National Preparedness Month – September 2010

September 2009 is National Preparedness Month. Prepare. Plan. Stay Infomed. 

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is sponsored by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps. NPM is held each September and is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. 

September 2010 is the seventh annual NPM. This year will focus on encouraging Americans to work together to take concrete actions toward emergency preparedness.

The Campaign’s Web sites www.ready.gov and www.listo.gov and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide Americans with free emergency preparedness information.

In 2008, the Ready Campaign partnered with more than 3,200 organizations to highlight the importance of public emergency preparedness throughout September.

The campaign is very simple. Get a kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed and Get Involved.

GET A KIT

When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it’s best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth. Below is a list of recommended items to include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers

MAKE A PLAN

Make sure you have a family emergency plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.

Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call or emergency workers may go door-to-door.

You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance. Businesses must also plan in advance to manage any emergency situation.

BE INFORMED, GET INVOLVED

Being informed about the different types of emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate ways to respond to them will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take.

In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government.

After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies by getting a kit, making a plan and being informed, take the next step and get involved in preparing your community. Learn more about Citizen Corps, which actively involves citizens in making our communities and our nation safer, stronger and better prepared.

We all have a role to play in keeping our hometowns secure from emergencies of all kinds. Citizen Corps works hard to help people prepare, train and volunteer in their communities. For more information, go to www.citizencorps.gov to get involved.

Resources:

Ready America – Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed. [online] – www.ready.gov

National Safety Council [online] – www.nsc.org/preparedness

Safety Kits Plus – Car Emergency Kits, Disaster Kits, First Aid Kits, Vehicle Safety Plus

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