ABSTRACT
Life-threatening situations are created in emergencies caused by natural and human-caused hazards. The most important action a citizen can take is creating and developing a family emergency plan and an emergency kit. An effective shelter-in-place option in an emergency family plan must be a team effort. The emergency kit can be the best management tool when a family decides to shelter-in-place or evacuate during emergencies. The emergency kit can also be personalized for members of the family to include important documents, medication storage, emergency cash, and other items. Life-threatening hazards caused by nature and humans, whether sudden or expected, can be minimized with a family emergency plan and an emergency kit. For effective emergency management to protect life, citizens must sit down, discuss, create, and practice a family emergency plan and build an emergency kit.
