September is National Preparedness Month

The very worst emergency plan is no plan. The next worse is two plans. ~Author Unknown

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. National Preparedness Month is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The goal of the month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action.

Here are a few steps that you can take right now to get prepared in case of an emergency:

• Get a Kit – Get a kit of emergency supplies that will allow you and your family to survive for at least three days in the event an emergency happens. The kit should include basic items like water, food, battery-powered radio, flashlight and a first aid kit. Go to www.ready.gov for a complete list of recommended supplies.
• Make a Plan – Plan in advance what you and your family will do in an emergency. Your plan should include a communications plan and address sheltering-in-place and evacuation. Go to www.ready.gov for more information and templates to help get you started.
• Be Informed – Learn more about different threats that could affect your community and appropriate responses to them. Go to www.ready.gov for more information about natural disasters and potential terrorist threats and the emergency plans that have been established in your area.
• Get Involved – After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies, take the next step: get training in first aid and emergency response and get involved in preparing your community. Citizen Corps provides residents with opportunities to prepare, train and support local emergency responders. For more information or to get involved visit www.citizencorps.gov to find your local Citizen Corps council.

Take some time to stay informed about how to react to even unlikely scenarios. You should be prepared to adapt this information to your personal circumstances and make every effort to follow instructions received from authorities on the scene.