National Preparedness Month (NPM) is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning. As our nation continues to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, there is no better time for preparedness.
Click below to expand and prepare each week this month:
Make A Plan
Talk to your family about what to do during a natural disaster. Sit with your family and complete a Family Emergency Plan. Know your community’s evacuation plans and shelter locations and know where you would go and who you would contact. Make sure to update your plan based on CDC recommendations due to the coronavirus.
- Step 1
Put a plan together by discussing your family’s communication plan and evacuation routes with your family and start your emergency plan.
- Step 2
Consider specific needs in your household. Watching this video with your family can help.
- Step 3
Fill out the Family Emergency Plan.
- Step 4
Practice your plan with your family.
Have a comprehensive family emergency kit which includes everything you need to stay at home safely and a Go-Bag with essentials items to take with you if you need to evacuate quickly. Gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home. Update your kits and supplies based on recommendations by the CDC. Watching this video with your family can help.
Things to consider:
- Ensure your kit is stocked with essential items, including what is needed to protect you and your family from COVID-19.
- Consider the unique needs of your family (example: families with infants should include formula, diapers & bottles).
- Have enough supplies for several days and store items in airtight containers.
- Help individuals with disabilities prepare for disasters.
Prepare for Disasters
Limit the impacts that disasters have on you and your family. Know the risk of disasters in your area and check your insurance coverage. Learn how to make your home stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards and act fast if you receive a local warning or alert.
Remember the 3 Steps of Preparedness:
- Make a plan
- Build a kit
- Stay informed
- Download apps from FEMA and American Red Cross
Visit https://ready.gov/plan for more information.
If a disaster comes knocking, will your family be safe?
Here are tips for you to watch so you can prepare, courtesy of ready.gov.
More tips for you to watch
We share this video with you and your family so you can be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate protective actions.
We encourage you to become familiar with all types of disasters and especially the ones you are prone to encounter in your local area and region.
When is the right time to plan?
Watch this one-minute video courtesy of ready.gov to learn why the best time to prepare for disaster is now.
Recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process. Your safety is a primary issue, and this includes your mental and physical well-being. If assistance is available, knowing how to access it makes the process faster and less stressful. This section offers some general advice on steps to take after disaster strikes in order to begin getting your home, your community and your life back to normal.
Content provided by ready.gov
Are you looking for more good advice about disaster and emergency preparedness? We have just what you need. Consider these 12 important tips supplied by do1thing.com
- Make a plan
- Have 72 hours (3 days) worth of water stored for your household
- Know how to respond safely when instructions are given to evacuate or take shelter
- Have an emergency food supply that will meet the needs of your household for three days without outside help
- Make sure the people who count on you are prepared for a disaster
- Be aware of and prepare for your family’s unique needs
- Have the ability to communicate with family members during a disaster
- Make your community stronger by getting trained and getting involved
- Make sure everyone in your household can receive, understand, and act on information received in an emergency
- Be able to safely meet your basic needs during an electrical outage
- Remember important items that may be overlooked when leaving your home in a disaster
- Be prepared to give first aid while waiting for an ambulance