Family Emergency Plan: Disaster Preparedness for Families
This paper presents a family emergency plan (FEP) designed to address the needs of a household with members of varying ages and abilities, including a child with severe disabilities. It outlines protocols for emergency contacts and communication across different locations, specialized care planning for a medically complex child, and a two-week emergency supply strategy. A reflective discussion examines the plan's strengths and weaknesses, considers the challenges posed by large-scale disasters, and connects family preparedness to broader professional responsibilities in global health advocacy, including engagement with Homeland Security, NIMS, and ICS frameworks.
- Introduction: Overview of the family emergency plan
- Emergency Contacts and Communication: Contact protocols for children away from home
- Planning for a Child with Severe Disabilities: Specialized care and evacuation for disabled child
- Emergency Supplies Strategy: Two-week supply inventory and redundancy planning
- Reflective Discussion: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Professional Implications: Self-evaluation and global health advocacy connections
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What makes this paper effective
- The plan is member-specific: each household member — from an 18-month-old to a child with severe disabilities — receives tailored protocols rather than a generic one-size-fits-all approach.
- The reflective discussion is honest and self-critical, acknowledging genuine gaps (unknowns surrounding complex medical needs) rather than overstating the plan's completeness.
- The paper connects personal preparedness to professional responsibility, situating the family plan within a broader global health and emergency management framework.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper effectively uses reflective writing to bridge practical planning and professional identity. By evaluating the plan's strengths and weaknesses and then linking those observations to concepts like NIMS, ICS, and global health advocacy, the author demonstrates the ability to move from the personal to the analytical — a core skill in health and social science writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper is divided into two functional sections. The first (the FEP itself) is presented in a structured, list-based format appropriate for operational planning documents. The second (the discussion board reflection) shifts to prose, using first-person analysis to evaluate the plan's effectiveness and connect it to coursework themes. Together, they show both applied and reflective competencies within a single submission.
Introduction
A family emergency plan (FEP) is a structured set of protocols designed to ensure that all household members are accounted for, communicated with, and cared for during a disaster or emergency event. The following plan addresses the specific needs of a family that includes young children, an 18-month-old in early childhood care, and a 12-year-old with severe disabilities.
Emergency Contacts and Communication
Children attending school will carry an emergency contact card with them and will file one with school officials. This card lists the contact person and contact information for situations when they are away from home but in town, as well as when they are out of town.
The pre-K early childhood education contacts will maintain a record of emergency contact information for the 18-month-old.
Planning for a Child with Severe Disabilities
The emergency care plan for the 12-year-old with severe disabilities will detail plans for healthcare and medical treatments, including a schedule of the medication regimen and supplies of medication adequate for a minimum of two weeks. The emergency care plan will be located in a prominent place in the home, and a portable version will be retained by each parent and by adult family members who live in close proximity.
Provision will be made for a wheelchair or other mode of transportation in the event the child must be relocated. Any medical supplies — such as tanks of oxygen or inhalers — will be retained for emergency use and for portability. Families with medically complex members can consult CDC emergency preparedness guidance for additional frameworks applicable to individuals with special healthcare needs.
Emergency Supplies Strategy
The family emergency plan will include a list of all emergency supplies available for immediate use and will identify the location or locations at which those supplies are stored. A stock of supplies sufficient for two weeks will be periodically inventoried and refreshed as needed. The FEP and the Emergency Supply List will establish redundancy in the event that adult family members are in different locations and are unable to immediately access the information or the supplies.
References
Fils, L. W. (2014, July 3). The life of a medical resident at Haiti's new teaching hospital. Retrieved from
Kollmorgen, S. (2014, April 30). The many hats of Usha Periyanayagam. Retrieved from
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