HANCOCK COUNTY — Health and safety officials are asking county residents to make the most of the month of September, which has been designated as National Preparedness Month.
Knowing disasters don’t wait and can occur at any time, now is when families should make sure they are prepared in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, experts say.
“It’s never too soon to be prepared, and it’s more important now than ever to actively prepare for all types of disasters and not just natural, but also man-made,” said Misty Moore, Hancock County Emergency Management director.
Disasters and emergencies can include things like earthquakes; active shooters; fires; cyber security breaches; and floods. By planning ahead families will be better prepared when an emergency arises..
“The world that we are living in, there is just everything going on, and anything could hit us at any point and now is a good time to talk about being ready for everything,” Moore said.
Each week of this month has been set aside with a designated task in which families can take part to better prepare themselves and their loved ones in case of an emergency.
The first week has been set aside to encourage families to make a disaster plan. That means deciding about how you’ll communicate during and after a disaster. Have you mapped evacuation routes out of your home in the event, for example, of a fire? Is your household set up to receive timely warnings and alerts? Families are also being asked to make sure and update their plans based on the Centers for Disease Control recommendations due to the coronavirus.
Week 2, Sept. 6-12, has been designated as the time to build a kit. Families are encouraged to gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in the home. Organizers should not forget to consider the unique needs of each person and pets in case people have to evacuate quickly.
Week 3, Sept. 13-19, is set aside as a real time to prepare for disasters. Preparing can limit the impacts disasters can have. Some of the keys are knowing the risk of disasters in the area and checking your insurance coverage. People are encouraged to learn how to make their homes stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards and be prepared to act fast when local warning or alerts are issued.
Week 4, Sept. 20-26, is the time to teach youth about preparedness. Officials say it’s good to talk to kids about preparing for emergencies and what they should do in case the family becomes separated. Adults can reassure children by providing information about how they can get involved.
Part of making a plan includes preparing ahead of time with some things including how as family would handle its financial situation should banks or the internet close down. An emergency kit is an excellent way to help ease concerns, officials said, and should include items that can sustain a family for days if necessary.
Of all the recommendations, preparing a kit and being ready for anything is paramount, Moore noted, stressing that people should take the advise seriously.
“The most prominent one would be making the disaster preparedness kit,” Moore said. “Everyone talks about making a kit, but very few put it into motion, get the kit set up and talk about things with their families.”
Safety officials also want to remind county residents that since they never know when or where they might be when an emergency strikes, it’s best to make several kits, and including having one for home, work and the car.
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Here are some recommendations on preparing a basic disaster supply kit:
A kit should be airtight and contain plastic bags or other containers filled the supplies. They should be confined to one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.
A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation)
Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert
Flashlight
First aid kit
Extra batteries
Whistle (to signal for help)
Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
Wrench or pliers (to turn off valves for utilities)
Manual can opener (for food)
Local maps
Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
Since the spring of 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended people include additional items in their kits to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus or other viruses and the flu.
Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:
Cloth face coverings (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces.
Source: Ready.gov.kit
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