Googling "personal emergency planning" will generate 1.5 million hits. So, where do you start?

A good place is Cornell's Office of Emergency Planning and Recovery (OEPR) interactive Web site (http://www.epr.cornell.edu), a robust, easy-to-navigate place that brings together the latest information about emergency planning at Cornell and surrounding counties as well as comprehensive information on personal emergency planning for individuals, families, pets and the elderly.

"Emergency planning is everyone's responsibility," said Peggy Matta, director of OEPR. "When things seem quiet, it's hard to believe that a disaster can strike, turning your whole world upside down. With preparation, you can go a long way toward protecting yourself and your family, both when you are at work and when you are home."

OEPR's site includes a personal planning guide that lists these basic steps to prepare for an emergency:

Talking through various "what-if" situations helps involve the family in the planning process:

To help individuals answer these questions, the OEPR site also includes:

Matta advised that once you have your personal emergency plan thought out, you should:

She noted that when neighbors plan together, they can better help each other should an emergency arise. "People are best prepared when everyone knows what to do, regardless of the situation, whether in a household or in a neighborhood," she said.