September 1st, 2019 marks the beginning of National Preparedness Month with this year’s theme being “Prepared, Not Scared.”
Disasters can happen anytime and anywhere and can include a wide range of emergencies such as active shooter, bioterrorism, chemical emergencies, cybersecurity, droughts, earthquakes, explosions, extreme heat, floods, HAZMAT incidents, house fires, household chemical emergencies, hurricanes, landslides, nuclear explosions, pandemics, severe weather, snow storms & extreme cold, tornados, tsunamis, volcanoes, and wildfires.
This month is a great opportunity for individuals and families to save early for disaster costs, make a plan, teach youth to be prepared, and get involved in your community’s preparedness. Visit the Department of Homeland Security website to access additional tools and resources to help prepare for emergencies.
Save Early for Disaster Costs
- Check your insurance coverage and review the Document and Insure Property guide
- Plan financially for the possibility of disaster, have cash on hand in case of emergency by saving a little each paycheck
- #PrepareNow. Take photos of important documents and personal belongings to help quickly file an insurance claim
- Make sure you have important documents available such as household identification, financial and legal documentation, medical information, and household contacts
- Plan ahead on how to pay bills if disaster strikes
Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters
- Make an emergency plan, consider:
- How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
- What is my shelter plan?
- What is my evacuation route?
- What is my family/household communication plan?
- Consider specific needs in your household:
- Ages of household members, consider pets/service animals
- Location or emergency services and shelters, evacuation routes
- Dietary/medical/disability needs
- Fill out a family emergency plan
- PRACTICE your plan!
Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters
Review the FEMA Youth Preparedness Fact Sheet
- Teach children/teens what to do in an emergency if they are at home or away
- Help kids to know how to communicate during an emergency
- Help build personal emergency kits for the kids including stuffed animals, books, music or board games to comfort them during a disaster
Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness
- Become involved in your areas Community Emergency Response Team
- Learn about local hazards and how to respond
- Take classes in lifesaving skills such as CPR/AED, first aid, and stop the bleed
Helpful links
Download the FEMA app for disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips
Sign up for preparedness text messages: Text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA) to receive
preparedness tips
Resources
https://www.ready.gov/september
Help spread the word through social media posts with the following hashtags:
#BeReady #PreparedNotScared #NatlPrep #PrepareNow #FloodSmart #YouthPrep #ReadyKids #HurricanePrep