This September, National Preparedness Month (NPM) will focus on planning, with an overarching theme “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.”
We should all take action to prepare! We are all able to help first responders in our community by training how to respond during an emergency and what to do when disaster strikes — where we live, work, and visit. The goal of NPM is to increase the overall number of individuals, families, and communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, business, school, and place of worship. These include:
Get a Kit – Put together a kit of emergency supplies that will allow you and your family to survive for at least three days in the event an emergency happens. The kit should include basic items like water (1 gallon per day per person), food, battery-powered radio, flashlight, a first aid kit, extra medicine, cash, pet food, and season specific clothing.
Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends – Plan in advance what you and your family will do in an emergency. Your plan should include a communications plan and address sheltering-in-place and evacuation. Sign up for alerts and Warnings at NIXLE.com. Review your insurance policy and be sure you have the right type of coverage. Plan financially for the possibility of disaster.
Be Informed – Learn more about different threats that could affect your community and appropriate responses to them.
Get Involved – After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies, take the next step: get training in first aid and emergency response and get involved in preparing your community.
REMEMBER: Emergency and Disaster Preparedness is Everyone’s Responsibility!
For more information about the types of events that can occur in Marshall County or how to develop an emergency plan or kit, contact the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency at 936-3740.
