It is National Preparedness Month, a campaign taking place every September to encourage individuals, families, businesses, and communities to be knowleagble of these four key actions you can take to prepare for any disastser you may face.
- Know your risk
- Know what could happen where you and your family live. This helps you figure out what you need to do to stay safe. Whether it’s wildfires, tornados, earthquakes, or flooding, having prior knowledge of these events can help decrease the impact.
- Homeowners can take preventable steps long before before wildfires begin. Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, eaves, porches and decks. This prevents embers from igniting your home. Remove flammable materials (firewood stacks, propane tanks) within 30 feet of your home’s foundation and outbuildings, including garages and sheds. Keep your lawn hydrated and maintained. If it is brown, cut it down to reduce fire intensity. Dry grass and shrubs are fuel for wildfire.
- Make a family emergency plan
o Making a plan early helps you reduce stress and save time and money.
o Disasters are costly but preparing for them doesn’t have to be. Taking time to prepare now can help save you thousands of dollars and give you peace of mind when the next disaster or emergency occurs.
- Always have a fire escape plan. Pull together everyone in your household and walk through your home to inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Test smoke alarms regularly to ensure they are in working condition.
- Build an emergency supply kit
- Having enough food, water and medicine can help you stay safe and comfortable until help arrives. Having what you need can also prevent injury and damage to your home.
o Build a go-bag with all the essentials you might need, so you don’t need to scramble in an evacuation situation.
- Get involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies
- Emergencies can happen fast, and emergency responders aren’t always nearby. You may be able to save a life by taking simple actions immediately. You can learn these steps when you take a first aid class through many organizations in your community.
o Join a Community Emergency Response Team program and get trained on basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.