Step 3 - Get organised

You've thought about the impact emergencies may have on you and your community. You've strengthened your community links. You're well on the road to having an emergency plan. Now it's time to get organised.

Organising the things that will help you gain a sense of control after an emergency is the next step to being prepared.

Getting organised means:

• Thinking through what might happen to you during and after an emergency.

• Taking action to protect the important things in your life before an emergency occurs.

Getting organised will reduce stress and save you precious time as you recover. The two most important things to think about: planning to survive and planning to recover.

• Planning to survive means taking action that will protect your life and assets as an emergency is happening.

• Planning to recover means taking action to make sure that the impact on you and your family/ household is kept to a minimum.

Planning to survive and recover

Think about whether you will stay in or leave your home during an emergency. The circumstances will depend upon the hazard and your own capacity to manage

• Think about where you might go if you were to leave home or weren't able to go home during an emergency, and how you would get there.
• Think about how your income and finances might be affected by an emergency. Emergencies can be expensive and financial matters can cause a lot of stress.
• Think about life insurance or income protection insurance to protect your family if the main income earner in the household is affected by an emergency.
• Think about the important things in your life that you can take action to protect before a disaster strikes. Remember to think about people, animals, objects, places, networks and routines.

• Download Red Cross RediPlan for some helpful suggestions for you to think about when getting yourself organised.

Create an emergency plan

Your emergency plan should reflect your life and the things that matter to you. Every plan will be different, depending on the person. Here are some suggestions to help you get organised and find more by downloading your Red Cross RediPlan.

• Talk through and create your RediPlan with others in your household to ensure that you all include the things that are important to you and that you all understand what you will need to do in the case of an emergency.
• Make a financial plan in case of emergency and write into your RediPlan how you might access emergency cash.
• If you haven't got insurance, get it, and if you have, review your current policies. Make sure your household and income protection insurance policies cover you for all types of emergencies.
• For small-business owners, ensure that you have business interruption insurance.
• Write down and regularly update any medical conditions you have, medications you take, and contact details for your medical providers.
• Nothing can replace the irreplaceable. Prepare a list of important items that you can't easily replace.
• Identify a next of kin and make a will. Your next of kin will be informed in case something serious happens to you and a will can bring peace of mind and reduce stress for loved ones.

• Review your RediPlan annually to keep it up-to-date and so it remains at the back of everyone's minds.

Spreading the word

Once you've completed your RediPlan, keep a copy securely at work, uploaded in the cloud, or with a trusted friend or personal support network member.

Get together with everyone in your support network or sit down with everyone in your household, including children, and have a conversation about your plan and the things you've organised as part of it. Make sure everyone understands it and knows what to do if an emergency occurs.

Get organised. Get Red Cross RediPlan.

Red Cross Rediplan is a free guide packed with helpful hints and clever strategies on how to prepare for disasters and make your emergency plan.

Now help your friends and family prepare too

More information about getting prepared for disasters

Learn how to get packing - the fourth step in getting prepared for a disaster.