A personal support network consists of individuals who would check with you in an emergency and give assistance if needed. These people can be friends, roommates, family members, relatives, personal attendants, coworkers, and neighbors. Do not depend on any one person. Work out support relationships with several individuals. Identify a minimum of three people at each location where you regularly spend a significant part of your week: job, home, school, volunteer site, etc. Think about what you will need and what kind of person you would select.
Some people rely on personal assistance services. This type of assistance may not be available in an emergency situation. It is important, therefore, that your personal support network be people other than your personal attendants.
Important Discussion Points for Your Personal Support Network:
- Make arrangements for your support network to check on you immediately should a disaster occur.
- Exchange important keys.
- Show where you keep emergency supplies.
- Share copies of your relevant emergency documents, evacuation plans and emergency health information card.
- Agree and practice a communications system regarding how to contact each other in an emergency. Do not count on the telephones working.
- You and your personal support network should always notify each other when you are going out of town and when you will return.
- The relationship should be mutual. Learn about each other’s needs and how to help each other in an emergency. You could be responsible for food supplies and preparation, organizing neighborhood watch meetings, interpreting, etc.
- Ask a relative or friend who lives outside your immediate area (100 miles or more) to act as a clearinghouse for information about you and your family after a disaster. It is often easier to place an out-of-state long distance call from a disaster area than to call within the area. All family members should know to call this contact person to report their location and condition. Once contact is made, have the contact person relay messages to your other friends and relatives outside the disaster area.