September is National Preparedness Month

9/13/2017 (Permalink)

Are your Prepared?

With the main focus of September being Emergency Preparation Month, making a plan to be ready ahead of any size disaster is key to surviving. With these few simple steps, it can help you evacuate your home safely before help arrives.

Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area.  Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.

Step 1: Put together a plan by discussing these 4 questions with your family, friends, or household to start your emergency plan.

1. How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
2. What is my shelter plan?
3. What is my evacuation route?
4. What is my family/household communication plan?

Step 2:  Consider specific needs in your household.

As you prepare your plan tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities. Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets, or specific needs like the operation of durable medical equipment. Create your own personal network for specific areas where you need assistance.  Keep in mind some these factors when developing your plan:

• Different ages of members within your household
• Responsibilities for assisting others
• Locations frequented
• Dietary needs
• Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
• Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
• Languages spoken
• Cultural and religious considerations
• Pets or service animals
• Households with school-aged children

Step 3: Fill out a Family Emergency Plan

Create and fill out important information needed for the whole family to understand. Make sure to communicate key steps and meeting spots in case of an emergency. Using pictures or graphics can make it easier for the children in the home to understand main places to evacuate.

Step 4: Practice your plan with your family/household

Source: ready.gov

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