September is National Preparedness Month

September marks the month where we are all reminded to be prepared for emergencies and put in simple practices to make our lives more manageable. Cell Phone Sally would like to encourage everyone to make it a point to be prepared in case of an emergency through four simple steps.  

First, be informed about the different types of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses. This includes learning about the hazards that may strike your community, the risks you face from these hazards and your community’s plans for warning and evacuation. You can obtain more on this information by visiting http://www.ready.gov/be-informed.

Second, put a family emergency plan in place. It is important to plan in advance so that your family knows the roles they play in dealing with an emergency. Remember to think about how you will contact one another, how you will get back together, and what you will do in different situations. You can easily download a family emergency plan template by visiting http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.

Third, put together an emergency supply kit and have it handy so you can find it during emergency situations. Things to include in the supply kit would be food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days which is why you want to have plenty of food and water to survive on. In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer. To find a complete checklist of the supplies your household may need in the event of an emergency, visit http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.

Lastly, make an effort to get involved in emergency preparedness. You can do this by visiting www.CitizenCorps.gov to find local Citizen Corps Councils. You can also look into USAonWatch (Neighborhood Watch) groups, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Fire Corps programs, Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) programs, and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units. Ask them what you can do to prepare yourself and your community for disasters and how to get involved locally.

And as always, Cell Phone Sally wants to remind you that if you are ever involved in an emergency, do not forget to contact 9-1-1 for help.

This link is just for kids! http://www.ready.gov/kids