September National Preparedness Month

Every state in the U.S. has experienced tornadoes and severe weather, and although some more than others, everyone is at risk. You can take steps to prepare for when severe weather strikes in your area. Knowing the most common weather hazards in your area, your vulnerability, and what actions you should take can save your life and others. www.readypa.org

September is here, and you know what that means. It marks the end of summer and the beginning of school and falling leaves. What you probably didn't know is that September also stands for National Preparedness Month (NPM).

FEMA created the "Ready" campaign in 2003 to coincide with NPM. The public service ad campaign was designed to "educate and empower" people around the nation for how to respond to emergency situations, ranging from natural disasters to terrorist attacks. By increasing awareness, the goal is to have people be prepared for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and schools.

The Ready campaign promotes a few specific procedures that are recommended to individuals and families, to be implemented during the month of September. These include:

  • Buying or preparing an emergency supply kit.
  • Creating and practicing a family emergency plan.
  • Staying informed about the different types of emergencies and the appropriate responses.
  • Getting involved in community-wide emergency response efforts, such as Citizen Core, volunteer fire departments, and Red Cross.

Along with these Ready campaign ideas stated above, there are other Ready campaign and websites that pertain to specific responses for kids, pets, and business.

Ready Kids

Designed specifically as a tool for parents and teachers to educate children, a website was set up for 8 to 12-year-olds, using fun games and activities as a vehicle for learning. It also provides instructions for how kids can help families be prepared for emergencies.

To use this family-friendly website, click here.

Ready Business

Focused on how to be prepared as a business owner during any kind of disaster, this site walks you through guidelines for everything from what to do if you get a suspicious package to how to prepare for flu safety at work. It also helps your business develop a preparedness plan, including how to remain open, talk to your employees and protect your investment.

Check it out here.

Ready Pets

Ever think about what you would do with your pets during an emergency situation? A fire, a terrorist attack? This website explains exactly what you can do to have your pets ready for anything. The Community Pet Preparedness Toolkit, accessed though this site, is designed to help pet owners plan with community resources that are set to help.

Pet owners can see it here.

For a free brochure and instructional video that goes along with NPM, go here.

In addition to staying prepared for emergencies, NPM is a great time to check in with us to make sure you have the best coverage for home, property, business, and health in case of an emergency or natural disaster.