National Preparedness Month Takes on a Whole New Meaning after Hurricane Harvey and other Natural Disasters

Tragedy struck Texas recently when Hurricane Harvey made landfall and destroyed homes, roads and more. As homes flooded and people found themselves in various emergency situations, it was a grim reminder that one can never be too prepared for a natural disaster to strike.

September marks National Preparedness Month and Cell Phone Sally wants to remind you to be prepared for an emergency whether it be a hurricane, a fire, an earthquake, or some other natural disaster. You never know what type of emergency situation could affect you, which is why it is so incredibly important to have an emergency kit prepared with you at all times. Together we can make sure no matter where you are, you are prepared to take on an emergency situation in a calm and ready manner.

Here are the basics:

Be Informed: When it comes to being prepared for a disaster, there is no such thing as being too prepared. Being informed about the different types of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses 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. Awareness is the first key to being prepared. Want to know more? Visit https://www.ready.gov/be-informed.

Make a Plan: Put a plan in place with your family and loved ones. You always want to be prepared for the “what ifs” so that when the emergency occurs, you feel more confident in contacting and locating your loved ones. Remember to think about how you will get in touch with each other to let each other know you are safe or if you need help. You also need to know where you plan on meeting to get back together during disastrous times. And lastly, you should communicate with your loved ones how you would react and what you would do depending on the type of emergency. For more info, visit http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.

Build a Kit: Use building a kit as an opportunity to bond with your family and loved ones. Involve children in the process too so that they feel they are contributing to ways they can help their family in an emergency. Things to include in a supply kit include 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.

Take Action: This is your chance to get involved with your community. 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. National Day of Action is September 30^th. During this grassroots national day of action, head over to this link and learn all about America’s Prepathon as well as register your preparedness activities.

Cell Phone Sally wants to remind you that 9-1-1 is a valuable resource and way to get or find help in any emergency situation. And remember- never use 9-1-1 for fun as it can clog up the phone lines for real emergencies.