Family Meeting Checklist (15 Minutes to Get on the Same Page)
Build your 10-minute family plan and grab your MiniPack!
A family meeting is one of the simplest ways to get prepared—because in an emergency, clarity matters. This checklist helps everyone in your household know who to call, where to meet, and what to do if you’re not together.
Download the 1-page printable checklist (PDF) and save it to your phone.
Family Meeting Checklist
1) Emergency contacts (fill this in)
-
Parent/guardian full names: ____________________________
-
Phone numbers: ____________________________
-
Out-of-town contact: ____________________________
-
Local emergency contact (friend/family): ____________________________
-
Kids should know: full names + at least one phone number
2) Meeting places (pick two)
-
Near-home meeting place: ____________________________
(Example: neighbour’s porch, mailbox, corner store) -
Neighbourhood meeting place: ____________________________
(Example: library, community centre, school parking lot)
3) If there’s a fire
-
How to get out: main exit + backup exit
-
Where to meet outside: ____________________________
-
Who calls 911: ____________________________
-
Quick rule: Get out, stay out.
4) If the power goes out
-
Flashlights are located: ____________________________
-
Phone chargers / power bank location: ____________________________
-
How we’ll get updates: (radio / phone alerts / neighbours) ____________________________
-
If it’s winter: where blankets + extra layers are stored ____________________________
5) If we need to leave quickly (evacuation)
-
Go-bags / supplies are located: ____________________________
-
Who grabs what:
-
Supplies: ____________________________
-
Kids/pets: ____________________________
-
Documents/meds: ____________________________
-
-
Where we’d go first: ____________________________
6) Kids practice (60 seconds)
Ask:
-
“If you can’t find me, what do you do first?”
-
“Who is a safe adult you can ask for help?”
-
“What is our meeting place?”
Safe adult options: teacher, school office, neighbour, store cashier, police/firefighter.
7) Wrap-up (set the habit)
-
One thing we’ll improve this week: ____________________________
-
Next family meeting date: ____________________________
Tips for talking to kids about emergencies
-
Keep it simple. If your child struggles, give options or model an answer.
-
Make sure children know parents’ full names, not just “Mom/Dad.”
-
If you don’t know an answer, say: “Let’s look it up together.” Teaching how to find answers is part of preparedness.
Ready-to-go supplies
A family meeting works best when everyone knows where the essentials are.
If you’re building your emergency setup, start with a compact kit you can keep in your car, entryway, or go-bag like the ReadyPack MiniPack. Pair it with an emergency radio + phone charger so you can get updates and power your phone during outages.
