Every year, hundreds of natural disasters – ranging from blizzards and wildfires to hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding – wreak havoc on families, homes and entire communities across America.  Often times, people are reminded to take action to prepare before these events happen, but sometimes they occur without warning.  Our lives can be changed in an instant by a number of different emergencies and we are constantly reminded of this each time we watch the news.

Yet, too many Americans have not taken steps to prepare.  There are simple steps each of us can take to prepare before an emergency happens.  Emergencies will happen, but taking action now can help us minimize the impact they will have on our lives. 

That’s why this September, National Preparedness Month, is all about helping individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action! September is an ideal time for individuals and families to update their emergency supply kits and family emergency plans and to become better informed about different threats and local emergency plans.  Many things can change over the course of a year, and it is imperative that the entire family have the most up-to-date emergency contact information and a family emergency plan as they head back to school and work.  It’s about talking to your families and figuring out what you should do if an emergency happens in your community.  Where will we meet?  What emergency supplies will we need and where should we keep them? 

This nationwide effort is to encourage individuals and families to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools.  Throughout September, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will work with a wide variety of organizations to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness and promote individual involvement through events and activities across the nation, such as first aid trainings, town hall meetings and much more.

Free preparedness resources are just a click away at www.gcoem.org, www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov.  These sites have information about the simple steps you can take to prepare and provides templates such as a Family Emergency Plan and an Emergency Supply Checklist.  There are also special sections for kids, ages 8-12, (Ready Kids) and small- to medium-sized businesses (Ready Business).  

This September, The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the importance of emergency preparedness nationally.  And we’re acting on the local level as well.