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Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today -Week 1
The national theme for a four week plan to make sure YOU have a plan for disasters that may come your way is “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today”. Some would say, “no one is coming for you” might be a better theme. At least they aren’t coming immediately. Emergency response can be days in coming. Power lines being down can cause other response to be days – or even weeks – delayed. Sometimes that can trap you right where you are. And you have to have the resources – the plan – to survive for that time. This program will get you to that state of readiness. Step by step over the next four weeks we’ll outline what you need to know and need to do. Join us. Take control over your own safety – until others can help you with all the bigger things to get your life back in shape.
September is National Preparedness Month, recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. As we continue to respond to COVID-19, there is no better time to be involved in preparing for disasters – of any kind – than now. Disasters can occur from fire, storms, floods, home malfunction such as burst pipes, etc.
Each week for the month we will address a different way you can work throughout the week ahead to prepare for disasters – large – and small.
The theme for 2020 is “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.“
What can you work on this week?
Week 1 September 1-5: Make A Plan
Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during, and after a disaster. Make sure to update your plan based on the Centers for Disease Control recommendations due to the coronavirus, too..
Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.
Step 1: Put a plan together by discussing the questions below with your family, friends or household to start your emergency plan.
- How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
- What is my shelter plan?
- What is my evacuation route?
- What is my family/household communication plan?
- Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit?
- Check with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and update emergency plans due to Coronavirus.
- Get cloth face coverings (for everyone over 2 years old), disinfectants, and check my sheltering plan.
Step 2: Consider specific needs in your household.
As you prepare your plan tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities. Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets or specific needs like operating medical equipment. Create your own personal network for specific areas where you need assistance. Keep in mind some these factors when developing your plan:
- Different ages of members within your household
- Responsibilities for assisting others
- Locations frequented
- Dietary needs
- Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
- Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
- Languages spoken
- Cultural and religious considerations
- Pets or service animals
- Households with school-aged children
Step 3: Fill out a Family Emergency Plan
Download and fill out this family emergency plan or use it as a guide to create your own.
Step 4: Practice your plan with your family/household
Next week: Building your Disaster Preparedness Kit!
Louisiana’s recovery – the latest disaster the country is recovering from – keep in mind that you must be prepared to fend for yourself for up to 3, 4, 5 days – water, food, shelter, more…