National Emergency Prep Month

by Eloy Gomez

GRF safety/emergency coodinator

National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and held annually in September, is a good reminder that natural and man-made disasters can strike at any time. It’s important to have a planned response when you’re home, at work, on vacation or on the road.

In a disaster, local officials and first responders cannot reach everyone immediately. Help may not arrive for hours or days. You and members of the community need to be prepared.

Most disasters are natural, the result of some force of nature, such as earthquakes, fires, extreme heat and floods. Some natural disasters can be predicted, such as severe winter storms, while others, such as earthquakes, happen with little or no warning. Some disasters are the cause of human actions, intentional or unintentional. A disaster plan will increase the chances navigating the crisis safely. Regardless of the type of disaster, there are things you can do to prepare.

General preparedness:

• Be sure to make a plan that includes the needs of your household. Remember to consider the needs of people with disabilities and pets.

• Have an emergency kit in your car and at least three days of food and water at home.

• Be sure to store all important documents—birth certificates, insurance policies, etc., in a fire-proof safe or safety deposit box.

• Discuss with your family what to do in an evacuation.

• When told by officials, immediately go to a shelter as instructed or to the home of a friend or relative who lives out of the area. Find out about your local shelters beforehand.

• Know evacuation routes. Pre-establish several different routes in case certain roads are blocked or closed.

• Family members can become separated during an emergency. Be prepared by creating a plan to communicate with one another. Establish an out-of-area contact (such as a relative or friend) who can coordinate family members’ locations and information should you become separated. Make sure every family member knows the phone numbers, addresses and the emergency plan.

• Decide how to take care of pets. Pets are not allowed in places where food is served, so you will need to have a place to take your pets if you have to go to a shelter.

For more information, visit Ready.gov or contact Eloy Gomez, safety and emergency coordinator, at (562) 431-6586, ext. 356.