September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that
preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families and their communities safe.
Disasters disrupt thousands of lives every year, leaving behind lasting effects on people and property. After a disaster, many others in your community need help as well. For this reason, local first responders and other assistance may not be able to reach you right away. You and your family can take simple steps now to prepare for emergencies. By doing so, you take back control—even in the uncertainty of disaster. In the FEMA document labeled Are You Ready? a three-step preparedness process is outlined:
1. Know Your Risks
Most communities face many types of hazards. It is important to learn the risks specific to your home and the ways to assess your risks if you are away from home. Know how and when to take action before, during, and after different hazards.
2. Make a Plan
An emergency plan can help you reach loved ones when normal communication methods are not working or are inaccessible. Most importantly, it may help you stay safe in a disaster and give you peace of mind. Consider making plans for evacuation, communication, and to protect critical documents and your property.
3. Take Action
There are many simple actions that you can take now to prepare yourself and your property for a disaster. Prepare kits with the supplies you will need if you must evacuate your home. If circumstances allow store non-perishable food and water. Keep informed by signing up for alerts and warnings through your mobile devices. Regularly practice your disaster plan with your family and review and understand your insurance coverage. Document your property on a list and include pictures to help you make any claims that are necessary. Additionally, based on the hazards you identified in step 1, see what you can do to mitigate potential damage to your home should a disaster occur.
This is a brief outline of the material covered in the document. I encourage all of us to review and enhance our disaster preparedness capabilities using tools such as the FEMA document you can download with this link.