September is National Preparedness Month, a time to think about what it really means to be ready for an emergency.
You might have an emergency kit tucked away. You probably get weather alerts on your phone. Maybe you've even talked with your family about what to do with your family about what to do when severe weather strikes.
New national research suggests there may be a gap between how prepared Americans feel and the steps they've actually taken to prepare.
Americans Feel Prepared, but Numbers Tell a Different Story
According to our national survey, 72% of Americans are confident they could stay informed during a prolonged power outage. More than 1 in 3 (37%) even believe they're more prepared than others in their community.
That confidence is encouraging, but when you look at the actions people have taken, a different picture starts to emerge.
The survey found that 36% of Americans don't have an emergency plan. Nearly 1 in 3 (29%), haven't taken a single preparedness action during the past year. Only 22% have a written emergency plan.
Preparedness ins't just about feeling ready. It's about having a plan and the right tools in place before you need them.
National Preparedness Month is a good opportunity to ask yourself and your family a few questions:
- Does everyone in your household know where to go during an emergency?
- Do you have essential supplies ready?
- How will you communicate if family members are separated?
- How will you receive critical information if the power or cell network goes down?
Your Smartphone Is a Great Tool, But It Shouldn't Be Your Only One
For most of us, checking the weather starts with reaching for our phones. Midland's survey found that 48% of Americans receive severe weather alerts through mobile weather apps, while 39% receive Wireless Emergency Alerts.
There's just one problem: severe weather can disrupt the same systems smartphones depend on.
Power outages can make it difficult to keep devices charged.
Overall, 61% of Americans said they're completely or mostly dependent on their smartphones for severe weather alerts.
Despite that risk, 29% of Americans said they have no backup way to receive urgent warnings if power and cell service become unreliable.
That's why it's so important to have multiple, redundant ways of receiving alerts.
Being prepared doesn't mean giving up the technology you use every day. It means having another option ready when your first option isn't available.
The Preparedness Tool Less Than Half of Americans Know About, But Should
One way to add another layer to your emergency alert plan is NOAA Weather Radio.
Unlike a weather app that relies on cell service or Wi-Fi, NOAA Weather Radio provides continuous, 24/7 broadcasts of official weather information straight from the National Weather Service. During severe weather and other emergencies, alerts can provide critical information to help you make informed decisions.
Yet Midland's survey found that only 45% of Americans are familiar with NOAA Weather Radio.
Among those who use it, however, trust is incredibly high. The survey found that 72% of users trust NOAA Weather Radio more than other alert sources, while 92% consider it important during severe weather events.
That makes NOAA Weather Radio an important resource to consider when building a layered approach to emergency alerts.
Preparedness Starts Before the Emergency
You can't control when severe weather, a natural disaster, or another emergency will happen. You can however, control how you prepare for it.
Getting prepared doesn't have to happen all at once.
You can start by taking a few easy steps:
- Create and write down an emergency plan for your household
- Build or update an emergency kit with food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, and other essentials
- Know where you'll go and how you'll communicate if your household is separated
- Make sure everyone knows how to receive and respond to emergency alerts
- Use multiple sources for weather and emergency information, including a NOAA Weather Radio that doesn't depend on cell service
The goal isn't to prepare for every possible scenario. It's to make sure you have options when the unexpected happens.
This National Preparedness Month, take another look at your emergency plan and ask yourself:
Am I as prepared as I think I am?
If you're unsure or realize you're unprepared, now is the time to take action.
Midland At-Home Weather Radios
WR120 NOAA Weather and Emergency Alert Radio
Preparedness starts at home.
The Midland WR120 NOAA Weather and Emergency Alert Radio gives your household a dedicated way to receive NOAA Weather Radio alerts, helping you stay informed when severe weather is headed your way.
With S.A.M.E. technology, the WR120 can be programmed to automatically alert you for severe weather watches and warnings in your county.
With an 90 dB alert, you won't miss this radio letting you know when to take action. It's perfect for nocturnal storms that are particularly dangerous because other alerting methods might not wake you while you're sleeping.
Keep it plugged in with backup batteries installed so you have access to critical, life-saving alerts even during a power outage.
We recommend keeping this in a central location like the kitchen or living room so everyone can hear it when it sounds.
On-the-Go Emergency Radios
Emergencies don't always happen when you're at home. With our on-the-go emergency radios, you can stay prepared while on road trips, exploring the outdoors, or even navigating evacuations due to hurricanes, wildfires, and flash floods.
These emergency radios still bring you the life-saving alerts straight from the National Weather Service, but also move with you as you move.
With multiple power options including a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, solar panel, and hand crank, the ER310 and ER310 PRO will continue to keep you up to date with the latest information throughout long trips or extended power outages.
They also include features like a powerful flashlight, AM/FM radio, SOS strobe, and more.
You can also recharge your smartphone with the ER310 and ER310 PRO as you navigate prolonged emergencies.
The ER310 PRO takes things further with Bluetooth® streaming to listen to your favorite music or podcasts, plus an even longer battery life of 200+ hours.
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