Don't Fall Victim to an Emergency or Disaster - September is National Preparedness Month

Don't Fall Victim to an Emergency or Disaster September is National Preparedness Month, and what better time to prepare yourself for emergencies and disasters? No matter where you are in the world, emergencies can happen unexpectedly. No one is immune from these risks and disruptions: We’ve seen wildfires, tornado outbreaks, river floods and flash floods, historic earthquakes, tsunamis, and even water main breaks and power outages in cities affecting millions of people for days at a time. Emergency situations can pose risks to the safety and security of you and your family. The more people who are prepared, the better for our communities. Here are some ways to be prepared: At Work Know your work site emergency and disaster plan. Keep your work site emergency and crisis response plans complete and current. Keep your emergency contact information updated by checking your personal information with your employer. At Home Police, fire and rescue may not always be able to reach you quickly in an emergency or disaster. Plan to take care of yourself and those in your care for at least 3 days without electricity, water service, access to a supermarket, or local services. Follow these three steps: •Stay Informed: Information is available from federal/national, state/provincial, local, tribal, and territorial resources. Access www.Ready.gov to learn what to do before, during, and after an emergency. Use local emergency management resources to learn more about preparedness in your community. Get essential information on specific hazards to your area, local plans for shelter and evacuation, ways to get information before and during an emergency, and how to sign up for emergency alerts if they are available. •Make a Plan: Discuss, agree on, and document an emergency plan with those in your care. For example, know where family members would meet and how they would contact each other after a disaster. For sample plans, see www.Ready.gov. Work together with neighbors, colleagues, and others to build community resilience. •Build a Kit: Keep enough emergency supplies - water, nonperishable food, first aid, prescriptions, flashlight, and battery-powered radio on hand. •Get Involved before a disaster occurs. Participate in your community or work emergency preparedness and crisis drills. At home, consider participating in community programs and activities to make your families, homes and places of worship safer from risks and threats. The formula for ensuring a safer community consists of volunteers, a trained and informed public, and increased support of emergency response agencies during disasters.