The first rule in any emergency, no matter what its source, is to remain calm. The best way to accomplish this is to have an advance plan in place, one that is known to all your family members and that you have practiced as often as is practical.

Planning ahead should encompass two paths.

• One deals with actions to be taken.
• The other deals with supplies that should be on hand.

Above all, actions must include ways for family members to be in touch with each other, and for getting information from and to officials.

Planning for materials should include:

• Cell phones,
• Lists of phone numbers in sealed water-proof plastic containers,
• Battery-operated radios in order to listen for general updates and instructions,
• Advance plans about meeting places should they be possible and necessary.

The latter might be different for different times of day, depending on your family’s circumstances; on a weekday during the day, for instance, you may be at work with your children in school, while at night you all are at home.

Your plans should take into account those adopted by the school district for students being sheltered in place.

For those at home, planning should include identifying the safest places to shelter during various scenarios. In this connection, duct tape and plastic sheeting can help seal off a room; this will provide protection from airborne contaminants for about five hours, which experts say could be enough time for the contaminated air to blow away.

In addition to a battery-powered radio, supplies to have on hand during a disaster should include:

• flashlights and appropriate batteries, spare batteries
• a good first aid kit, supplies of medications
• at least three days worth of non-perishable food (including pet food)
• water
• blankets
• a can/bottle opener.

You also should have copies of important family documents, including passports and/or birth certificates, gathered together for transport in an emergency, and a supply of cash.

New York City residents are being advised to supply each member of their families with "Go" bags, backpacks that will contain versions of all these supplies and that can be accessed quickly. That’s also a good idea here.

Here are some additional web sites for more information: