have an important role to play when it comes to protecting the children in your life and helping them be prepared in case disaster strikes.

On this page, you’ll find materials to build your family emergency plan, information for how you can help children cope if they’ve experienced a disaster, and tips to help your children be ready when disaster strikes. With these tools, both kids and their families can be prepared whether they’re at home, school, or anywhere else.

siblings, friends, brother - City of Alexandria, La - Cenla Ready

Make A Plan

Who Will We Contact?

Pick the same person for each family member to contact. Pick someone out of town—they may be easier to reach in a disaster.

Text, don’t talk. In an emergency, phone lines may be tied up. It may be easier to text and this leaves phone lines open for emergency workers.

Where Will We Meet?

Decide on safe, familiar, accessible places where your family can go for protection or to reunite. If you have pets or service animals, think about animal-friendly locations. Consider places in your house, in your neighborhood, and outside of your city or town so you’re prepared for any situation.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

On your own list or using the resources below, write down your contacts and plans. Make sure everyone in the family has copies and keeps them in a safe space, like in a backpack, wallet, or taped in a notebook. Put them in your cell phone if you have one. Hold regular household meetings to review and practice your plan.

Build A Kit

Being prepared for an emergency isn’t just about staying safe during a storm or a disaster. It’s also about how to stay comfortable, clean, fed, and healthy afterwards—when a storm or disaster may have knocked out electricity.

If you lost power, how would you eat? The refrigerator wouldn’t keep your food cold. The microwave couldn’t warm things up. You might not get clean water out of your faucets. How would you find out if it was safe to play outside? Not from your TV or computer!

If power is out, you also might not be able to go to the store or the bank. Being prepared means having your own food, water, cash, and other supplies to last for at least three days, and possibly longer if you are in a remote or hard-to-reach area. 

What Should Go In Your Kit?

Remember that your kit will depend on your own needs. Once you take a look at the basic items, consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets or seniors. Use the list below to get started:
  • Water—at least a gallon per person, per day
  • Non-perishable food (such as dried fruit, peanut butter, or energy bars)
  • First aid kit
  • Cash
  • Prescription medicines
  • Extra batteries or an alternative power source
  • Matches in a waterproof container (allow an adult to help)
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap
  • Paper plates, plastic cups and utensils, paper towels
  • Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
  • Flashlights
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Can opener (manual)
  • Local maps
  • Pet and service animal supplies
  • Baby supplies (formula, diapers, etc.)
  • Extra pair of eyeglasses

Alex Alerts, managed by the City of Alexandria, Louisiana, is your local resource for information before, during and after emergencies.

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