September is National Preparedness Month. This year, the theme is: “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.” Argonne’s Office of Emergency Management encourages all individuals to plan for emergencies and disasters.
Tips on how to be prepared:
- Make an Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if you’re separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.
- Step 1: Put together a plan, working with your family, friends or household.
- Step 2: Consider specific needs in your household.
- Step 3: Create a Family Emergency Plan.
- Step 4: Practice your plan with your family/household.
- Make an evacuation plan. A wide variety of emergencies may cause an evacuation. In some instances, you may have a day or two to prepare, while other situations might call for an immediate evacuation. Planning ahead is vital to ensuring that you can evacuate quickly and safely, no matter the circumstances.
- Make a shelter plan. Taking appropriate shelter is critical in times of disaster. Sheltering is appropriate when conditions require that you seek protection in your home, place of employment or other location when disaster strikes. Sheltering outside the hazard area could include staying with friends and relatives, seeking commercial lodging or staying in a mass care facility operated by disaster relief groups.
- Plan financially for the possibility of disaster. Americans at all income levels have experienced the challenges of rebuilding their lives after a disaster or other emergency. In these stressful circumstances, having access to personal financial, insurance, medical, and other records is crucial for starting the process of recovery quickly and efficiently. Taking the time now to collect and secure these critical records will give you peace of mind and, in the event of an emergency, will ensure that you have the documentation needed to start the recovery process without delay.