September is National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month you and your family should prepare in event of an emergency. It is especially crucial to prepare when there are persons with special needs in your home. National Preparedness Month is a part of the committed effort to strengthen the United States’ preparedness capabilities. The national preparedness architecture encompasses the full spectrum of prevention, protection, response, and recovery efforts to prepare the United States for all hazards – whether terrorist attack or natural disaster.
Since September 11th, the US Government has taken steps to encourage all citizens to make their own survival preparations. September was chosen as National Preparedness Month, as the tragedies of September 11th highlighted to the nation the importance of being prepared.
There are many groups with special needs and even those who may not be considered special needs but may enter that category during the time of an incident. People who are otherwise healthy may become a part of this group by injury or change of health status. Military families have their own unique needs because of their tendency to relocate.
Other categories include but are not limited to the visually impaired, hearing impaired, mobility impaired, medical conditions, persons without vehicle, single working parent, Non English speaking, intellectual disabilities and/or special dietary needs.
Steps to take:
? Meet with your family and discuss why you need to prepare for disaster.
? Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen and explain what to do in each case.
? Pick two places to meet, one outside your home and outside of your neighborhood.
? Make sure everyone knows the address and phone number of the location outside your neighborhood.
? Ask an out of state friend to be your family contact.
? Discuss what to do in an evacuation and what you will do with your pets.
? Meet with your neighbors to plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster until help arrives. Help neighbors who have special needs, such as disabled and elderly persons.
Persons with special needs and their caregivers need to create a support system and let people know where they keep important documents or medicine. Contact the local emergency management office to let them know what the needs are. Wear alert bracelets if possible and have any payments made electronically if at all possible.
Important considerations:
- List of doctors, relatives and friends to notify
- Extra batteries
- Extra oxygen
- Hearing aid batteries
- Wheelchair batteries
- Extra eyeglasses
- List of medication and doses along with allergies
- Style and serial numbers of equipment
Prepare a disaster supply kit that include: Water, food, first aid kit, tools and supplies, clothing and bedding and medications.
Many of the previous tips are valuable to follow in every day life. Do not wait until a disaster strikes.
Resources:
Leave a Reply