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Household
Hints & HELP!
National
Preparedness Month
submitted
by Lorene Bartos, Extension Educator
This article appears in the September
4, 2005 Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper.
September is National Preparedness Month. During this month
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The American Red
Coss and the National Preparedness Month Coalition urges
all Americans to take some simple steps to become better
prepared for emergencies. As we see all of the disasters
and emergencies happening this last week we need to be prepared
for disaster when it hits. Recommended simple steps to take
included:
Get
a Kit - Get 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, food, battery powered radio, flash light
and a first aid kit.
Make
a Plan - 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. Go
to and for more information and templates to help get you
started.
Be
Informed - Learn more about different threats that could
affect your community and appropriate responses to them.
Go to and for more information about natural disasters and
potential terrorist threats including biological, chemical,
nuclear and radiological emergencies.
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. Citizen Corps provides residents
with opportunities to prepare, train and support local emergency
responders. Or volunteer through your local American Red
Cross chapter. For more information or to get involved visit
to find your local Citizen Corps council or to find your
local Red Cross chapter.
To
create a family disaster plan, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency and the American Red Cross suggests:
Meet
with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for
disaster. Explain the dangers of fire, severe weather and
earthquakes to children. Plan to share responsibilities
and work together as a team.
Discuss
the types of disasters most likely to happen. Explain what
to do in each case.
Pick
two places to meet:
-
Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency,
like a fire.
-
Outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home.
Everyone
must know the address and phone number. Ask an out-of-state
friend to be your "family contact." After a disaster, it's
often easier to call long distance. Other family members
should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone
must know your contact's phone number.
Discuss
what to do in an evacuation. Plan how to take care of your
pets.
Remember
it is important to be prepared and get involved.
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