OSHKOSH — Disasters can strike anywhere and anytime. National Preparedness Month – observed every September – serves as a reminder that everyone must prepare for the types of emergencies and disasters that can affect each of us where we live, work or visit.
“As chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I am honored to serve as a congressional co-chair for the 12th annual National Preparedness Month,” Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said. “Over the years, my home state of Wisconsin has seen its share of disasters, weathering severe storms, power outages, damaging winds, tornadoes, flooding and mudslides. This year’s National Preparedness Month theme, ‘Don’t Wait. Communicate: Make Your Emergency Plan Today,’ is vital, as disasters happen at a moment’s notice. It is imperative that families think ahead by creating and reviewing emergency plans, building and restocking emergency kits, and promoting awareness among friends and local communities. Through effective preparation, we can do a better job of keeping our communities and loved ones safe.”
The theme for National Preparedness Month is “Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.” The message underscores the importance of making an emergency communication plan for how your family will get to a safe place, how you will contact one another and how you will get back together following a disaster.
Each week during National Preparedness Month raises awareness about natural disasters – floods, wildfires, and hurricanes – and power outages. On September 30, National Preparedness Month culminates with National PrepareAthon! Day, which offers all Americans an opportunity to take action and practice their preparedness in advance of an emergency. By practicing preparedness actions in advance of a disaster, you can be better prepared to handle an emergency you may encounter.
There are many ways to participate in the National Preparedness Month. Examples include:
- Creating and testing an emergency communication plan for your family, organization or workplace.
- Assembling or updating emergency supply kits to keep at home, at work and in your car.
- Gathering critical personal, legal and medical documents for safekeeping.
- Practicing going to your protective location (safe room) in the event of an emergency.
- Conducting a table top exercise to test your organization’s continuity of operation plans.
- Using social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, to spread the word.
- Contacting your local or state Emergency Management Office to sign up for local text message alerts and warnings.
- Finding out if your cell phone can receive free Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs); no subscription is needed. Learn more at www.ready.gov/alerts.
- Downloading the FEMA or American Red Cross app.
- Downloading free preparedness guides for floods, hurricanes, winter storms, tornados, wildfires and earthquakes from America’s PrepareAthon! and register to host or participate in a preparedness event at www.ready.gov/prepare.
For more information on National Preparedness Month, visit Ready.gov/September or follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
To support America’s PrepareAthon! and to learn more about how you can play a role in your community’s preparedness, visit www.ready.gov/prepare.
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