Of course, when the alarm comes the first rule is to preserve life. The object of planning is to make the best use of whatever time there may be available between the alarm and when you have to leave.

The old camping adage is 'take everything you think you might need that you can carry'. This applies to papers, insurance policies, bank books and checks, phone books, and other critical records. It also applies to photo albums, favorite pictures, antiques, clothes, computer discs, etc.

If you had time and a large enough van you could take it all. But you probably won't have either the time or the van, so now is the time to identify the critical items and to keep them together for easy evacuation. In the bad old days of the serious Cold War, the Army office I worked for in Germany had a big box with stretcher-like handles. Fondly known as the "Bug-Out Box," it was to hold everything we would need when the war started. Everything that we would have needed to stay in business was tagged, and several times a year we practiced gathering everything together, loading the box and carrying it outside just to make sure we could do it.

You may not need a Bug-Out Box, but you should make sure you know what important stuff you'll take and where it is. If you earn your living with your computer, you may not have to lug the whole machine, but you probably should be backing up files and keeping the back-ups in a safe place or at least in one place for easy retrieval in an emergency. If certain tools are critical to your livelihood the same applies. If they are not easily moved they should be protected, and if not protected then insured. If not insured, you'd best hope they are cheap and easily available.

This is another of those decisions you need to make as a family. Essential items have priority, but every member should get to take at least one favorite item-whether a toy or the heirloom mortar and pestle.