Friday, March 29, 2024

September is National Preparedness Month

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September is National Preparedness Month, a time for Americans to take stock of their level of preparation for disaster.

Whether the disaster is manmade or natural, everyone needs to be ready and stocked for a potential extended stay-at-home or shelter-in-place scenario

The extended COVID-19 pandemic has already had many checking their preparedness level as disruptions in the supply chains and panic buying have resulted in a lack of access to paper products, cleaning supplies and some food items.

Locally, the primary disaster threats include wild fires, drought, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, Coryell County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Harrell said, but it is important to be flexible when making a disaster plan and building a kit to get through any potential disaster or emergency.

COVID-19 and last year’s explosion at Coryell Health are two examples of unusual emergencies that have affected the local area.

During September, The Ready Campaign, a national public service campaign to educate Americans to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, places extensive focus on the importance of disaster preparation.

Each week this month, the campaign is promoting a different component of preparation. Weekly themes this year are in order, as follows: Make a Plan, Build a Kit, Prepare for Disasters and Teach Youth about Preparedness.

Make a Plan

Every household should have a disaster plan and every member of the household should be involved in developing that plan, Harrell said.

The plan is what the household members should do in an emergency or a disaster, either at home, at work or away.

“Have a plan that is flexible and include all family members, even pets,” Harrell said. “Make sure the plan is realistic and communicated to all family members.”

An emergency plan should address topics such as a meeting place and ways to keep in contact if family members are physically separated at the time.

Plans should include a fire evacuation plan for the home, evacuation routes if there is a need to leave an area and should take into account different seasons of the year.

Most importantly, Harrell said, the plan should be practiced.

“Even the best plan is not worth anything if it is not practiced,” he said.

When making a plan, take into account actions before, during and immediately following the emergency or disaster.

Build a Kit

Along with the emergency plan, each household needs an emergency or disaster kit of items and supplies to last for several days following the emergency situation.

Harrell recommends that each person be prepared to shelter-in-place for a week, depending on the nature of the disaster.

 A kit should include, at a minimum, flashlights and extra batteries, a non-electric way to charge cell phones and other devices, non-perishable foods, one or two gallons of water per person or pet for each day, a crank or alternative-powered radio, prescription medications and a first aid kit.

Additionally, Harrell recommended taking copies or photos of important documents such as birth certificates, vaccination records, marriage licenses and valuable property and keeping those in a safe place.

A kit can be stored in a backpack, in tubs or anywhere else, but the items should be kept together in one spot so that they are readily accessible, Harrell said.

Do not forget about items for pets and children in the emergency kit. Board games and a deck of cards can help keep everyone occupied and entertained if there is a power outage.

Stores should be checked regularly to ensure everything is operational and fresh and supplies should be updated based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control.

Prepare for Disasters

With a solid, well-communicated plan and an emergency kit, a family or household is well on the way to disaster preparedness, but it is also possible to mitigate the impact of many emergencies or disasters.

Increasing or modifying insurance coverage to account for common local disasters can help limit financial impacts during a disaster.

Take time each September to check and change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Look for ways to make a home stronger or more resistant to storms. Increasing or modifying insurance coverage to account for common local disasters can help limit financial impacts during a disaster.

Keep cash available in case of disaster or emergency, especially in case Internet outages prevent the use of debit or credit cards.

Also, consider updating the family wellness plan during National Preparedness Month by making sure every family member is up-to-date on vaccines and has a current Tetanus shot.

Teach Youth about Preparedness

In the midst of all the emergency and disaster planning, teach the youngest family members by involving them in the process.

Talk to children about the family’s emergency plan and confirm that they understand what to do in the case of an emergency, especially if the family is separated during the emergency.

Keep the information to their age-level and be reassuring while discussing emergency situations.

For more information, visit the Ready Campaign online at www.ready.gov.