September is National Preparedness Month. FEMA's Ready Campaign, Citizen Corps and The Ad Council are partners in a nationwide effort to encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies.
Sixty percent of Americans say preparation for natural or man-made disasters is very important to them, yet only 17 percent claim to be very prepared for an emergency situation.
Readiness is a shared responsibility, and FEMA asks all Americans to make the pledge to prepare this month and help themselves, their neighbors and their communities be Ready. People can get started by visiting www.Ready.gov/today and downloading a family emergency plan, emergency kit checklists, and getting information on how to get involved in their communities. Be informed about the types of emergencies that can happen in your area, and the appropriate way to respond.
During National Preparedness Month, and throughout the year, FEMA and the Ad Council invites everyone to prepare in advance for all types of natural disasters. The Ready Campaign's websites (ready.gov and listo.gov) and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide free emergency preparedness information and resources available in English and Spanish.
National Preparedness Month is a good opportunity to update or create your emergency kit. Emergency supply kits at home and at work should contain:
• At least a three day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day) and non-perishable food. (Remember to change food and water every six months).
• Eyeglasses, hearing aids, extra keys.
• First-aid kit, extra prescription medications, copies of prescriptions, other special medical items.
• Special supplies needed for babies or older adults.
• Important documents and records, photo IDs, proof of residence.
• Cash (power outages mean banks and ATMs may be unavailable).
• Battery-operated radio and flashlight with extra batteries.
• Phone numbers of family and friends.
• Road maps, a travel plan, hotel reservations, list of places between your town and your destination where you can stop if the highways are clogged.
• Coolers for food and ice storage, paper plates, plastic utensils.
• Manual can opener, booster cables, tools.
• Blankets, pillows, sleeping bags and extra clothing.
• Toilet paper, cleanup supplies, personal hygiene products.
• Pet supplies.
When putting together a family preparedness plan, remember to place copies of important documents in a waterproof, easy-to-carry container so you can “grab and go.”
Store your important documents such as insurance policies, deeds, property records and other important papers in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box away from your home. Make copies of important documents for your disaster supply kit. Having such information on hand should make the registration process for FEMA benefits smoother, should you be involved in a presidentially declared disaster.
Before disaster strikes:
Review your property insurance policies, making sure that they are up to date and that the types of coverage meet your needs.
Consider keeping some money in an emergency savings account that could be used in any crisis. Keep a small amount of cash or traveler’s checks with your emergency supplies. Cash machines will not work when the electricity is out.
Review life and health insurance policies and coverages. Keep copies of these and important phone numbers related to medical needs with your documents.
Maintain an inventory of your belongings. If possible, include receipts for high-cost items, helpful for insurance claims.
- Your “grab and go” document kit should contain copies of:
- Insurance policies
- Photo IDs and proof of residence
- Extra copies of prescriptions for medications and for eyeglasses
- Your inventory
- Important family documents you wish to save
Putting together a family preparedness plan for disasters or emergencies can serve you well in any circumstance. Whether you are facing a severe weather event, a fire in your home, a hazardous materials incident in the neighborhood, or any other emergency, it’s a good idea to plan in advance.
Talk to your family members about preparedness and how to respond calmly to emergencies. Discuss what you would need to do to shelter in place, leave your home or evacuate your city.
- Identify two meeting places, one near your home and one away from the neighborhood in the event family members cannot return to the house.
- Post emergency phone numbers beside the telephone. Teach children how to call 911.
- Choose a friend or relative out-of-state whom all family members will telephone to check in. The out-of-state relative can relay messages. When evacuating, notify relatives and friends about your plans. Be familiar with designated evacuation routes leading out of town.
- Draw a home floor plan and choose at least two escape routes. Make sure you know how to shut off the water, gas and electricity.
- Keep an emergency supply kit, including water, non-perishable food, important documents, radio and flashlight with extra batteries, extra eye glasses, medications and special needs products for babies and the elderly.
- Make plans for family members or neighbors with special needs, as well as for care of pets.
During National Preparedness Month, and throughout the year, FEMA and the Ad Council invites everyone to prepare in advance for all types of natural disasters. The Ready Campaign's websites (ready.gov and listo.gov) and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide free emergency preparedness information and resources available in English and Spanish.
####
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/femaregion6 and the FEMA Blog at http://blog.fema.gov.