Tier 1 Preparedness 10 Tips to Have a 1st Family Meeting about Preparedness and Life Transition Topics 1. Start with love, not fear. “I want us prepared because I love this family.” 2. Use Memorial Day as the opening. “Since we’re remembering legacy, let’s talk about protecting ours.” Post-Memorial Day, use any national holiday to open with "Family is so important. That's why we're here today. Let's talk about protecting ours...let's talk about preparedness." 3. Keep the first conversation short. Aim for 15–20 minutes, not a full family summit. 4. Begin with general preparedness, such as documents and information we should have on hand at all times. Start with emergency contacts, documents, insurance, medications, and communication plans. Expect youngsters by age 13, to have their identity information on hand also...at all times! 5. Ask, don’t lecture. “If something happened, would we know where your important papers are?” 6. Make it ...