In a fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate your house, apartment, or mobile home at a moment’s notice. You should be ready to get out fast.

Develop an escape plan by drawing a floor plan of your residence. Using a black or blue pen, show the location of doors, windows, stairways, and large furniture. Indicate the location of emergency supplies (Disaster Supplies Kit), fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, collapsible ladders, first-aid kits, and utility shut-off points. Next, use a colored pen to draw a broken line charting at least two escape routes from each room. Finally, mark a place outside of the house where household members should meet in case of fire.

Be sure to include important points outside such as garages, patios, stairways, elevators, driveways, and porches. If you home has more than two floors, use an additional sheet of paper. Practice emergency evacuation drills with all household members at least two times a year.