September is National Preparedness Month: Time to create a safety kit

Palm Coast Observer
News

The Flagler County government is urging residents to follow its lead and recognize September as National Preparedness Month.

The recognition is done to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters. This year’s theme is “A Lasting Legacy.”

“National Preparedness Month just happens to coincide with the peak of hurricane season for us, and the tropics have become very active over the last week or so,” Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord said. “We are asking our residents to please take a few of steps to ensure your families, households, and businesses are ready for anything that may happen – not just for this month, but for anytime during the year.”

Potential risks include naturally occurring things like hurricanes, tornados, flooding, lightning and coastal/tidal events as well as manmade situations like hazardous material spills and terrorism.

The national campaign recommends devoting one week each to the following activities: make a plan; build a kit; protect family and property; include children, seniors, and pets; and, get involved in preparing our community.

Preparedness Weeks

Week one – Sept. 1-4 – Make a Plan: Talk to friends and family about how to communicate before, during, and after a disaster. Have a primary, secondary, and possibly a tertiary plan for where to go if there's an evacuation. Consider staying with family or friends outside of the evacuation area, in addition to hotels or motels.
Week two – Sept. 5-11 – Build a Kit: Gather supplies that will last for a week after a disaster for everyone in the home. Don’t forget to the unique needs each person or pet may have. The kit should include food, water, medications, clothing, cash (credit card/ATM machines may not work), radios, batteries, generators/fuel. Portability is key should evacuation be required.
Week three – Sept. 12-18 – Protect Family and Property: Know the risks in our community (tornadoes, wildfire, flood/storm surge, hurricanes). Learn about damage mitigation for storms and other common hazards, like limiting landscaping close to the home to prevent fire, and consider wind mitigation inspection for home protection recommendations.
Week four – Sept. 19-25 –Youth, Seniors, and Pet Preparedness: Talk to family members, including the kids, about preparing for emergencies and what to do if the family is separated. Reassure them by including them in the plan.
Week five – Sept. 26-30 – Get Involved: There are a variety of online and in-person training and volunteer opportunities to help the community prepare for and recover from disasters. Learn about the many ways to get involved.

Stay informed by signing up for Alert Flagler at www.flaglercounty.gov/alertflagler.

Sign up for free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training at www.flaglercounty.gov/emergency, and select “Volunteering & Training,” or call 386-313-4200.

For more information, go to www.flaglercounty.gov/emergency and follow Emergency Management on social media at: