National Preparedness Month (NPM) 2018 begins on Saturday, September 1.

This year’s theme is Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How. Each week will highlight tips and steps to take an important preparedness action.

The theme for the first week of NPM, September 1-8, is Make and Practice Your Plan. Learn how with steps from the Ready Campaign:

• Make an emergency plan, including how you and your family/household will communicate after a disaster.
• Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area.
• Learn your evacuation zone and make an evacuation plan.

Take action this September to prepare your family, organization, or community. Register your preparedness activity and participate in the National Day of Action on September 15.

You can find more resources, including the NPM social media toolkit, at www.ready.gov/september.

Keep your Labor Day barbecue fun and safe with tips from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

The USFA recommends the following grilling tips for preventing burns, controlling flames outside, and cleaning up afterward:

• Only use your grill outside. Keep it away from siding and deck rails.
• Wear short sleeves or roll them up when cooking on the grill.
• Open your gas grill before lighting.
• Use long-handled barbecue tools.
• Keep a three-foot safe zone around grills, fire pits, and campfires. This will help keep kids and pets safe.
• Never leave your grill, fire pit, or patio torches unattended.
• Clean your grill after each use, including removing grease that can start a fire.
• Place the coals from your grill in a metal can with a lid once they have cooled.

For more information on fire prevention and first aid for burns during the summer months, visit the USFA Summer Fire Safety page.  

Hurricane Lane reminds us to be ready and know how to stay safe before, during, and after a storm.

Protect your home or business with flood insurance. If a storm heads your way, monitor local radio or TV stations for updated information. You should also listen to state, local, and tribal officials. If told to evacuate, do so right away.

Learn what hurricane categories mean and download How to Prepare for a Hurricane. This guide includes a checklist to prepare, guidance for planning an evacuation, and steps you can take to protect your home from wind and water damage. It also includes tips to stay safe and healthy while cleaning up after a storm.

For more hurricane preparedness resources, including the When the Waves Swell video, visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

Last week (August 23) marked the seventh anniversary of the 2011 East Coast earthquake. While earthquakes may be more common in some areas, they can happen anywhere and are unpredictable.

Reduce the chance of injury or loss of life during an earthquake by taking steps ahead of time to protect yourself. Most injuries occur because of flying glass or falling objects. Stay safe with these tips from the Ready Campaign:

• Secure all the items in your home that could fall and cause injuries (e.g. bookshelves, mirrors, light fixtures).
• Practice how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On under a desk or table. Watch the When the Earth Shakes video for more information on what to do if an earthquake happens while you are inside, outside, or driving.
• Plan how you will communicate with family members by making a family emergency communication plan.

Visit www.ready.gov/earthquakes to learn more. Put your preparedness into action. Sign up for the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill in October at www.shakeout.org. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) presented Save the Children with the 2017 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award for Prepareathon in Action.

The presentation took place during a Prep Rally at the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. Save the Children created the Prep Step song and dance video, which gained more than 200,000 views on YouTube. The video makes preparedness accessible for teachers and fun for children.

To learn more, visit Ready.gov/awards. You can also watch this video from Save the Children.