2015 National Preparedness Month

Theme: Don't Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.

If an emergency occurred tomorrow, would you be ready?
September is National Preparedness Month, and we here at Army Community Services know how important it is for you to plan and prepare. Emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time. It is important to understand potential risks where you live.

Please follow the links below to read the following messages:

- Lt. Gen. David Halverson, Commander, U.S. Army Installation Management Command and Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management: http://www.army.mil/article/155471/National_Preparedness_Month/.
- Presidential Proclamation – National Preparedness Month, 2015, dated August 31, 2015. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/08/31/presidential-proclamation-national-preparedness-month-2015.

According to Ready.gov (http://www.ready.gov/september), they are asking, “everyone to participate in America’s PrepareAthon! and the national day of action, National PrepareAthon! Day, which culminates National Preparedness Month on September 30.”

Weekly focused themes
• Week 1: September 1-5th Flood
• Week 2: September 6-12th Wildfire
• Week 3: September 13-19th Hurricane
• Week 4: September 20-26th Power Outage
• Week 5: September 27-30th Lead up to National PrepareAthon! Day (September 30th )

At the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they advocate the necessity of being prepared. Below are some basic tips on how to prepare.

Get a Kit. If disaster strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, or electricity for some time. By taking time now to prepare emergency water supplies, food supplies and a disaster supplies kit, you can provide for your entire family. Items to include in your kit:
* Water
* Food
* Battery Powered/Hand Crank Radio
* Flashlight w/extra batteries
* Whistle (to signal for help)
* Dust Masks
* Moist Towelettes
* Small basic tool kit
* First aid kit
* Cell phone with charges (preferably solar chargers)

Make a Plan. Make plans with your family and friends in case you're not together during an emergency. Discuss how you'll contact each other, where you'll meet, and what you'll do in different situations. Read how to develop a family disaster plan or fill out the Homeland Security Family Emergency Plan. Some questions to consider whilst making your plan:
* How will my family/household get to safe locations for relevant emergencies?
* How will my family/household get in touch if cell phone, internet, or landline doesn’t work?
* How will I let loved ones know I am safe?
One of the most important things to do, is once you have that plan in place… PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
Be Informed. Being prepared means staying informed. Check all types of media – Web sites, newspapers, radio, TV, mobile and land phones – for global, national and local information. During an emergency, your local Emergency Management or Emergency Services office will give you information on such things as open shelters and evacuation orders.

Get Involved. Look into taking first aid and emergency response training, participating in community exercises, and volunteering to support local first responders. Contact the Medical Reserve Corps, (MRC). MRC are community-based units and function as a way to locally organize and utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year.

In collaboration with the American Red Cross, CDC's Web site, Emergency Preparedness and You identifies and answers common questions about preparing for unexpected events, including:
• Developing a family disaster plan
• Gathering emergency supplies
• Learning how to shelter in place
• Understanding quarantine and isolation
• Learning how to maintain a healthy state of mind

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Web site offers additional information and resources under topics such as hurricane preparedness, extreme heat, and bioterrorism. CDC continually updates information on recent outbreaks and incidents, and lists emergency resources for the general public as well as for clinicians and public health professionals.

Other Resources
- American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org/prepare/nationalpreparednessmonth
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention - http://emergency.cdc.gov/npm/index.asp
- Weather-Ready Nation (NOAA) - http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/prep.html#.VgFHuZf-Xfg


Disclaimer: Links to external and non-DoD resources are posted in the common interest to the military community and does not imply Department of defense endorsement of a commercial entity.