Week 5 (September 27 – 30) of National Preparedness Month (NPM) gets communities
ready for National PrepareAthon! Day. On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, join
the nation in moving from awareness to action as communities prepare for
hazards that impact their areas the most.
We encourage everyone to participate in this
national effort to prepare for disasters. There are many activities happening
around the country in which you can participate. Find them using the advanced
search or in the activities list on the America’s PrepareAthon! website. You
can also plan your own activity using ideas from the 10 Ways to
Participate in America’s PrepareAthon! infographic.
As you complete an activity, be sure to add it to the website to be counted as one of the
millions of preparedness actions people are taking in support of the campaign.
You can also choose to be publicly recognized on the website as an America’s
PrepareAthon! campaign supporter when you add your activity.
The theme for NPM 2015 is Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today. Create
your plan by completing the all-new Family Emergency Communication
Plan from America’s PrepareAthon! Handy wallet cards
are also available so your family can have important contact information while
on the go.
Preparing for severe weather also includes planning
ahead for power outages. When refrigeration and electricity are unavailable, finding creative ways to feed a
family can be challenging, so it’s important to have a plan to ensure proper nutrition.
To help with planning, Mayo Clinic nutritionists created a grocery list of items to keep in your pantry as you prepare
for disasters. They have also organized a three-day meal plan for a family of four. Recipes in the plan do not require the use of power or
refrigeration, but are still flavorful and fun to make.
Food safety and nutrition are critical to staying
healthy during a disaster. The Mayo Clinic offers these tips for preparing your pantry and planning an
emergency menu:
- Know
the safe temperature zones of perishable food. When the
power goes out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as
possible to maintain the cold. The refrigerator, if unopened, will keep
food cold for about four hours. A full freezer will maintain its
temperature for around 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door
remains closed;
- Stock
up on condiments, particularly those that are vinegar-based, such as
ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, and BBQ sauce. These items have a long shelf
life and are versatile. Consider travel-sized packets for convenience;
- Keep
canned protein on hand (chicken, salmon, beans, and peanut butter);
- Keep
boxes of powdered milk or shelf-stable cartons on hand for cereal or
deserts; and
- Don't
forget a manual can opener.
Get ready! The Great ShakeOut
earthquake drill is coming Thursday,
October 15, 2015. Join millions of
people worldwide as they practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” for earthquake safety at 10:15 AM
local time.
Federal,
state, and local emergency management and preparedness experts agree that
“Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the best action to take to reduce injury and
death during an earthquake. You could be anywhere when a tremor strikes, so
individuals, families, schools, and organizations are encouraged to
participate. Register today and be counted in the world’s largest
earthquake drill. If you can’t participate on October 15, you can hold your own
Great ShakeOut drill within two weeks from the official day of action.
Got questions
about the Great ShakeOut? Get answers in the list of frequently asked questions. You can also learn more about
earthquake safety in this animated video from America’s PrepareAthon! and public service announcement from the Ready Campaign.
Looking for a fun way to get prepared? The second
edition of the Koshland Science Museum’s Extreme Event interactive game is
now available. Extreme Event: River City
uses the same core elements of Extreme
Event: Coastal City, while featuring a new storyline, a new disaster type,
and enhanced challenges. Both games are geared toward community groups and
schools, and give players a taste of what it takes to build community
resilience in the face of disaster.
Extreme Event:
River City features a mid-sized community
built near two converging rivers and is surrounded by farmland. As a series of
storms hit the city, the rivers start to flood. Players must respond to the
immediate flooding threat and prioritize long-term recovery efforts.
Get in the game! Download Extreme
Event: River City for free or register to join the Koshland Science Museum
in Washington, DC for an interactive game night on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at
6:30 PM ET.
Disclaimer: The reader recognizes that the
federal government provides links and informational data on various disaster
preparedness resources and events and does not endorse any non-federal events,
entities, organizations, services or products. Please let us know about other events
and services for individual and community preparedness that could be included
in future newsletters by contacting citizencorps@fema.dhs.gov.
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