September is National Emergency Preparedness Month

Governor Terry E. Branstad has proclaimed September as Preparedness Month in Iowa. In the event that a disaster happens and you need to consider that your entire family may not be together, therefore make a plan of how you will reunite.

We launched America’s PrepareAthon! to bring communities together and help them plan for emergencies, and on September 30, we encourage a national day of action to spur preparedness efforts from coast to coast. “The best type of assistance is to be ready and prepared for any type of emergency, so it helps relieve pressure off of the men and women responding so they can focus their attention on the task at hand”.

As the cleanup continues in Kokomo, tornadoes serve as a reminder that Hoosier families need emergency plans before disaster strikes. During National Preparedness Month, we emphasize the importance of readying ourselves and our communities to be resilient in the face of any emergency we may encounter. 11 attacks. As we remember the 15 anniversary of that tragedy let’s take a few moments with our families to prepare for an emergency. The Horse and Livestock Team Emergency Response (HALTER) Project has filled that gap through education efforts involving the public, animal welfare organizations and health providers, and first responders.

Assemble an emergency supply kit for your home, office and auto.

OSDH also encourages families to have a basic emergency kit consisting of water, snacks, first-aid kit, flashlight, batteries, prescription medicine and important paperwork.

Identify essential staff who are core to the operations of the business and keep a list of their phone numbers (home, work, pager, cell) and e-mail addresses that can be accessed by employees from several locations (home, Internet, etc.).

Teach family members how to use text messaging. Also, calling long distance may be easier than making a local call. Help make your community stronger by joining your local Medical Reserve Corp, which coordinates volunteer activities. New Jersey boasts the largest CERT contingent in the nation with 12,000 members and growing. If you already have a kit, strengthen your preparedness by maintaining the supplies and replace anything that has expired.