September Is Emergency Preparedness Month

 

As we wind down the month of September, we wanted to remind you that September is Emergency Preparedness Month.
September 2013 marks the tenth annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.
Last year, we ran a series on how to prepare for disasters. Here’s links to the posts:

• What Emergency Supplies to Have
• Preparing for a Disaster
• Wildfires, House fires, and Blizzards, Oh My!
• Preparing for Floods

In today’s post, we’ll summarize some of the recommendations as well as the guidelines from FEMA and Red Cross.
There are four main steps you need to follow when preparing for disasters:

1. Get a Kit.
2. Make a Plan.
3. Be Informed.
4. Get Involved.

Get A Kit

How long could you survive without electricity and running water? Gather up supplies and safely store food, water, extra batteries, a radio, medical supplies, etc. and store them in a safe place.
Many electronics stores now carry solar powered phone chargers which could be a great investment if the power is off.

Make A Plan

Have a central point of contact with someone in another city or state. If a disaster strikes, everyone should contact that individual and let them know what’s going on. Then that contact can help organize who needs help, and where everyone is, as well as be a good source of news since local broadcasting may be unavailable.

Be Informed

If the disaster is in the early stages, such as flood watch or mudslide warnings, stay on top of news alerts using as many sources as possible. That way, when you need to evacuate, you’ll be ready.

Get Involved

Look into taking first aid and emergency response training, participating in community exercises, and volunteering to support local first responders.

Resources

• Center for Disease Control (CDC) Emergency Preparedness and Response
• FEMA Emergency Kit Recommendations
• Citizen’s Core – Certified Emergency Response Teams
• Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Recommendations

And don’t forget to learn how to turn off the gas to your home in case of an earthquake.
Have you put together your kit?