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 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.
