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
30th. 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.