September is National Preparedness Month!

We’ve all heard “Disasters don’t plan ahead. You Can” and with the recent hurricanes hitting the United States, now, more than ever is a time to make sure you and your family are prepared for a natural disaster. Everyone should take action this month to prepare for when a disaster strikes.

There are four recommended steps to being prepared: 1) making a plan, 2) create an emergency kit, 3) be aware, and 4) get involved. When making a plan, you need to discuss how you will receive emergency alerts and warnings, where your shelter will be, what your evacuation route is, and how your family will communicate. Keep in mind if your family has any medical needs, dietary requirements, or disabilities. After creating your household plan, you should practice what to do in case of an emergency. This can help younger members during an actual disaster.

There should be an emergency and first aid kit at a convenient location that has easy access for everyone in the family. Each kit should have water (one gallon per person, per day for at least three days), food (at least a three-day supply), hand crank radio, flashlight, first aid kit, extra batteries, whistle, dust mask, towelettes, garbage bags, pliers, manual can opener, cellphone with charger or back-up batteries.

When an emergency occurs, being aware of what’s going on can help maintain the chaos. It’s good to make sure everyone in your household knows what to do and where to be or meet, in case there is no way to communicate. Getting involved outside of just your household is a great way to get other organizations involved and ready for an emergency. According to ready.gov, 40% of businesses never recover after a disaster. Don’t be one of those businesses and get prepared!

Check out our Facebook page to see how you can win a first aid kit.