National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is recognized each September 

to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year.

2023 Theme: Take Control in 1, 2, 3

This theme empowers everyone, especially older adults, to 1) assess their needs, 2) make a plan and 3) engage their support network to stay safe when disaster strikes.

Week 1: Make A Plan

Knowing how to prepare for disasters includes how you will communicate with family and friends during disasters, reviewing insurance papers, and much more.

• Assess your needs. If you have medications that need refrigeration, rely on mobility or assistive devices or have a pet you’ll need to understand how these variables will factor into what you’ll need to stay safe in a disaster or emergency.

Week 2: Build A Kit

You’ll need items to survive during a disaster that includes supplies you may need at home as well as a go kit of items you may need if you must evacuate quickly to a safer location.

• Once you assess your needs, you can tailor your plans to make sure your needs are met. This can include building a kit that includes extra medication, having a way to store medications in an emergency and planning for your pets or service animals.

Week 3: Prepare for Disasters

Find out the best way to limit the impacts a disaster may have, like having the right insurance coverage or what you can do to your home to make it stronger and more resilient.

• Reaching out to family, friends and neighbors can help you build a support network that can support you before, during and after a disaster or emergency. Share each aspect of your emergency plan with everyone in your group, including a friend or relative in another area who would not be impacted by the same emergency who can help if necessary. Make sure everyone knows how you plan to evacuate your home or workplace and where you will go in case of a disaster. Make sure that someone in your personal support network has an extra key to your home and knows where you keep your emergency supplies. Practice your plan with those who have agreed to be part of your personal support network.

Week 4: Teach Youth About Preparedness

Take the time now and talk with your children to reassure them. Teach them lessons on preparedness. Make family preparedness a fun annual event.