National Preparedness Month Week 1: Make a Plan

September is National Preparedness Month, which means it's a great time to think about your family’s risk of both natural and man-made disasters.  National Preparedness Month is organized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Their website ready.gov is a tremendous source of ideas, guidance, and motivation.  To help you along, Preparedness Month is divided into four steps. Week one is Make a Plan:

Week One: September 1-5 Make a Plan

Talk with your family about how you’ll communicate before, during, and after a disaster. Does your home have a NOAA Weather Radio?  Along with cell phones and outdoor sirens, a weather radio should be a standard method of receiving warnings.

Once a warning is received, have a designated “safe room” in your home, school or office. After a disaster, cell phones could be very important, but will the cell phone system still be working? Have some walkie-talkie radios like the X-Talker® T71VP3 Two-Way Radio. They allow you to communicate even when the cell phone system is destroyed.

Does anyone in your family require special assistance in the form of diet, medicines, or mobility?  Do you have pets who will need food and water? Do you have school age children who may get bored without something to do?   Make sure you have a plan, and everyone knows what it requires of them.  Once you’ve made a plan, practice it once in a while.  Your children need to know what to do during a weather emergency, even when they’re home alone.

For more information on Week One activities, go to ready.gov/plan.

Bruce Jones, Meteorologist

Midland Radio Corporation

Kansas City