September is National Preparedness Month

September is recognized as National Preparedness Month (NPM). The month is dedicated to educating and inspiring Americans to prepare for all types of emergencies and responses, from natural disasters to family crises.  Extreme weather, both large scale and local tragedies, and sudden death or injury can all affect us when we least expect it. However, if you prepare and have a plan for response, the recovery can be much quicker.

“Don’t Wait, Communicate” is the National Preparedness Month’s theme for September 2016. An emergency could occur at any time, affecting your work life, family life or community. Don’t wait until an emergency occurs to figure out what to do. Instead, communicate with those around you, so these emergencies can get resolved quickly.

Preparing for Weather Emergencies

An extreme winter storm is headed your way. A funnel cloud is spotted right down the street from your home. What would you do?

Be Informed. Find out if you and your community is at a higher risk for these hazards based on where you live. If you live in California, you’re more likely to experience an earthquake than a winter storm. In the Midwest, you’re at a higher risk for tornadoes.

Have A Plan. What would you do if a tornado hits while you’re at work? What about when you’re at home? Where will you go, and how will you let your family know you are safe? These are important discussions to have in the workplace and at home. If you have children in school, they will likely be informed of weather emergencies by their teachers and safety precautions reiterated with frequent drills. Do this at home too. Have a plan for where to go, how to protect yourself and your family, and how you will get in touch with loved ones to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Preparing for Family Crises

A family member unexpectedly passes away. You or a loved one is injured in an accident. What would you do?

Be Informed. In the event of a loved one’s passing, it’s key to understand their wishes and crucial to locate important documents. In the event of an accident, know who to contact and important insurance and health information.

Have A Plan. Have discussions with your family regarding what to do in the event of an emergency. The My Life & Wishes Planning Center is a great resource for accessing pertinent health, insurance and financial information, so you can be as prepared as possible. Our online end-of-life planning service offers a complete digital record to share the most important information and documents your family will need, should something happen to you. Not only can it be used to outline your wishes and store important documents, it’s a great organization tool to keep all of your personal information in one place. Having a My Life & Wishes account will benefit you today and your family tomorrow. Start a free 30-day trial today!

Community Preparedness After a Tragedy or Emergency

Communities can struggle with the aftermath of severe weather, a local tragedy, or a large-scale event that impacts the whole nation. What should communities do after such an event?

Be Informed. Know what’s going on in your local community and around the country. Pay attention to important news messages or weather warnings so that in the event of a community crisis, you feel aware and prepared.

Have A Plan. Ask about ways you can get involved in your community and how you can support first responders. Get involved in neighborhood watch and volunteer to support firefighters and police officers. There are programs where you can receive training in basic disaster response skills so when disaster strikes you can help. Supporting the community and being educated beforehand can ease the recovery process.

September is all about being prepared before disaster strikes.For every “what if?” that could happen, it’s important to have a response prepared. An emergency can happen at any moment. How will you be ready?

More information and tools can be found at https://www.ready.gov/september