 Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.
September is National Preparedness Month
Columbus, OH – This September for
National Preparedness Month (NPM), the Ready
campaign’s theme is: Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.
Preparedness is important. Everyone can take actions now to plan and prepare
for disasters. Being prepared now allows individuals and neighborhoods the
knowledge to be sustainable until first responders can arrive.
NPM
is designed to raise awareness and to encourage everyone to prepare themselves
for emergencies that could impact their homes, their businesses, their schools
and communities.
“There
is no better time than now to be prepared,” said Sima Merick, Executive Director
of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. “Emergencies and disasters can happen
at any time, often without any warning. Knowing what hazards or severe weather
events could impact your area; practicing your emergency plans; updating your
disaster supply kits – these are just some things everyone can do to be
self-sufficient and to enhance community resilience.”
Additional NPM
Actions to Prepare Now:
- Organize disaster supply kits for your home and
vehicles. A supply kit is a collection of basic items your household may need,
in the event of an emergency. Most items in a basic kit are inexpensive and
easy to find. And you might already have a lot of the items in your home. After
a disaster happens, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Your
disaster kits should have enough food, water, and other essential items to
sustain everyone in your home (including pets) for at least three days.
- Take time to learn
life-saving skills – actions you can take to prepare for and protect against
disasters and severe weather events. Install smoke, carbon monoxide and natural
gas detectors and test them monthly. Know how to turn off utilities, like water
and gas. Talk to your landlord or building manager about evacuation routes and
fire safety. Know two ways out of your home in case of a fire and practice
evacuation plans.
- Check your
insurance policies and coverage for the hazards that might impact your home or
community, such as flooding, tornadoes or home fires.
- Consider the costs
associated with disasters. Consider saving money in an emergency savings
account that could be used in any crisis. Keep a small amount of cash at home
in a safe place. Have small bills on hand because ATMs and credit cards may not
work after a disaster when you may need to purchase necessary supplies, fuel or
food.
In
coordination with FEMA’s Ready campaign, Ohio EMA and ReadyOhio encourage
households, local emergency management agencies, businesses, schools, and
places of worship to Prepare Now and Learn How by participating in NPM’s weekly
themes for 2018:
Week 1:
Sept 1-8 Make and Practice Your Plan
Week 2: Sept 9-15 Learn Life-Saving Skills
Week 3: Sept 16-22 Check Your Insurance Coverage
Week 4: Sept 23-29 Save for an Emergency
Visit
ReadyOhio for additional
information on National Preparedness Month’s weekly themes. Follow Ohio EMA on
Facebook and Twitter for additional messages on NPM and emergency preparedness.
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