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"Prepared, Not Scared. Be Ready for Disasters"

National Preparedness Month 2019

A disaster can strike at any time. While we can't always predict when, where, or how a disaster will strike, we can undertake measures to mitigate the effects when it does. Each September, National Preparedness Month is recognized to promote awareness and foster emergency planning within our homes and communities.

National Preparedness Month 2019 - Week By Week

Week 1 - September 1-7: Save Early for Disaster Costs

• Make copies of financial, personal, household, and medical documents that you may need quick access to during an emergency.
• Start an emergency savings account for use during a disaster. Keep a small amount of cash at home to use during an emergency in case ATMs and credit cards do not work.
• Obtain and/or review homeowners or renters insurance policies.
• Download Operation Hope's and FEMA's Emergency Financial First Aid Kit  for more information.

Week 2 - September 8-14: Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters

You and your loved ones may not be together when a disaster strikes. Together, make a plan that addresses the following:

• How and where will you reconnect with one another?
• How will you receive emergency alerts and warnings ?
• Do you have a shelter plan ?
• Do you have an evacuation route ?
• How will you and your loved ones communicate  with one another?

Consider specific needs of those in your household, including medical, functional, and dietary needs. Don't forget about your pets and service animals. Finally, practice your plan with your household.

Week 3 - September 15-21: Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters

Involve children and teens in your household in emergency preparedness planning. There are valuable resources available to educate youth in disaster planning, enable them to be a core part of your family's disaster response, and to create future generations of capable and resilient adult emergency planners.

• Prepare with Pedro: Disaster Preparedness Activity Book  is a fun, interactive activity book for children from FEMA and the American Red Cross.
• Read 2 Help  is a card game that teaches children how to stay safe and help others during an emergency.
• There are also opportunities for teens to become involved in emergency preparedness planning in their communities. Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)  is a FEMA-sponsored program for disaster response that includes training in skills like fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
• Find out about these and other youth preparedness  opportunities to learn more.

Week 4 - September 22-30: Get Involved in Your Community's Preparedness

• Learn what types of disasters are most likely to affect your community.
• Find your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) .
• Enroll in CPR/AED and first aid classes.
• Learn what resources might be available during a disaster to assist those community members who have access and functional needs.
• Be neighborly. How can you and your neighbors and friends help each other out during an emergency?

Find out more about National Preparedness Month 2019 and the resources and recommendations listed above at https://www.ready.gov/september .

All photos are courtesy of ready.gov. (FEMA News Photo)