ReadyDC Preparedness Bulletin - September 2020

District of Columbia sent this bulletin at 09/15/2020 11:13 AM EDT

ready d c - district of columbia homeland security and emergency management agency

ReadyDC Preparedness Bulletin

September 15, 2020

September is National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is Here!

Get Ready DC, because later is too late!

Since 2004, the month of September has been recognized nationally as National Preparedness Month (NPM), a month dedicated to encouraging Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities.

In the District, NPM is sponsored by the ReadyDC personal preparedness campaign, which is dedicated to ensuring residents receive the right information to help them prepare for and respond to natural and man-made disasters or emergencies.

Throughout the month of September, follow along with the District's preparedness efforts by using the hashtag #PreparedDC.

Watch the new ReadyDC public service announcement to learn about the four pillars of preparedness: be aware, make a plan, build a kit, and stay informed!

National Preparedness Month PSA

General Preparedness

Preparing for Disaster During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic introduces new challenges and layers to preparedness. As we work to protect ourselves and others from this virus, here are three areas we have to consider now more than ever:

Mental Health: Let's face it, pandemics are stressful. The impacts of illness, economic loss and social distancing can take a toll on our psyche. Please keep yourself mentally healthy. If you need someone to talk to 24/7, call the District Department of Behavioral Health's confidential hotline at 1-888-793-4357.

Emergency Shelters: If you need to find safe shelter before, during or after an emergency, be sure to follow the CDC recommendations for staying safe and healthy in a shelter.

Emergency Kit: As you build or restock your emergency kit remember to include extra cloth masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, soap and disinfecting wipes.

Coronavirus.dc.gov

Flooding in the District: What's Your Risk?

The 2020 hurricane season has brought multiple days of heavy rains and damaging winds to the District, resulting in storm surges, flash flooding and even some basement flooding.

If you experience flood damage in your home or business, will you be covered? Traditional homeowners and renters insurances doesn’t cover flooding. Just one inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damage! Take action and make sure you are prepared:

Check out this National Flood Insurance (NFIP) Program fact sheet

View the DC Department of the Energy and Environment's map of flood risk areas in the District.

Click on the link below to learn how to prepare for flooding in the District.

District Flood Safety

Learn More How Will You Stay Informed During an Emergency?

The first step in any emergency is to stay informed. When you are aware of what is going on around you, you are able to make decisions involving the safety of yourself, your family and loved ones.

Should you evacuate or shelter in place? Do you need to stock up on milk and bread or plastic sheeting and duct tape? The District provides multiple resources to get the information out to residents - sign up or tune in.

AlertDC: AlertDC is the official District of Columbia communications system. By staying informed, AlertDC is your personal connection to real-time updates and instructions to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your neighborhood.

Mobile App: The HSEMA mobile app ensures you have important information at your fingertips before, during, and after and emergency or disaster.

Get Connected

Community Preparedness

Interfaith Preparedness and Advisory Group

This month ask your faith-based institution what they’re doing to better prepare their community for emergencies or disasters. Encourage them to join Mayor Bowser’s Interfaith Preparedness and Advisory Group (IPAG). The IPAG was formed in 2018 and is comprised of members from the Mayor's Office of Religious Affairs (MORA), the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD), and the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA).

The IPAG's mission is to provide a platform for faith-based organizations to exchange information with public safety professionals concerning vulnerabilities, best practices, and preparedness measures related to their congregations and facilities.

Congregations and FBOs wishing to join the IPAG should email HSEMA.IPAG@dc.gov.

Business Emergency Management Operations Center

We know that the resiliency of a community is directly linked to how quickly goods and services begin to flow to the impacted area. To formalize a relationship with the private sector and help facilitate the interaction between the public and private sectors before, during and after an emergency, the District's Business Emergency Management Operations Center (BEMOC) was created. The BEMOC is an alliance of public-private partners committed to improving the District’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

Since 2017, the BEMOC has helped businesses:

Prepare and make their business and employees more resilient to disasters
Build partnerships to facilitate a full community response
Assist their community during a disaster
Make informed decisions necessary to reopen after a disaster

The BEMOC is free and open to all companies that are located in, or doing business in, the District of Columbia. Become a BEMOC member today - email: dc.bemoc@dc.gov or sign up here.