This September, National Preparedness Month (NPM) will focus on planning, with an overarching theme “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.” We can all take action to prepare! We are all able to help first responders in our community by training how to respond during an emergency and what to do when disaster strikes — where we live, work, and visit. The goal of NPM (National Preparedness Month) is to increase the overall number of individuals, families, and communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, businesses, school, and places of worship.

2017 Weekly Themes

 Week 1: September 1-9 Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends

•  Make an Emergency Plan.
•  Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area.
•  Learn your evacuation zone and have an evacuation plan.
•  Check your insurance coverage and review the Document and Insure Property guide.
•  Plan financially for the possibility of disaster.

 Week 2: September 10-16 Plan to Help Your Neighbor and Community

•  Learn skills you need to help yourself and others until help can arrive.
•  Take Until Help Arrives training.
•  Check on your neighbors.
•  Talk with your Power Company about utility safety

 Week 3: September 17-23 Practice and Build Out Your Plan

•  Complete an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK)
•  Maintain emergency savings for use in case of an emergency
•  Participate in an emergency drill
•  Know how to access community resources (e.g., shelters, food banks)
•  Make a Basic Emergency Kit
•  Water, one gallon of water per person for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
•  Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
•  Battery-power or hank crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
•  Flashlights and extra batteries
•  First aid kit
•  Whistle to signal for help
•  Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
•  Prescription medications and glasses
•  Books, games, puzzles or other activities
•  Sleeping bag or warm blankets for each person.
•  Matches in a waterproof container
•  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

 Week 4: September 24-30 Get Involved! Be a Part of Something Larger

•  Get your campus, business, faith-based organization and community organization prepared for an emergency
•  Join Weather Ready Nation

There are copies of Planning Guides on the table in the Narthex, please help yourself. If you have any questions or need any help, please call Judi M at 295-4991.