Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.

This week on Healthwatch, we've been talking about how you and your family can be prepared if disaster strikes. Patrick Tiner, a disaster-response expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says advance planning is key to getting your family through a crisis, whether it's a storm or a terrorist attack.

Make sure your whole family has contact information for each other and for a designated person in another area who can serve as a communications clearinghouse. Your family should also know what to do in case of an emergency - where to meet if they can't be at home and what to do for specific kinds of crises, such as fire or tornado. Keep supplies like first aid kits and flashlights in your car all the time, and be prepared with specific supplies like food, water and clothing if you have warning of a potential disaster.

If your family knows what to do, you can avoid some of the panic and confusion of a disaster.

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