September is National Preparedness Month, the perfect time to make plans to protect yourself, your family and your business.
The best defense we have is to have a plan, make a kit and be informed. National Preparedness Month, part of FEMA’s Ready Campaign, was created to increase the public’s engagement in preparing for emergencies and to educate them on how to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.
It’s time to take action! It is quite simple to put together a game plan. Getting started is easy and you can begin at your local grocery store. A few items to pick up would be non-perishable/canned food, bottled water, a flashlight, a first aid kit and extra batteries. The idea is to put together (over time) an emergency kit to sustain you and your family members for a few days in the aftermath of a disaster.
There are 4 steps in preparing for disasters:
1. Assemble emergency supply kit
2. Make a plan for what you will do in case of an emergency
3. Be informed of what might happen
4. Get involved in preparing the community for disasters
Other items to include in an emergency kit that are less obvious but very helpful include: a dust mask, wrench, prescription medication, matches in a waterproof container, and pet food. Some pharmacies will also permit prescription holders to purchase one extra prescription for inclusion in a family emergency kit.
Stay prepared and develop a family communications plan. The website www.ready.gov contains a wealth of information on how to prepare for emergencies. Be sure to also check out www.thehartford.com and download The Calm Before the Storm; Family Conversations about Disaster Planning. It includes a variety of worksheets, checklists and helpful resources.
