are you prepared?
September is National Preparedness Month. Sponsored by the Ready Campaign, National Preparedness Month encourages Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.
Before you can take action and prepare, you must first make room for your “Ready Zone.” This can be any easily accessible area in your home or business. Now is the perfect time to de-clutter by getting rid of items you no longer use, making room for your emergency kit.
The Ready Campaign recommends the following items be included in a basic emergency supply kit:
- Water: one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask: to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Local maps
Additional items to consider can be found here.
The Ready Campaign offers two new online tools to help design your family’s emergency plan.
- The Online Family Emergency Planning Tool prepares a printable comprehensive family emergency plan.
- The new Quick Share application assembles a quick reference list of emergency contact information.
For more details about National Preparedness month, visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY.
