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Response plan increases likelihood of surviving disaster
STORY TOOLS 
More from Homes StoriesHow will your life change if you experience a disaster tomorrow at 3 p.m.?
It is estimated that 7 out of 10 families are not prepared to handle a major disaster. In recent years, there has been a focus on preparing for potential terrorist attacks, but emergency preparedness also applies to natural disasters and workplace violence.
Families, businesses and communities must develop a response plan to deal with possible emergencies to protect family members, employees and citizens.
A communications and response plan helps everyone know what is required of them in the event of an emergency. A comprehensive plan will help to manage the situation and reduce the potential for loss of lives and injury.
To prepare a communications plan, Universal Protection Service suggests the following actions and resources.
• Determine what types of disasters will most likely happen in your community or to your company and prepare accordingly.
• Keep a portable disaster supply kit in your home and car and update it every six months.
• Determine places to meet, as appropriate, if separated.
• Have another work site identified for business continuity.
• Ask an out-of-state friend to be your family contact.
• Plan and test a home evacuation route.
• Decide how family members will contact each other.
• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers by each phone and programmed into your cell phone.
• Make copies of important documents, such as, insurance forms, birth certificates and licenses and keep the original documents in a fire-safe lockbox in another location.
• Know how to shut off utilities.
• Make preparations for family pets in advance.
• Listen to and follow the instructions provided by community officials before, during and after the disaster.
Founded in 1965, Universal Protection Service combines an innovative mix of tradition with cutting-edge systems and technology to keep pace with the ever-evolving needs of today's business environments.
For more information visit its Web site at http://www.universalpro.com.
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